Candy is one of my greatest guilty pleasures. I love all kinds of candy, whether it is chocolate, licorice, sour gummies, lollipops, or jellybeans. The only candy I am not a fan of is the kind with jelly in the middle. The United States offers a wide variety of options, a few of my favorites including Dylan’s Candy Bar and the Sweet Factory. Because candy is so accessible (grocery stores, movie theaters, etc), there just aren’t enough candy stores in the world. Another place in the world, besides the U.S., where candy stores do still exist is Spain. When walking around Barcelona a while back, I stumbled upon a candy store called Happy Pills.
Happy Pills is a small, bright store with a wall full of candy. They had everything I could possibly think of. The best part about the store is that the customers get to put together their own “prescriptions.” For example, I chose a medium-sized pill bottle, filled it with lip-shaped gummies and sour gummy worms, and chose a unique sticker with a short description (in spanish). The store seals the bottle for you, and when it comes time for indulging in your candy (for me it was as soon as I took one step out of the store), you get to eat the “medicine” (candy) that makes you happy. And sure enough, it did.
These little candy jars/prescriptions make great gifts because they’re a perfect souvenir, and who doesn’t want candy from Spain? Also, the concept is unique and hilarious. Check Happy Pills out online – you can order it, but keep in mind that the prices are in Euros.
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Setting: Small shop with a wall full of candy, convenient for a quick candy stop
Good for: Presents for friends and family, a treat for yourself, tasty walking snack while sightseeing
What to choose: Lip gummies, octopus gummies, chocolates, coke bottle gummies
Downsides: Pricey, sometimes there can be a lot of people in the store at once which makes it difficult to move around the small space
If you like this, you might like: The Bigg Chill