If you’re hosting a throwback 80s birthday party, complete with Prince on the playlist, Pacman on the Atari, big hair and baggy spandex as a dress code, and Top Gun on repeat in the background, then firstly, can we get an invite please? Sounds like a great party!
But more importantly, what snacks are you serving? The 1980s wasn’t exactly the most cherished era from a gourmand’s perspective, so why not serve some iconic 80s sweets instead?
If this sounds like a quirky, kitsch idea that will delight your guests, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 7 iconic 1980s throwback sweets you can still buy today.
SHERBET FOUNTAIN
If you’re not having a real chocolate fountain or one spraying out champagne at your party, then this is the next best thing. Arguably the most iconic and popular 80s sweet is the Sherbet Fountain by Barratt.
This archetypal 80s sweet actually dates back to 1925 and remains in its familiar yellow packaging to this day. This tube is filled with delicious, fizzy sherbet with a stick of black liquorice inside for dipping.
Despite its creation many decades before, this addictive retro sweet’s popularity peaked in the 80s and it is still enjoyed today.
PARMA VIOLETS
Another sweet that was popular in the 1980s and remains a modern-day favourite are Parma Violets, and we’d love to see them in the goody bag of an 80s themed party.
Violet flavoured, as the name suggests, these crunchy discs have a sweet and long-lasting floral taste.
Their pastel purple packaging is popular with children, but these classics have a taste that everyone will love. And for a fun twist on things, why not serve some Parma Violet gin cocktails on the side?
COLA BOTTLES
The only coke we’ll be enjoying at a party and perhaps the most popular on our list is the much-loved cola bottles.
Most famously created by Haribo, these jelly bottles look like mini version of bottles of cola. With their authentic flavour, they taste just like it, too.
Enjoyed by adults and children alike, Haribo Cola Bottles are also available in a ‘giant’ size from Wholesale Sweets UK if you’re looking to make a big impression on your guests!
DRUMSTICK LOLLIES
Back in school in the 80s, it seemed like the cool kids always had a drumstick lolly sticking out of their mouth, and they remain a much-loved sweet to this day.
Fruity and creamy, their unique taste and texture have earned them their transcendent reputation. With their famous red and yellow packaging, Drumstick Lollies are an iconic sweet that will be enjoyed for many more decades. So, will you still be one of the cool kids at your party?
POPPING CANDY
This fun and unique sweet was a popular choice among the kids of the decade, and it has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years as famous chefs have used popping candy to bring some frivolity to their desserts.
Three Michelin starred chef Heston Blumenthal famously loves to deploy the stuff for a sweet, strident surprise, and whilst you might not achieve the same levels of gastronomy as the chef, you can still give your guests a cheap thrill by serving popping candy!
When the sweet crystals hit your mouth they release pops of air, exploding with flavour on your tongue. Each crackle is a strange but playful sensation. Sounds like our kinda party.
FLYING SAUCERS
A wise person once said that there were only two types of party; those where the guests have eyes like flying saucers, and those where the guests are eating flying saucers.
We’re very much here for the latter version today. Another popular sweet with sherbet inside, Flying Saucers also enjoy huge popularity today, just as they did in the 1980s.
Made from rice paper and shaped like a ‘flying saucer’, these melt-in-your-mouth treats were known for their bright colours and original shape.
The stark contrast between the rice paper and sour sherbet powder inside is why they are so iconic.
REFRESHERS
We’ve seen sherbet cropping up a couple of times in our iconic 80s desserts, and our final retro sweet features a generous sprinkle of the good stuff, too.
Refreshers by Swizzels are small, chewy sweets available in several flavours and are filled with sherbet powder, with the fizzy taste of these beloved sweets leaving you feeling refreshed, hence their very literal name. Similarly to their competitors, Refreshers have a brightly coloured, striking blue packaging that is unmistakable to most, whether or not you were around in the 80s!
Which gives us a fancy dress idea…why not ask your guests to dress in the colours of their favourite 1980s sweet? What a way to host a successful party…
We can’t wait to receive our invite!