Iceland’s Favourite Candy

A Sweet (and Slightly Strange) Dive Into Icelandic Treats & Snack Culture

Are you one of those travellers who has to poke around a supermarket in every new country?
 We completely understand — we do the same.

A supermarket is a perfect window into everyday Icelandic life. And in Iceland, the candy aisle tells an especially revealing story.

What You’ll Spot in an Icelandic Supermarket

Before you even get to the sweets, you’ll notice a few uniquely Icelandic items:

  • Frozen sheep’s heads in the freezer

  • Slátur (our version of haggis)

  • A huge selection of Skyr and yogurt

  • An entire section dedicated to dried fish — a cultural staple

But the real fun begins in the candy aisle, where the mix is half-familiar… and half delightfully strange.

The Icelandic Candy Obsession: Licorice Everything

If Iceland had to choose a national flavour, it would be licorice.
 And not quietly, politely licorice.
 We mean licorice in everything — especially mixed with chocolate.

To Icelanders, it’s addictive.
 To visitors, it’s… well, divisive.
 We don’t understand why you wouldn’t love it, but we try to be tolerant.

If you want to taste the classics, start with:

  • Kulusuk

  • Eitt Sett

  • Freyju Draumur

These are the types of treats Icelanders grew up with — and still swear by.

If You Don’t Like Licorice (We Forgive You)

Don’t worry. Iceland has another national candy obsession:
 crispy corn puffs coated in chocolate.

The original — and still the favourite — is:

  • Freyju Rís

It’s simple, sweet, crunchy, and very Icelandic.

The Ultimate Icelandic Combo: Candy + Ice Cream

Icelanders have a whole separate love affair with ice cream.
 We eat it all year — rain, wind, snow, midnight sun… doesn’t matter.

At the top of the list sits the soft-serve cone, dipped in chocolate and rolled in the candy of your choice — often the same Freyju Rís corn puffs mentioned above.

To order like a local, remember these two phrases:

Ís með dýfu

Soft-serve ice cream dipped in chocolate.

Eina með öllu

An Icelandic hot dog with all the toppings:
 ketchup, mustard, raw onions, fried onions, remoulade.

Yes, we have a national language shortcut for hot-dog perfection.

We’ll Help You Taste It All

If you’re curious about Icelandic treats — from licorice bombs to iconic soft-serve — we’re happy to include supermarket stops on your private tour.

Just say the word, and we’ll take you to:

  • The best ice cream shops

  • A proper Icelandic hot dog stand

  • A local grocery store to hunt for candy like an insider

Everything is flexible with Iceland Luxury Tours.