by Lilit Marcus, Condé Nast Traveler
Courtesy Hotlix/Candy Warehouse
One of the best ways to learn about a new culture is to try their favorite sweets. Whether you're sampling fragrant musk sticks in Australia, salted licorice hard candies in Finland, or chili powder-coated gummy spaghetti in Mexico, your dessert has never been so interesting.
1. Salmiakki
Just because it's candy doesn't mean it needs to be sweet. Scandinavians love their salmiakki, a salted black licorice. It's sold in hard and soft candy form but also used as a flavoring for liquor, ice cream, and soda.
Peter Forsberg / Shopping / Alamy
2. Musk sticks
These pink sugary confections, popular in Australia and New Zealand, taste like musk--a flavor that most people associate with strong cologne.
Courtesy Coles/AussieFoodShop
3. Bamba
Bamba may look like cheese doodles, but don't expect them to be savory--these Israeli treats taste more like peanut butter.
Courtesy Osem/Amazon
4. Zombie Food
These seasonal candies, produced every Halloween by sweetmaker Necco, have bloody red caramel inside body parts (including, of course, braaaaaaains).
Courtesy Necco
5. Tequila Lollipops
What? You didn't want a worm in your candy?
Courtesy Hotlix/Candy Warehouse
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