What Are Foam Sweets?
Foam sweets are light, airy, sugar-based confections with a soft, spongy texture. They are made from sugar, glucose syrup, gelatine, and whipped air which gives them their signature foam-like bite. Popular varieties of foam sweets include foam bananas, pink shrimps, strawberry mushrooms, fried eggs, and sour foam, all produced by well-known UK brands like Haribo, Swizzels, and Candy Kittens. Foam sweets are also low in fat and easy to portion, making them a fun treat for all ages, though their high sugar content means they are best enjoyed in moderation.
Foam sweets have been a British retro sweet shop staple since the 70s, 80s, and 90s, when classics like foam shrimps and bananas sat in jars on every penny sweet counter. That soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture is exactly why these vintage British sweets still sell out today.
What Are the Types of Foam Sweets?
Foam sweets come in a wide variety of shapes, flavours, and textures. Each type offers a different eating experience, so there is something for every sweet lover.
1. Shapes
Foam sweets are made in fun, recognisable shapes that make them instantly appealing. Popular shapes include bananas, shrimps, mushrooms, fried eggs, and cola bottles. Each shape is associated with a specific flavour, making the variety even more enjoyable.
2. Flavours
Foam sweets cover a broad range of flavours to suit different tastes. Fruity options include strawberry, banana, and raspberry, while retro favourites like foam shrimps carry a sweet, subtle flavour of their own. Sour foam sweets provide a sharp, tangy taste that is popular among younger audiences.
3. Textures
Foam sweets are available in four distinct textures. Soft/standard foam sweets, like strawberry mushrooms and foam bananas, have a light, melt-in-your-mouth feel. Chewy foam sweets offer more resistance with a denser, springy bite. Sour/tangy coated sweets, like sour foam shrimps, are dusted with an acidic sugar coating that hits the tongue first. Crispy sugar-coated foam sweets have a thin, crunchy shell that gives way to a soft foam centre.
Are Foam Sweets Available in a Vegan Option?
Yes, vegan foam sweets are available in the UK. Standard foam sweets contain gelatine, which is derived from animal bones and tendons, making them unsuitable for vegans. Vegan foam sweets replace gelatine with plant-based alternatives like pectin or starch, keeping the same soft, airy texture.
Are Foam Sweets Available in a Halal Option?
Yes, halal foam sweets are widely available in the UK. Standard foam sweets use pork-derived gelatine, which makes them unsuitable for those following a halal diet. Halal foam sweets use beef gelatine or plant-based alternatives that are sourced and processed in accordance with Islamic dietary law.
What Ingredients Are Used in Foam Sweets?
Foam sweets are made from sugar and glucose syrup (70–80% of total weight), gelatine, maize starch, and whipped air. They contain artificial flavourings like banana and strawberry as well as food colourings such as curcumin (E100) and beetroot red (E162), and acidity regulators like citric acid (E330). Some varieties use humectants like glycerol (E422) to keep the sweets soft, while reduced-sugar options replace standard sugar with sorbitol or isomalt. Most UK foam sweets do not require added preservatives, as their low moisture content naturally extends shelf life.
What Is the Nutritional Value of Foam Sweets?
Foam sweets have around 328–382 kcal per 100g which makes them a high-energy sweet. They are almost entirely carbohydrate-based, with 69–75g of sugar per 100g, and contain very little fat (0.3–0.4g) and minimal protein (0.4–0.5g). Foam sweets contain no significant vitamins or minerals, placing them firmly in the empty-calorie category. A typical portion of 25–30g provides around 85–100 kcal, which is manageable as an occasional treat within a balanced diet.
What Are the Popular Foam Sweet Brands in the UK?
The UK foam sweets market is home to several well-established brands, each offering their own take on this classic confection. The most popular brands include:
- Haribo: Germany-founded but hugely popular in the UK, known for foam bananas and pink shrimps
- Swizzels: a British brand producing foam sweets since the 1930s
- Candy Kittens: a premium UK brand offering vegan-certified foam sweets
- Barratt: a long-standing British confectionery brand with a wide foam sweet range
- Kingsway: a UK pick-and-mix staple, popular in supermarkets and sweet shops
- Bonds of London: a British brand specialising in traditional and retro foam sweets
- Vidal: a Spanish brand widely distributed across UK retailers and pick-and-mix counters
