The Vintage & Handmade Market 
A Wispa bar from the U.K.
Why should you care about international candy? Does it seem too narrow a topic for 600 words? Phooey. Candy has been a cultural hallmark since the dawn of time—or at least the dawn of candy. And then there’s the bizarre and beautiful packaging that comes with foreign treats. It’s true—I don’t scour the city looking for candy to satisfy my chocolate cravings. Contraire, I do it because, graphically speaking, candy from other lands is, well, eye candy.
Candy from England has a familiar flavor and delightful, cheery names like Curly Wurly, Dip Dab, and Wispa. The UK Cornershoppe (3701 India St. in Mission Hills, www.ukcornershoppe.com), spelled with a quaint “e” at the end, is the place to go for such things as Turkish Delight, thanks to its large selection of candy and other chocolate-covered goodies. Tucked behind Shakespeare Bar & Grill, it has giant Parma violets, Black Bullets, Yorkie bars (“It’s NOT for Girls”) and every imaginable Kit Kat and Dairy Milk available. Perfect for your ex-pat friends or those who have unnatural British affectations, like Madonna.
I went searching for Germany’s Kinder line and found only the Happy Hippo at Cornershoppe. At Sausage King (811 W. Washington St. in Mission Hills, 619-297-4301), I found a display case for Kinder Joy (candy and toys in one—like striking gold in international candy waters) but, alas, it was empty. The small, throwback meat market does have a small selection of other German treats, like Ritter Sport’s square bars and their not terribly evil twin, Manner bars. But no Kinder Joy, so, frankly, no joy at all.
If Japanese candy is your pleasure—and, really, it should be—look no further than the candy aisle at Marukai Japanese grocery (8111 Balboa Ave. in Kearny Mesa, www.marukai.com).
Tiny boxes of colorful characters, large boxes of talking chocolate mushrooms—it’s all here and more. Moomin Candy features two mouthless horses cuddling on one side of the adorable tin and on the other, a man in a flower hat plays the accordion for a naked but shy kangaroo. (Why? Why not?) There are no less than 10 varieties of Pocky, the cracker stick dipped in chocolate-like substances. Marukai even has Pocky’s lesser-known knock-off, Lucky. It has candy clay that includes instructions (in Japanese) on how to create a mini sugar homage to your other favorite sweet treats, like cream puffs and cake. It has chocolate hamburgers called Every Burger, and they’re delicious.
But the U.N. of candy is Cost Plus, particularly the Downtown location (372 Fourth Ave., www.worldmarket.com). Genuine German gummy bears? Yes, and gummy cola bottles, frogs and even bike tires, too. From Japan there is litchi candy, Yan Yan and Meiji Apollo. From Australia there’s Buderim’s Ginger candy, Kookaburra candy and Liquorice. And they sit right next to Yogu Berries, Hi-Chews and Picnic bars from the U.K. The colors are intense, the graphics on the bags and boxes both scary and adorable.
Those names are silly, but not as silly as Jelly Babies. Or Chocorooms. Or the best candy name ever: Cream Collon (now in three delicious flavors!).
For more info about—and reviews of—international candy, check out the Candy Blog: www.typetive.com/candyblog. Or pick up a (gasp!) book on the subject: Anita Chu’s Field Guide to Candy (Quirk, $15.95).
Got a tip, trend or favorite spot to shop? Write to clea@sdcitybeat.com.
