15 Sweet Facts You Didn’t Know
Whether you consider yourself a sweet connoisseur or a confessed sweet-tooth, we bet there are some facts about sweets you didn’t know.
There’s much more to sweets than just their sugary appeal, they’re tied to fascinating stories that stretch across time and cultures. From the humble Turkish Delight savoured by Ottoman sultans to chocolate bars floating in space, sweets have played surprising roles throughout history. Read on to discover 15 fun facts about sweets!
1. Cavemen Invented Lollipops
Some historians believe our ancient ancestors were the first to enjoy a version of the modern lollipop. Of course, these weren’t the brightly coloured rounds we know today, instead, early humans would dip sticks with fruits or nuts into honey and let them harden. The result? A primitive form of lollipop that was both sweet and practical. It’s thought this method made treats easier to eat and transport, especially on long treks.
2. M&Ms and World War II
M&Ms, now found in dozens of flavours, were originally created for practicality. During WWII, soldiers needed sweets that wouldn’t melt easily in their hands. M&Ms, with their hard sugar shell, fit the bill perfectly. The famous slogan “melts in your mouth, not in your hand” was born from this clever design, making them a battlefield favourite. Today, M&Ms are even used in space missions thanks to their mess-free nature.
3. Chocolate Was the First Sweet Eaten in Space
In 1965, astronauts John Young and Gus Grissom launched aboard Gemini 3, and took a chocolate bar with them. This marked the first time a sweet treat was consumed in space. Chocolate in space has since remained a space-snack staple, often making its way aboard the International Space Station. M&Ms, in particular, have become a zero-gravity go-to.
4. King Tut Had Liquorice in His Tomb
Liquorice has a surprisingly regal past. When archaeologists uncovered Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb, they found liquorice root among the treasures. The Ancient Egyptians believed it had medicinal properties and used it to soothe sore throats and stomach issues. You can still find liquorice-based herbal remedies today, thousands of years later!
5. Jelly Beans and the Civil War
Jelly beans became popular in the U.S. during the American Civil War. Their long shelf life and sugary energy boost made them ideal for soldier rations. Easy to carry and satisfying on the go, these colourful sweets were a battlefield morale booster. Their popularity has since exploded, with over 16 billion jelly beans consumed every Easter in the US alone.
6. A Dentist Invented Candy Floss
One of the most ironic facts in sweet history: candy floss was co-invented by a dentist. In 1897, Dr. William Morrison teamed up with confectioner John C. Wharton to create a machine that spun sugar into a light, fluffy treat. Debuted at the 1904 World’s Fair as “Fairy Floss,” it was an instant hit, selling more than 68,000 boxes during the event. It was later renamed “candy floss” in the UK and “cotton candy” in the US.
7. Germany’s Gummy Bears
The gummy bear was born in Germany in the 1920s, thanks to confectioner Hans Riegel, founder of Haribo. Inspired by the dancing bears at street festivals, Riegel created small bear-shaped sweets made from fruit-flavoured gelatin. Originally called “Gummibärchen” (little rubber bears), they quickly became a hit. Today, Haribo’s Goldbears are a global staple in sweet aisles.
8. Sour Sweets and Chemistry
The burning sensation you feel when eating sour sweets isn’t just your imagination, it’s science. Ingredients like citric acid and malic acid (found in lemons and apples) trigger pain receptors on your tongue. This creates that sharp, sour, almost burning taste that thrill-seekers love. The stronger the acid content, the more intense the sourness!
9. Japan’s Lucky Kit-Kats
Japan is home to more than 300 unique Kit-Kat flavours, ranging from matcha to wasabi. But it’s not just about variety, Kit-Kats are also considered lucky. The name sounds similar to the Japanese phrase Kitto Katsu, meaning “you will surely win.” As a result, they’re often given to students before exams or to wish someone success.
10. Honeycomb Toffee is One of the Oldest Sweets
One of the earliest recorded confections is a form of honeycomb toffee. Ancient cultures, including the Greeks, heated honey to high temperatures to create sticky, crunchy treats. These early sweets were often flavoured with herbs and spices and enjoyed during festivals or feasts. It’s proof that the love for caramelised sugar goes back thousands of years.
11. A Chocolate Bar Over 416 Square Metres
In December 2024, a record-breaking chocolate bar was unveiled in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Created by Nick DiGiovanni and Blue Stripes Cacao, it spanned an incredible 416.34 square metres. That’s larger than a tennis court! The goal was to celebrate sustainable cacao farming while setting a world record for the largest chocolate bar by area.
12. Pez Sweets for Smokers
Pez sweets were originally created in Austria in the 1920s, not for children, but for adults trying to quit smoking. The name comes from the German word for peppermint, PfeffErminZ. Originally sold in tins, the character-shaped dispensers we know today came much later, once the product was rebranded for children with fruity flavours.
13. Bubble Gum Was Invented by Accident
In 1928, Walter Diemer, an accountant working at a chewing gum company, stumbled upon a new gum recipe. Unlike traditional gum, his version was stretchy and could form bubbles. It was coloured pink simply because that was the only dye available at the time. His accidental invention became the modern-day bubble gum we all know and love.
14. Victorians Were Obsessed with Sugar Art
In Victorian Britain, sugar was a symbol of status and wealth. Upper-class households would commission elaborate sugar sculptures, known as “sugarworks”, to display during lavish banquets. These edible creations ranged from intricate flowers to animals and even entire architectural scenes. The more detailed the sculpture, the higher the social standing it suggested.
15. The World’s Most Expensive Sweets
Luxury and sugar collide in the world’s most expensive sweets. Take Le Chocolate Box, for instance, an elegant assortment of gourmet chocolates paired with real jewellery, including diamond necklaces and rings. Other high-end confections include truffles dusted in edible gold leaf, which can fetch hundreds of pounds each. Clearly, for some, indulgence knows no budget.