When you’re a kid, Halloween is about one thing: candy. When you’re older, trick-or-treating isn’t an option — or at least might get you weird looks. To keep the kid in you alive, you buy your own candy. This year, Princeton students can satisfy their Halloween cravings at Tiger Treats, a new, shoe-box sized Swedish candy store on the corner of Witherspoon and Spring Street.
Sean Albert, the owner of Tiger Treats, explained in an interview with The Daily Princetonian that Swedish candy differs from American candy because of its “amazing flavors, unique textures, and commitment to quality.” The candy has “natural colorings from fruits and vegetables [and] real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup,” Albert added.
The candy brings a tradition from Sweden to Princeton: “Lördagsgodis.” Meaning Saturday candy, it is a Swedish tradition in which sweets and candies are eaten every Saturday.
Tiger Treats uses the “pick and mix” method, which has become increasingly popular at viral New York City Swedish candy shops. When you enter the shop, you pick up a bag, a pair of tongs, and then walk around the store taking as many pieces of each type of candy as you wish. It’s set up like a salt water taffy station at the Jersey shore, where each type of candy and each flavor is separated and labeled.
At the register, the weight of the bag determines the price.
The store is very small, fitting no more than five or six people, but that doesn’t stop them from packing in as many kinds of candy as possible. There are classics like Swedish fish (although they are slightly bigger and in a few more flavors than the American version), as well as unique candies like watermelon skulls and fizzy apples. Each candy is labeled with its country of origin and either “sweet” or “sour.” Almost every candy is from Sweden, although there is a special container of American candy corn for Halloween. They also have sealed bags of Swedish candy available for purchase.
Orange and black Halloween candy.
Lulu Pettit / The Daily Princetonian
I took a small selection of candies to try. My bag ended up costing about $5, with around twenty candies in total.
“What day is it? It’s always changing,” Albert said at the impossibility of picking just one favorite.
My personal favorite were the watermelon slices, which balanced sweet with just enough sour to get the flavor without puckering my lips. I also really enjoyed the yellow Swedish fish, which almost tasted like Skittles and were extra chewy. For those looking to try an extra-sweet candy, I recommend the black and orange pumpkins, perfect for Princeton as well as Halloween, which were softer and sweeter than the other candies I tried.
Previously, Tiger Treats collaborated with Instant Replay, a student-run fashion company, during one of their pop-ups this semester. Albert shared that they’re hoping to continue collaborating with student groups and making themselves more available to the campus community. In the future, he said, they also hope to be able to accept PawPoints to make their candies more accessible to students.
As I left the store, I couldn’t stop myself from reaching into my bag. They are some of the most delicious candies I’ve ever tasted and perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit. If you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth this Halloween and indulge your inner child, Tiger Treats is the perfect place to go.
Lulu Pettit is a member of the Class of 2027 and a senior writer for The Prospect from the suburbs of Philadelphia. She can be reached at lp3153[at]princeton.edu or her Instagram @itslulupettit.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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