When traveling, it’s always fun to try local foods. People are usually surprised at some of the things I’ve tried since I am such a picky eater. I feel that when you travel, you are taken out of your comfort zone and are more likely to do and try things that you wouldn’t usually do at home.
Here is a list of sweets that probably has something for everyone on it! Who doesn’t like sweets and junk food! The list is from Budget Travel Magazine:
- Idaho: Idaho Spud: coconut- flecked dark chocolate surrounding a springy cocoa-flavored marshmallow center
- Hawaii: Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts– self explanatory
- California: Turtles– soft vanilla caramel and chocolate poured over toasted pecans
- New Mexico: Bizcochito– “the cookie that grandma makes”- anise and cinnamon combine with a touch of wine or brandy in these Latin-inflected shortbread crumblies
- Wisconsin: Candy Raisins– odd little gumdrops, yellow-tan with a wrinkly top, tastes are floral or honey ginger. The name is a mystery as there are no raisins.
- Florida: Coconut Patties– chocolate covered coconut squares come in a variety of flavors- plain, key lime, orange, mango, almond, or piña colada.
- Virginia: Peanut Brittle– one of America’s oldest treats, brittle is flat broken pieces of hard sugar embedded with nuts
- New Jersey: Salt Water Taffy– chewy, pastel colored candy wrapped in wax paper
- Vermont: Maple Sugar Candy- maple sugar sap is boiled & compressed into leaf shapes
- Pennsylvania: Peanut Chew– the original Power Bar, created as rations for the war- molasses & peanuts covered in dark chocolate
- Maine: Whoopie Pies– two round chocolate cakes with a sweet, creamy frosting in the middle
- Tennessee: Goo Goo Cluster-“chocolate covered sugar bomb of caramel, marshmallow & peanuts”
- Louisiana: Pralines– sugar cane & pecans with cream added- similar to the consistency to fudge
- Ohio: Buckeyes– peanut butter mixture partially dipped in chocolate
- Washington: Aplets & Cotlets– walnuts jellied with apples & apricot juice, similar to Turkish delight
I’ve only tried a few items from this list. I love whoopie pies and first heard of them while at a Lobster Shack in Maine. I also love peanut chews. I never realized that they were a regional item until about a year ago. They were just another candy option at the store but now seem to be harder to find.
I definitely want to try some Goo Goo Clusters if I ever get to visit Tennessee.
To read the Budget Travel article click here
