I’ll take you to the Candy Shop

One of our favorite discoveries in Jyvaskyla, though possibly not the most conducive to our studies, has been the Candy Store at the Forum. The Forum, one of several large shopping centers, is conveniently located a mere minute from the bus hub downtown. About the size of our apartment, the Candy Store is covered wall-to-wall with quadruple-tiered candy bins. It also has several rows of bins running the length of the store. It’s really fun to get candy out of the bins, because you have to use a little long-handled scooper. First, you flip the scooper upside down to push open the plastic lid on the bin, then you flip it around to scoop out your candy into a clear plastic bag, and finally push it closed. For more sticky or otherwise difficult-to-maneuver candies, tongs will usually be available, waiting in a handy place.

The only problem with this wonderful method is that all the candy ingredients are in Finnish, and, being that neither of us can read Finnish nor particularly enjoy licorice (which comes in endless shapes, sizes, and colors), we are occasionally plagued by sneaky licorice in our candy bags. The most popular candy brand seems to be Candy King. Of all the candies available, our favorites are: peach gummis, rainbow gummi strips (kind of like a multicolored fruit-by-the-foot), dark chocolate mint cordials, Swedish fish (not sure if these are actually from Sweden, but we figure they have a better chance of it here than in the States), and chocolate covered raisins. We’re very happy to report that most Finnish people seem to enjoy candy too (as our Finnish moms have told us as well), and we are not the only college-age kids (or adults, or seniors) frequenting the candy store.