Try Icelandic candy and chocolate to get a quick sense of everyday food culture in Iceland. These sweets reflect how local habits developed around practical ingredients and limited imports, resulting in familiar flavors paired with combinations that feel distinct.
Candy connects closely to how people experience food in Iceland. Many travelers encounter these flavors during broader culinary experiences, including food and drink tours, where local chocolate and licorice appear as small but telling parts of Icelandic cuisine.
You can head to local stores to try Icelandic candies while on Reykjavik city breaks, where grocery shops and convenience stores are easy to find. These candies are also handy snacks when planning self-drive tours or multi-day tours, since they travel well and are widely available across the country.
Keep reading to get familiar with the Icelandic candies and chocolate you are most likely to encounter while traveling. The guide explains what these sweets are, how they taste, and why they are part of everyday life in Iceland.
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Key Takeaways About Icelandic Candy and Chocolate
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Many Icelandic candy is built around chocolate and licorice, often combined in the same sweet.
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Popular Icelandic candies include Thristur, Noa Kropp, Draumur, Djupur, and Kokosbolla.
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Nammidagur, or Candy Day, is celebrated on Saturdays with discounts on pick-and-mix candy.
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Easter is the biggest candy season in Iceland, centered around milk chocolate paskaegg (Easter egg).
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Grocery stores and Keflavik Airport's duty-free offer the best value for buying Icelandic candy.
Icelandic Candy and Chocolate Up Close
Before the 20th century, most candy in Iceland was imported and relatively rare. During the Danish trade monopoly, sweets arrived mainly through foreign merchants and were not part of everyday life. In the early 1900s, this changed as local candy production began with Freyja in 1918, marking the start of Iceland’s own candy industry.
As domestic candy production grew, Icelandic sweets focused on ingredients that were easy to store. Chocolate became common, while licorice stood out because it was shelf-stable and practical when other sweeteners were limited. Much of this licorice is salmiak, known for its bold, salty flavor.
In the 1980s, Iceland introduced Nammidagur, or “Candy Day,” as a public health initiative to reduce sugar intake by only eating sweets once a week. Celebrated on Saturdays, it comes with discounts on mixed candy sold as bland i poka, meaning “mix in a bag,” and remains one of the most common ways to buy candy in Iceland.
Candy also plays a major role during Easter, the single biggest candy season in Iceland. Icelandic Paskaegg (Easter eggs) are made from milk chocolate and filled with a mix of toffees, jellies, and more chocolate. Each egg also contains a small slip of paper with an Icelandic proverb, a tradition that is often taken just as seriously as the candy itself.
Popular Icelandic Candy and Chocolate
These popular Icelandic candies are the sweets you are most likely to see in grocery stores, gas stations, and pick-and-mix aisles across Iceland. These are everyday treats that Icelanders recognize instantly and that travelers often try first because they are widely available and easy to find.
Thristur
Thristur is one of the most popular Icelandic candies. It combines soft chocolate fudge with small pieces of sweet black licorice, all coated in smooth milk chocolate. The flavor is mild and balanced, with creamy cocoa and caramel notes followed by a light herbal hint from the licorice, which makes it an easy introduction to Icelandic sweets.
The name Thristur means “three,” referring to its three-part structure: a milk chocolate coating, a dense caramel-chocolate fudge center, and pieces of sweet licorice. The bar has a soft, chewy texture rather than a crisp snap and is instantly recognizable by its yellow and brown wrapper with bold red text.
Thristur is widely available across Iceland and can even be enjoyed on a sweet tooth tour in Reykjavik. The Thristur depicted here is actually the giant variant, with the standard Thristur being roughly half the size.
Noa Kropp
Noa Kropp is a popular Icelandic chocolate snack often compared to Maltesers, though it’s smaller with a crunchier, cereal-based center. It is made from light corn puffs coated in thick Icelandic milk chocolate, creating a sweet, milky flavor with an airy, slightly salty crunch that makes it easy to snack on.
The chocolate contains about 33 percent cocoa solids and a hint of bourbon vanilla, adding richness without overpowering the corn center. Noa Kropp is easy to spot in stores thanks to its bright red bag and is most sold in 7-ounce or 12.7-ounce (200-gram or 360-gram) sizes.
In Iceland, Noa Kropp is closely associated with Icelandic cinema as a popular movie snack. Alongside the classic milk chocolate version, it is also available in dark chocolate and seasonal flavors. It is produced by Noi Sirius, one of Iceland’s oldest and largest chocolate makers, founded in 1920.
Opal and Topas
Opal and Topas are classic Icelandic licorice candies that were originally sold as throat lozenges and later became everyday sweets and breath fresheners. They are small, firm, and strongly flavored with menthol and eucalyptus, which sets them apart from the sweeter, chocolate-based Icelandic candies.
The flavor is sharp and cooling. Topas is more herbal and eucalyptus-forward, while Opal, especially the red box version, has a stronger menthol and licorice taste. The candies are gum-based and dissolve slowly, creating a long-lasting freshness rather than a quick burst of sweetness.
First introduced in 1945, Opal quickly became part of everyday Icelandic life, with packaging that has become iconic. Their popularity later inspired Icelandic liquors in the form of Opal and Topas flavored schnapps, a well-known novelty. Both are produced by Noi Sirius and remain widely available across Iceland.
Appolo Lakkris
Appolo Lakkris is a popular Icelandic licorice candy brand best known for its soft black licorice and filled varieties with marzipan or chocolate. The flavor is rich and earthy, with a soft, slightly sticky texture that reflects traditional Nordic licorice. Filled versions add a creamy sweetness that balances the natural bitterness of licorice.
One of the most popular Appolo products is the Lakkrisror, a soft licorice tube filled with yellow or white marzipan cream. The brand also makes licorice laces and chocolate-covered licorice bites, offering several classic forms of Icelandic licorice.
In Iceland, Appolo is seen as an everyday licorice brand. It is often the go-to choice for those who prefer traditional licorice without heavy chocolate. Appolo Lakkris is produced by Goa, a major Icelandic confectionery company founded in 1968.
Omnom
Omnom is one of the most recognizable Icelandic design projects, combining craft chocolate making with a bold visual identity. Based in Reykjavik, the company focuses on single-origin cocoa beans and creative flavor combinations inspired by Icelandic nature, setting it apart from mass-market Icelandic chocolates.
The chocolate has a complex flavor profile that highlights the natural tasting notes of the cocoa. This gives Omnom a more experimental, gourmet style compared to traditional chocolate brands. Popular bars include lakkris with sea salt, coffee with milk chocolate, black and burnt barley, and cookies and cream.
The company operates a chocolate and ice cream shop in the Grandi Harbor, where you can sample its unique offerings. If you’re intrigued, you can read this insider look at the Omnom Chocolate Factory.
Hraun
Hraun is a popular Icelandic chocolate bar named after the Icelandic word for “lava.” It is a rugged, bumpy snack made from layered wafers and chocolate cream, coated in milk chocolate and mixed with crunchy corn puffs. The texture is often compared to a heartier, more chocolate-forward version of a KitKat.
The flavor is mild and toasty, with the corn puffs adding extra crunch and a slightly roasted note. Because of its airy structure, Hraun feels less heavy than solid chocolate bars while still delivering a strong chocolate taste.
Hraun is commonly chosen for hiking excursions and budget self-drive tours, as it is affordable, holds up better than softer chocolate, and is easy to pack. It is sold in its original milk chocolate version, as well as dark chocolate and bite-size bags, and is produced by the Icelandic confectionery company Goa.
Draumur
Draumur, which translates to "dream," is one of the most popular Icelandic chocolate and licorice candies, built around the classic sweet and salty Nordic flavor combination. It is a solid chocolate bar with a licorice center, offering a familiar contrast of creamy milk chocolate and earthy anise-flavored licorice.
The candy focuses on contrast in both flavor and texture. Creamy milk chocolate softens the strong licorice taste, creating a balanced bite that is familiar to locals and distinctive to visitors. Draumur uses a chewy licorice tube fully encased in chocolate, which gives it a dense and satisfying texture.
Draumur is especially associated with gas stations and road trips, where it is a common snack while driving in Iceland. It is sold in standard bars and a stronger pepper-filled version called Sterkur Draumur. Draumur is produced by Freyja, one of Iceland’s long-standing candy makers.
Djupur
Djupur is a popular Icelandic licorice candy made up of small, round pieces with a soft licorice center, a layer of milk chocolate, and a crisp white sugar shell. Produced by Freyja, it is known for its polished, marble-like appearance and layered construction.
The candy focuses on contrast in both flavor and texture. The crunchy sugar coating gives way to smooth milk chocolate and finishes with chewy, slightly salty licorice, creating a balanced bite that feels more refined than many chocolate bars.
Djupur is commonly found in Icelandic candy bowls and stores and is often enjoyed as an everyday sweet. A stronger version called Sterkar Djupur adds a bold coating made with salmiak and pepper, appealing to fans of intense licorice flavors.
Prince Polo
Prince Polo is a crispy chocolate wafer bar from Poland but became a popular chocolate bar in Iceland. For many years, it was one of the few available options, cementing its place in local snack culture. In 1982, when Prince Polo briefly ran out in Iceland, it even made the front page of the country’s largest newspaper.
The bar is light and crunchy, made from thin layers of wafer held together with chocolate cream and coated in dark chocolate. The flavor is simple and balanced, focusing on texture rather than richness, which makes it easy to eat as a quick snack.
Prince Polo is strongly associated with Iceland’s coffee culture and older generations who grew up with it as a staple treat. Today, it remains widely available in original dark chocolate, as well as milk chocolate and hazelnut varieties.
Many hot dog stands offer Prince Polo as a dessert, so you can often get a combo deal that includes an Icelandic hot dog, a soda, and a Prince Polo bar. You can also visit the Crepes.is Food Truck, one of the must-visit cafes in Vik. Located near the Vik Church in the South Coast, the food truck serves crepes filled with melted Prince Polo bars.
Kokosbolla
A Kokosbolla, also known as an Icelandic coconut ball, is a light, palm-sized chocolate treat made from a fluffy marshmallow-like filling set on a thin wafer base. The entire ball is coated in chocolate and rolled in shredded coconut, giving it a distinctive look and an airy texture that sets it apart from standard candy bars.
The flavor is very sweet and delicate. When you bite into a Kokosbolla, the thin chocolate shell cracks to reveal a soft, cloud-like center that melts almost instantly. The contrast between the crisp wafer, light filling, and coconut coating is driven more by texture than richness.
Freyja Caramel
Freyja Karamellur are classic Icelandic caramels that have been part of everyday candy culture for generations. Produced by Freyja, they are small, chewy sweets that are often associated with traditional Saturday candy selections and older Icelandic candy traditions.
The caramels have a rich, buttery flavor with a deeply caramelized sweetness and a deliberately sticky texture. The chew is firm and long-lasting, which makes it more about slow enjoyment than quick snacking.
Introduced shortly after Freyja opened, Freyja Karamellur are among Iceland’s oldest sweets and remain a strong source of nostalgia. Their famously tough chew has earned them the nickname “haltu kjafti karamella,” or “shut up caramel,” a playful reference to the fact that it is nearly impossible to talk while chewing one.
Toffi Lolly
A Toffi Lolly is a simple Icelandic toffee lollipop that has stayed the same for decades. Thin and disk-shaped, it is made to be eaten slowly and is one of the most familiar small candies in Iceland. The candy contains no fillings or added flavors, just hard toffee on a stick.
The flavor is classic sweet cream toffee. It starts out hard, then gradually softens and turns chewy as it warms, which is part of its appeal. Thanks to its low price, Toffi Lolly is often a child’s first self-bought candy and is sold in both cream and chocolate versions.
Where To Buy Icelandic Candy and Chocolate
Iceland is known for high prices, but you do not have to overpay for candy if you know where to shop. Knowing where to buy Icelandic candy can save you up to 50 percent, especially if you avoid convenience stores and shop where locals do.
For the best value, head to grocery stores like Kronan. These are consistently the cheapest places to buy Icelandic candy, with a standard chocolate bar usually costing around 250 ISK to 400 ISK (about 1.80 USD to 3.00 USD). In contrast, convenience stores and gas stations often charge double for the exact same bar.
One local tip many visitors miss is Nammidagur, or Candy Day. In Iceland, most major supermarkets offer a 50 percent discount on pick-and-mix candy every Saturday, with the best option being the Hagkaup Grocery Stores. If you want to stock up on loose licorice, gummies, and chocolates, Saturday is the cheapest day to do it.
Keflavik Airport duty-free is a convenient place to buy Icelandic souvenirs, especially candy in larger quantities, with multipacks of favorites like Thristur, Noa Kropp, and Opal at tax-free prices. If you end up really liking a candy and miss it after returning home, you can also order Icelandic candy through Nammi’s online store.
FAQs About Icelandic Candy and Chocolate
If you are visiting Iceland or planning to bring sweets home, these are the answers to the most common questions travelers ask about Icelandic candy.
What is the most popular candy in Iceland?
The most popular candy in Iceland is Thristur. It is a chocolate-covered fudge bar with soft licorice pieces and consistently ranks as the best-selling candy in Icelandic grocery stores.
Why is licorice so common in Icelandic candy?
Licorice became popular in Iceland because it is shelf-stable and easy to work with. It was widely used before sugar became affordable and remains a defining flavor in many Icelandic sweets today.
What is Nammidagur in Iceland?
Nammidagur, or Candy Day, is a Saturday tradition in Iceland when families buy sweets. Many supermarkets offer discounts on mixed candy, which makes it the most popular day of the week to buy Icelandic candy.
What is the best Icelandic candy to bring home as a souvenir?
For gifts, Omnom chocolate is a popular choice thanks to its high quality and artistic packaging. For better value, large bags of Noi Kropp or Thristur from the Keflavik Airport duty-free are among the most cost-effective souvenirs.
Is Icelandic candy expensive?
Candy in Iceland can be expensive, especially at convenience stores and gas stations. Grocery stores like Kronan offer the best prices, and Saturday discounts during Nammidagur can significantly reduce costs.
Can I buy Icelandic candy at Keflavik Airport?
Yes, the Keflavik Airport duty-free shop sells a wide range of Icelandic candy, including multipacks and large bags that are often cheaper than buying candy in the city.
Where can you buy Icelandic candy online?
You can order Icelandic candy from the Nammi Online Shop, a popular Iceland-based store that ships internationally. It is a convenient option if you discover a favorite candy during your trip and want to restock after returning home.
Add Sweetness to Your Trip With Icelandic Candy
Icelandic candy and chocolate are shaped by local habits, history, and taste preferences rather than global trends. Chocolate bars like Thristur and Noi Sirius sit alongside coconut treats, caramels, and licorice-based sweets that reflect what works in Iceland’s food culture.
For travelers, trying Icelandic candy is one of the easiest ways to experience something local. Grocery stores offer the best prices, Saturdays bring discounts on pick-and-mix candy, and Keflavik Airport's duty-free shopping is ideal for stocking up before departure.
If you want to explore more local specialties, adventurous travelers can also try some of the dishes often described as Iceland’s unconventional food, which reflect traditional flavors and acquired tastes. These foods offer a deeper look into older culinary traditions that go beyond candy and modern snacks.
Have you already tried Icelandic candy, or are you planning to sample it during your trip? Which sweets stood out the most, and did salmiak grow on you? Share your favorites, surprises, or thoughts in the comments and help other travelers decide what to try first.
