50 Candies to Eat Now, From Goat’s-Milk Caramels to Palm-Sized Gummy Rats
The city may be healthier than ever these days—at least judging by the proliferation of gluten-free bakeries and macrobiotic takeout—but an unapologetically sugary counterculture has taken hold amid all the juice bars. In the past year or so, we’ve seen fashion designer Cynthia Rowley launch two CuRious candy boutiques, just as Dylan’s Candy Bar co-founder Jeff Rubin has built a Skittles-colored empire of his own with the multilocation It’Sugar. Retro goodies are experiencing something of a revival, too—and it’s no longer just Economy Candy leading the charge (see nostalgic Williamsburg candy stand Handsome Dan’s recent expansion to the East Village, or the steady lines at numerous other throwback shops doling out peanut brittle and hand-pulled taffy). Here, we assess New York’s candy sphere, from Coney Island rock-candy institutions to forthcoming Barclays Center lollipop emporiums, highlighting a signature treat at each shop. For Japanese Hi-Chew addicts or Turkish-delight aficionados, we’ve also zoomed in on the far-flung sweets purveyors, as well as those who specialize in artisan-designed hard candy and holistic, Ayurvedic-spiced suckers. Even the most virtuous CSA box-toters need the occasional indulgence.
*This article appears in the August 11, 2014 issue of New York Magazine.
*This article has been corrected to show that Eddie’s Sweet Shop is in Forest Hills, not Williamsburg.


Oversize Gummies:
Dewey’s Candy 141 Front St., Dumbo 718-422-1333
There are loads of quadruple-height gummies ($13 a pound) at this bright spot un...
Oversize Gummies:
Dewey’s Candy 141 Front St., Dumbo 718-422-1333
There are loads of quadruple-height gummies ($13 a pound) at this bright spot under the Manhattan Bridge, opened by former Donna Karan exec Alison Oblonsky in 2010. She keeps tabs on jumbo-gummy news, whether it’s the latest steroidal bear or six-inch multicolored gator.

Rock-Candy Jewelry:
43 E. 78th St., nr. Madison Ave.; 212-288-1163
The rock-candy jewelry is a tween’s dream at d...
Rock-Candy Jewelry:
43 E. 78th St., nr. Madison Ave.; 212-288-1163
The rock-candy jewelry is a tween’s dream at designer Cynthia Rowley’s answer to Dylan’s Candy Bar, which she launched in 2013 (now with an outpost in the West Village). Sugary clusters top metal bases to form beautiful, edible rings and bracelets ($24 per set).

Bacon Candy:
404 E. 73rd St., nr. First Ave.; 212-960-8685
Before Kelly and Glyn Jaime opened their kaleidoscopic shop ten m...
Bacon Candy:
404 E. 73rd St., nr. First Ave.; 212-960-8685
Before Kelly and Glyn Jaime opened their kaleidoscopic shop ten months ago, the far-east neighborhood was a candy desert. This best seller recalls a classic striped mint on the outside, but one suck reveals a very 2014 savory sweet ($6.50 a tin) that tastes just like smoky bacon.

Candy Necklace:
10 Fulton St., nr. Front St.; 212-514-5373
This exploding national chain, opened by a Dylan’s co-founder in 2006, ...
Candy Necklace:
10 Fulton St., nr. Front St.; 212-514-5373
This exploding national chain, opened by a Dylan’s co-founder in 2006, takes a more-is-more approach—think throwback sweets in louder shades and jumbo sizes. While your typical candy necklace is more of a choker, this style ($2.50) drapes a full foot.

Gummy Burger:
202 E. 110th St., nr. Third Ave.; 212-860-3380
E.Frutti’s bite-size, individually wrapped gummy burgers ($.25) are...
Gummy Burger:
202 E. 110th St., nr. Third Ave.; 212-860-3380
E.Frutti’s bite-size, individually wrapped gummy burgers ($.25) are a main attraction for the after-school kids who flock to sisters Christine and Nalanie Milano’s 750-variety sweets shop. (Christine says she barely keeps them in stock.) Each juicy layer, from bun to pickle, can be picked apart to eat one by one.

Couture Pops:
Sugar Factory American Brasserie
46 Gansevoort St., nr. Greenwich St.; 212-414-8700
Defined by their bejeweled holders and gu...
Couture Pops:
Sugar Factory American Brasserie
46 Gansevoort St., nr. Greenwich St.; 212-414-8700
Defined by their bejeweled holders and guest “designers” like Britney Spears, Couture Pops (from $22) are a feverishly popular item at this recently opened restaurant-shop, which originated in Vegas. A Barclays Center location is coming soon.

Ice Cream:
17 W. 29th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 646-867-2342
Lifelike gummies—including these ice-cream cones available in...
Ice Cream:
17 W. 29th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 646-867-2342
Lifelike gummies—including these ice-cream cones available in vanilla, strawberry, and mint-chocolate flavors—were recently featured at Teresa Soroka’s NoMad spot (she moved from the East Village in November), where she constantly rotates the candy ($3.50 a quarter-pound) and sells travel gear to boot.

Candy Cigarettes:
186 First Ave., nr. 12th St.; 917-965-2499
Boomers will appreciate these increasingly elusive gum cigarett...
Candy Cigarettes:
186 First Ave., nr. 12th St.; 917-965-2499
Boomers will appreciate these increasingly elusive gum cigarettes ($1.50), whose powdery-sugar finish appears as “smoke” when puffed. Dan Levin, who just opened this terrific outpost to his Williamsburg stand, apparently doesn’t fear helicopter parents.
Honey Drops:
94-15 Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven; 718-846-9326 (closed in summer)
Owner Margie Schmidt (granddaughter of the foun...
Honey Drops:
94-15 Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven; 718-846-9326 (closed in summer)
Owner Margie Schmidt (granddaughter of the founder of the 1925-opened shop) makes these classic honey drops from real honey and shapes them into hard-candy pillows, just like old times. Also worth the trip: her handcrafted chocolates and Christmas candy canes.
Rainbow Laces:
187 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn Heights; 718-624-4550
These three-feet licorice strings—sold in two-pound bags ($9.50) at...
Rainbow Laces:
187 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn Heights; 718-624-4550
These three-feet licorice strings—sold in two-pound bags ($9.50) at Sahadi’s grocery, which first opened in 1948—have long lent themselves to more than eating (craft projects, braiding practice). Apparently, Charlie Chaplin was a licorice-lace fan, too.
Pixy Stix:
105-29 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills; 718-520-8514
Another old favorite surprisingly hard to come by: Pixy ...
Pixy Stix:
105-29 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills; 718-520-8514
Another old favorite surprisingly hard to come by: Pixy Stix ($.05), immortalized by Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club and now among the aggressively non-artisanal sweets (and ice cream) that have locals lining up at Eddie’s Sweet Shop most every night of the week.
Mary Janes:
63 Hester St., at Ludlow St.; 212-598-0092
No matter how many dental fillings they’ve destroyed, molasses-sticky...
Mary Janes:
63 Hester St., at Ludlow St.; 212-598-0092
No matter how many dental fillings they’ve destroyed, molasses-sticky, peanut-buttery Mary Janes ($4 a pound) have been a sweet rite of passage for a century now. They’re a consistent seller (despite much flashier competition) at this 32-year-old corner shop.
Candy Blox:
254 Baltic St., Cobble Hill; 718-576-3591
For seemingly as long as kids have loved Legos, they’ve been stacking (and...
Candy Blox:
254 Baltic St., Cobble Hill; 718-576-3591
For seemingly as long as kids have loved Legos, they’ve been stacking (and sucking) chalky, tart, Lego-inspired Blox ($11 a pound). A big crowd-pleaser at the birthday-party-friendly Sugar Shop, they’ve clearly caught on with the current generation, too.
Peanut Brittle:
8 Barrett Ave., Staten Island; 718-981-0062
Owner John Dorman, 84, serves this rich, crunchy, tooth-sticking...
Peanut Brittle:
8 Barrett Ave., Staten Island; 718-981-0062
Owner John Dorman, 84, serves this rich, crunchy, tooth-sticking peanut brittle in slabs the size of dinner plates for $1.50. This location isn’t the original Coney Island Surf Avenue shop (subway renovations forced him to move in 2001), but the brittle is as good as ever.
Rock Candy:
1318 Surf Ave., Coney Island; 718-372-0302
After riding the Cyclone or eating at the next-door clam bar, crowds flock to...
Rock Candy:
1318 Surf Ave., Coney Island; 718-372-0302
After riding the Cyclone or eating at the next-door clam bar, crowds flock to this shop’s jars of jewel-toned rock candy ($1.50 apiece)—teenage staffers flood the registers to manage the summer influx—just like the crystallized-sugar-on-a-stick that defines the Coney of yore.
Gummy Fruit:
320 Franklin Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant; 347-404-7050
Fifties-style penny-candy glass jars line Stacey Desmond’s ...
Gummy Fruit:
320 Franklin Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant; 347-404-7050
Fifties-style penny-candy glass jars line Stacey Desmond’s narrow shop, which is frequented mostly by locals, and mostly adults, who appreciate classics like these fruit-gel slices ($3 a quarter-pound) in a Cézanne-esque assortment.
Stride Sour Patch Kids Gum
William Loreti, 8, Upper West Side
“Like chewing gummy bears, but with soury sprinkles.”
Atomic FireBall
Alyssa Curiale, 12, Bensonhurst
“In camp, we see who can stuff the most in their mouths. I won a few times.”
BeanBoozled Jelly Beans
Gwendolyn Williams, 9, Staten Island
“An orange one can be either peach or vomit-flavored.”
Bali’s Best Espresso Candy
Asher Modell, 9, Harlem
“It tastes like sucking on a sweet latte!”
Giant Gummy Rats
Shealie Ackermann, 7, Staten Island
“I like them because I know my mom’s scared of rats.”
Japanese Hi-Chews:
494 Broome St., nr. W. Broadway; 212-219-0033
If you haven’t had Japanese Hi-Chews—most sold here are made ...
Japanese Hi-Chews:
494 Broome St., nr. W. Broadway; 212-219-0033
If you haven’t had Japanese Hi-Chews—most sold here are made in Taiwan and distinctly less juicy—you haven’t had Hi-Chews. Along with green-tea Kit Kats, they’re one of Sunrise’s many rare Asian finds ($1.89).
Magic Serpent Jellies:
287 Brighton Beach Ave., Brighton Beach; 718-769-6674
The sugared, swirled jellies at this 20-year-old ...
Magic Serpent Jellies:
287 Brighton Beach Ave., Brighton Beach; 718-769-6674
The sugared, swirled jellies at this 20-year-old specialty-goods importer are made with egg powder by a Russian confectionery and spiked with lemon, mandarin, and other fruity flavors ($4 a pound).
Ouzo Hard Candy:
25-56 31st St., Astoria; 718-626-7771
Sharing the signature anisey bite of the centuries-old ouzo aperitif, th...
Ouzo Hard Candy:
25-56 31st St., Astoria; 718-626-7771
Sharing the signature anisey bite of the centuries-old ouzo aperitif, these candies ($5 for a 130-piece box) are often offered as an after-dinner-mint alternative in dishes by the register at the city’s standby Greek restaurants.
Lizaki Deseniowe:
Slodycze Wedel
772 Manhattan Ave. Greenpoint; 718-349-3933
The beautiful Polish imports (often not labeled in English) in...
Lizaki Deseniowe:
Slodycze Wedel
772 Manhattan Ave. Greenpoint; 718-349-3933
The beautiful Polish imports (often not labeled in English) in this decades-old shop include fruity lizaki deseniowe, or patterned lollipops, which cost just 30 cents each.
Pastillas de Leche:
Phil-am Food Mart
7002 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside; 718-899-1797
Among the candies that remind Pinoys of home at this ­...
Pastillas de Leche:
Phil-am Food Mart
7002 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside; 718-899-1797
Among the candies that remind Pinoys of home at this ramshackle (but friendly) store: pastillas de leche ($3.25 a box), or “milk pills,” made here as sticks of sweet, creamy milk candy twisted in colorful cellophane.
Opal Pastilles:
143 Orchard St., nr. Rivington St.; 212-228-7982
The more cultish candies at this pricey imported-goods store are Icela...
Opal Pastilles:
143 Orchard St., nr. Rivington St.; 212-228-7982
The more cultish candies at this pricey imported-goods store are Icelandic Opals ($5 a box): a Jujubes-like long-lasting cross between gummies and hard candies, with terrific flavor (try the passion fruit) that lingers as you suck.
Licorice Monkeys:
140 W. 55th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-245-4233
The name says chocolate, but owner of nearly 25 years K...
Licorice Monkeys:
140 W. 55th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-245-4233
The name says chocolate, but owner of nearly 25 years Kamila Myzel also carries 125 licorices, many from Europe, like the Netherlands’ Griotten sweet licorice cubes and banana-and-black-licorice monkeys ($3.75 a quarter-pound).
Chinese Gummy Sticks:
37 Mott St., nr. Pell St.; 212-233-7650
They may taste surprisingly not that sweet, but the subtlety—in the ...
Chinese Gummy Sticks:
37 Mott St., nr. Pell St.; 212-233-7650
They may taste surprisingly not that sweet, but the subtlety—in the same mode as China’s traditional haw candy—is what makes these thick and gelatinous chews ($3 per quarter-pound) a go-to for Chinatown locals.
Naranjitas Enchiladas:
61 Commerce St., Red Hook; 917-669-4591
Owner Fany Gerson, a Mexico City native, hand-makes dulce...
Naranjitas Enchiladas:
61 Commerce St., Red Hook; 917-669-4591
Owner Fany Gerson, a Mexico City native, hand-makes dulces like naranjitas enchiladas: dried spicy orange peels that possess a lingering heat and are not at all bitter ($9 for four ounces).
Salta Blackfiskars:
89 Christopher St., nr. W. 10th St.; 212-206-8170
A good way to win over a Swede is to ask them about l&...
Salta Blackfiskars:
89 Christopher St., nr. W. 10th St.; 212-206-8170
A good way to win over a Swede is to ask them about lördagsgodis, the Swedish tradition of buying candy on Saturdays. Another option: Treat them to a bag of Sockerbit’s sweets, like Salta Blackfiskars, a (very) salty licorice ($13 a pound).
Russian Hard Candy:
Brighton Bazaar
1007 Brighton Beach Ave., Brighton Beach; 718-769-1700
This Russian grocery store carries berberis...
Russian Hard Candy:
Brighton Bazaar
1007 Brighton Beach Ave., Brighton Beach; 718-769-1700
This Russian grocery store carries berberis-flavored suckies ($3.50 per pound) made by the Moscow-based Rot Front confectionery (named for the Communist slogan); they’re a staple throughout Eastern Europe.
Imported Haribo:
30-42 31st St., Astoria; 718-545-5569
No other city shop rivals Euromarket’s trove of gummies from Haribo...
Imported Haribo:
30-42 31st St., Astoria; 718-545-5569
No other city shop rivals Euromarket’s trove of gummies from Haribo, the iconic German candy-maker. In addition to the usual bears, there are fruity-spicy hot sticks (with flavors like raspberry-jalapeño-licorice) and sour mangos, made with real fruit juice (from $2.75).
Pan Masala:
123 Lexington Ave., nr. 28th St.; 212-685-3451
Pakistan’s controversial Naz pan masala is a mouth-freshening (and s...
Pan Masala:
123 Lexington Ave., nr. 28th St.; 212-685-3451
Pakistan’s controversial Naz pan masala is a mouth-freshening (and some say buzz-inducing) mix of menthol, sugarcoated fennel seeds, and betelnut ($3 for ten packets). But be warned: It’s just been banned in parts of India, as betelnut has been linked to oral cancer.
Turkish Delight:
31-12 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-545-7920
This Eastern European market (which has two other locations in Queens) se...
Turkish Delight:
31-12 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-545-7920
This Eastern European market (which has two other locations in Queens) sells more than 25 different flavors of powdery, soft Turkish delights—considered a precursor to the jelly bean—from the traditional rose to the less common pistachio-studded variety ($6 for a mixed box).
Artisan Hard Candy:
380 Broome St., nr. Mulberry St.; 212-966-2599
Artist staffers (a sculptor, a glassblower) mold batches of m...
Artisan Hard Candy:
380 Broome St., nr. Mulberry St.; 212-966-2599
Artist staffers (a sculptor, a glassblower) mold batches of molten sugar into intricate hard candy (some currently on view at the Museum of Arts and Design) with flavorings such as strawberry and passion fruit ($6.50 for a small bag).
Pâte de Fruits:
315 Fourth Ave., Park Slope; 718-965-9700
This narrow provisions-and-candy shop is the lone New York ven...
Pâte de Fruits:
315 Fourth Ave., Park Slope; 718-965-9700
This narrow provisions-and-candy shop is the lone New York vendor of naturally juicy marionberry pâte de fruits, made from Oregon berries by Willamette Valley Confectionery and packaged in a green-blue fruit carton ($11).
Beer & Pretzel Caramels:
425 W. 15th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-229-0022
Blended with two Brooklyn Brewery beers, Martin’...
Beer & Pretzel Caramels:
425 W. 15th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-229-0022
Blended with two Brooklyn Brewery beers, Martin’s pretzels, and Ronnybrook heavy cream, these savory caramels ($9 for a box of six) are a signature of Liddabit, which debuted at Brooklyn Flea and now has a Chelsea Market stand and a cookbook.
Apricot Rolls:
515 Kings Hwy., Gravesend; 718-645-7977
Isaac Mansoura opened this shop after coming to New York from Egypt in 1961...
Apricot Rolls:
515 Kings Hwy., Gravesend; 718-645-7977
Isaac Mansoura opened this shop after coming to New York from Egypt in 1961. Since then, it’s been passed down to his grandsons, who churn out slices of blissfully sweet apricot-roll candy ($25 for 25 pieces): a fresh-fruit paste pierced by pistachios.
Ayurvedic Lollipops:
Dosha Pops
Dosha pops are crafted up-town with traditional Hindu Ayurvedic herbal tea. Answer a few onli...
Ayurvedic Lollipops:
Dosha Pops
Dosha pops are crafted up-town with traditional Hindu Ayurvedic herbal tea. Answer a few online questions about your temperament to determine the ideal sucker—with, say, harmonizing pomegranate or invigorating turmeric ($15 for six)—to “balance your energy.”
Goat’s-Milk Caramels:
228 Flatbush Ave., Park Slope; 718-783-1250
Local food nuts have flocked to Bklyn Larder since 2009 for ...
Goat’s-Milk Caramels:
228 Flatbush Ave., Park Slope; 718-783-1250
Local food nuts have flocked to Bklyn Larder since 2009 for hard-to-find goods like goat’s-milk chai caramels ($14.25 a box)—made in Townshend, Vermont, with goat’s butter and milk and warm winter spices—and Lakrids licorice, plus homemade bite-size marshmallows and brittle.
Cracked Candy:
261 Smith St., Carroll Gardens; 718-643-0606
Dreamed up by a Cobble Hill mom—and sold at this one-stop shop for ...
Cracked Candy:
261 Smith St., Carroll Gardens; 718-643-0606
Dreamed up by a Cobble Hill mom—and sold at this one-stop shop for all things Kings County–made—Cracked Candy is sugar-free, sweetened with the natural birch extract xylitol ($6 a tin). The refreshing, jagged suckies resemble sea glass and come in flavors like lemon ice and mellow orange.
Maple Candy:
Roxbury Mountain Maple
Union Square Greenmarket, 607-538-1500; roxburymountainmaple.com
A few times a week, a member of the fa...
Maple Candy:
Roxbury Mountain Maple
Union Square Greenmarket, 607-538-1500; roxburymountainmaple.com
A few times a week, a member of the family operating this upstate maple farm drives three hours down to the Greenmarket to vend chunks of rich maple candy ($1) and leaf-shaped confections (from $4). The candies are almost always available, but call ahead to be sure.
Marshmallows:
Mitch Mallows
Mitchmallows.com; 212-645-1121
Mitchell Greenberg (a Ringling Bros. clown-college grad) has been elevating mars...
Marshmallows:
Mitch Mallows
Mitchmallows.com; 212-645-1121
Mitchell Greenberg (a Ringling Bros. clown-college grad) has been elevating marshmallows from fireside treat to dessert-in-its-own-right since 2011with surprising flavors like Creamsicle, ginger wasabi, and Merlot. Greenberg crafts the mallows in an incubator in Long Island City from all-natural ingredients ($12 for a box of 12).
Saltwater Taffy:
Salty Road
Thesaltyroad.com; 347-673-3925
Former Liddabit staffer Marisa Wu separates her fluffy-light taffy from the boar...
Saltwater Taffy:
Salty Road
Thesaltyroad.com; 347-673-3925
Former Liddabit staffer Marisa Wu separates her fluffy-light taffy from the boardwalk masses by pulling candy to order and using carefully sourced ingredients—real vanilla beans instead of syrups; salt crystals for crunch—rendering unusual tastes like salty mango lassi ($6.50 for a small box of 12).
Sourest:
Toxic Waste Drums
“I think they’re disgusting.” —Alison Oblonsky, owner, Dewey’s Candy
Stickiest:
Abba Zaba Taffy
“It really gets in the grooves of your teeth; that’s what leads to cavities.” —Dr. Oren Rahmanan, DDS
Sugariest:
Swedish Sweet Gummies
“Made with all-natural sugar—what’s sweeter than that?” —Kelly Jaime, owner, the Sweet Shop
Messiest:
Fun Dip
“The powder just goes … everywhere.” —Jennifer Bischoff, owner, the Sugar Shop
Hottest:
Three-Alarm Hot Tamales
“Some customers pop three at a time. They’re crazy.” —Kelly Jaime