Warning: your sweet tooth is about to go on a serious adventure.
Tucked away in Pennsylvania, Sweetish Candy serves up authentic Swedish candy the way it’s meant to be enjoyed — by the scoop. Rows of colorful bins overflow with chewy, tangy, and chocolatey delights that make every visit feel like a mini treasure hunt.
The best part? Every customer gets their own scoop.
No shared utensils, no worrying about who touched what first, no mixing flavors. Just pure, personal candy joy.
Whether you’re nostalgic for a childhood treat or trying something completely new, Sweetish Candy turns a simple sugar fix into an experience.
Step inside, grab your scoop, and get ready to taste Sweden — one bite at a time.
The Scoop-Your-Own Bulk Candy Wall
Walking into Sweetish Candy for the first time feels a little like stepping into a candy dream. The store features a wrap-around wall packed with over 100 clear bins filled with all kinds of Swedish sweets, from chewy gummies to salty licorice and everything in between.
You grab a scoop and a bag, then work your way around the entire display at your own pace.
What makes this setup so satisfying is the freedom it gives you. You are not stuck buying a pre-packaged bag of stuff you only half-like.
You pick exactly what calls your name, mix flavors however you want, and build your own perfect candy collection.
Pricing is straightforward at around $16 per pound, which is actually pretty reasonable for specialty imported candy. Customers regularly fill up large containers for around $25 or less.
One reviewer mentioned spending just $26 for a completely full big container, calling it a great deal. The whole experience feels interactive and genuinely fun, making it a highlight of any visit to downtown Lancaster.
Authentic Swedish Gummies and Chewy Candies
Swedish gummies are not your average grocery store candy. They tend to have a softer, chewier texture and a more complex flavor profile than what most Americans are used to.
At Sweetish Candy in Lancaster, you will find dozens of varieties that are actually imported from Sweden, giving you a genuinely authentic tasting experience.
Some fan favorites include strawberry twisted licorice, which one longtime reviewer personally recommended as a must-try. There are also fruit-shaped gummies, cola bottles, and soft foam candies that come in flavors you probably have never encountered before.
The variety alone makes every visit feel like a new discovery.
Freshness is something the store takes seriously, though a small number of reviews have mentioned occasionally finding harder-than-expected gummies. The staff is responsive to feedback and genuinely cares about quality.
If you are trying Swedish gummies for the first time, starting with the fruity varieties is a smart move before venturing into the more adventurous salty or licorice-flavored options. Either way, you are almost guaranteed to find at least a handful of new favorites to bring home.
Swedish Licorice in Every Style Imaginable
Licorice is basically a cultural institution in Sweden, and Sweetish Candy in Lancaster takes that tradition seriously. The store carries an impressive range of licorice varieties, from sweet red twists to intensely salty black rounds that are beloved across Scandinavia.
If you have only ever tried the rubbery American version, prepare to be genuinely surprised.
Swedish licorice comes in soft, hard, chewy, and even powder-coated varieties. The salty kind, known as salmiakki, is especially popular among Scandinavian candy fans and is notoriously hard to find in the United States.
Having access to it in bulk form at a Lancaster shop is a pretty big deal for enthusiasts.
One thing worth knowing before you scoop: some mixed bags at the store contain a noticeable amount of licorice pieces, so if you are not a fan, it pays to read the bin labels carefully. The store does label everything clearly, so you can always ask a staff member for guidance.
Licorice lovers, though, will feel like they have hit the absolute jackpot browsing through this section of the candy wall.
Allergen-Friendly Labels on Every Bin
For families dealing with food allergies, candy stores can often feel stressful rather than fun. Sweetish Candy in Lancaster has thought about this carefully.
Every single bin in the store is labeled with clear information about ingredients, and specific icons mark which items are gluten-free, vegan, or nut-free.
One customer who visited with her allergy-conscious family was genuinely impressed, noting that quite a few of the candies qualified for multiple allergen-friendly labels. Being able to read ingredient information right there on the bin takes a huge amount of guesswork out of the shopping experience.
Parents can feel confident letting their kids pick out treats without constant worry.
This kind of thoughtful labeling is not something you see at every candy shop, and it sets Sweetish apart from most competitors. Whether you avoid gluten for medical reasons, follow a vegan lifestyle, or simply need to keep nuts out of the equation, there are plenty of options waiting for you here.
The store has created an environment where candy shopping feels genuinely inclusive and stress-free for everyone who walks through the door.
Individual Scoops for a Germ-Free Experience
Here is a small detail that makes a surprisingly big difference: at Sweetish Candy, every customer gets their own individual scoop to use while selecting candy from the bins. That means no shared utensils, no worrying about who touched what before you, and no cross-contamination between different candy types.
It is a simple idea that shows real thoughtfulness.
One first-time visitor specifically called this out in her review, saying she was genuinely impressed by the hygiene practice. In a store where dozens of people are scooping from open bins every day, giving each person a dedicated scoop is a smart and considerate touch.
It also makes the whole experience feel more personal and clean.
Small details like this are often what turn a one-time visitor into a repeat customer. When a business pays attention to the little things, it signals that they care about the overall experience and not just making a sale.
Combined with the clear allergen labeling, the individual scoop policy makes Sweetish Candy one of the most thoughtfully run candy shops in all of Pennsylvania. It is the kind of place that earns loyal fans quickly.
Swedish Sodas and Unique Beverages
Candy is definitely the star of the show at Sweetish, but the drink selection deserves its own spotlight. The store carries a fun range of Swedish sodas and Nordic beverages that are nearly impossible to find at a regular grocery store.
These are not your standard cola or lemon-lime options — think lingonberry-flavored pops and other uniquely Scandinavian tastes.
One customer raved about the lingonberry pops specifically, comparing the overall store vibe to a larger, better-stocked version of the candy section at IKEA. That comparison actually captures something true about the experience.
Everything feels imported, intentional, and a little bit adventurous in the best possible way.
Picking up a Swedish soda to sip while you browse the candy wall is honestly a great way to spend an afternoon in Lancaster. These beverages also make excellent gifts for curious friends who love trying new things from around the world.
If you are already making the trip to scoop candy, grabbing a bottle of something unusual to try on the drive home is absolutely worth it. The drink selection adds a whole extra layer to an already unique shopping experience.
Icelandic Chocolate and Nordic Treats
Beyond the Swedish candy bins, Sweetish Candy also stocks some genuinely fascinating chocolate options, including Icelandic chocolate bars that are hard to track down anywhere else in Pennsylvania. One reviewer specifically mentioned picking up a popcorn chocolate bar and being pleasantly surprised by the texture of the dried corn kernels mixed into the chocolate.
It was different, and it was good.
Nordic chocolate tends to have a distinct flavor profile compared to American or Belgian varieties. The ingredients, the sweetness level, and the mix-ins all reflect a different candy-making tradition that feels refreshing and new.
Trying one of these bars is a great way to expand your chocolate horizons without having to book a flight to Scandinavia.
The owner even responded warmly to the popcorn bar review, confirming that the unusual texture is part of the charm. That kind of engagement between the store and its customers says a lot about the culture Sweetish has built.
Whether you are a serious chocolate enthusiast or just someone who likes picking up something unexpected, the Nordic chocolate shelf is worth a long, curious look every single time you visit.
Online Ordering and Nationwide Shipping
Not everyone can make the drive to Lancaster, but that does not mean you have to miss out on Swedish candy from Sweetish. The store ships orders nationwide, and based on customer reviews, the packaging and care that goes into each shipment is seriously impressive.
One customer ordered five tubs of cardamom cookies for her daughter and received a glowing phone call about how perfectly everything was wrapped in bubble wrap and packing peanuts.
Another devoted customer discovered Sweetish simply by googling her favorite candy and found that they ship. She became a lifelong fan not just because of the candy quality, but because of how the store handled a shipping delay caused by a carrier issue.
Sweetish proactively sent out a replacement package at no charge, even though the delay was entirely the shipping company’s fault.
That level of customer service is rare and genuinely worth recognizing. Whether you live in Pennsylvania or across the country, ordering from Sweetish online gives you access to authentic Scandinavian sweets delivered right to your door.
The store has clearly built its reputation on both product quality and the kind of human care that keeps customers coming back again and again.
Sampling Before You Buy
One of the most customer-friendly policies at Sweetish Candy is the ability to sample before committing. If you spot something in a bin that looks interesting but you are not sure about the flavor, you can simply ask a staff member to help you try it.
That kind of low-pressure, try-before-you-buy approach makes exploring unfamiliar Swedish candy so much less intimidating.
For first-timers especially, this policy is a game changer. Swedish candy covers a wild range of flavors, from intensely fruity to surprisingly salty to mildly herbal.
Without sampling, it can feel like a guessing game. Being able to taste a piece before scooping a whole bag of it means you are far more likely to go home with things you actually love.
Staff members like Ian have been praised by name in reviews for going out of their way to help customers find candies they would enjoy. That personal, knowledgeable approach turns a simple shopping trip into something closer to a guided tasting experience.
When the people working at a candy shop genuinely care about matching you with the right treats, the whole visit becomes memorable rather than just transactional.
Location, Hours, and What to Expect on Your Visit
Sweetish Candy is located at 301 N Queen Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, right in the heart of a walkable and vibrant downtown area. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and on Sundays from 11 AM to 5 PM, making it easy to work into a weekend trip or a weekday outing.
You can also reach them by phone at 717-621-2920 or browse their full selection at sweetishcandy.com.
The store itself is on the smaller side, which gives it a cozy, boutique feel. During busy times, it can get a little crowded with eight to twelve people browsing at once, so arriving early in the day or on a weekday afternoon tends to mean a more relaxed experience.
The candy wall wraps around the room, so you can literally go round and round scooping at your own pace.
With a 4.4-star rating across over 560 reviews, Sweetish has clearly made a strong impression on the Lancaster community and beyond. Visitors consistently describe it as a fun, bright, and genuinely unique stop.
Whether you are a local or just passing through, this little shop offers a candy experience that is hard to find anywhere else in Pennsylvania.