Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts

Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts are one of the best selling candy items on our shelves. But, there's a couple of things you should know about them.

First, strictly speaking, they aren't made by Bassett's anymore. Bassett's is one of the many brands now owned by the giant international Cadbury corporation.

Bassett's never intentionally set out to design a confection called "Liquorice Allsorts"; they came into existence by accident. Liquorice Allsorts are 109 years old (the ones on the shelves at Blighty's aren't quite that old). They were "invented" in 1899 by a clumsy salesman who, after failing to sell his samples of various liquorice and other candies to a wholesale customer, tripped and spilled them all together on the counter. Seeing the mixture, the customer liked what he saw and placed an order. The colourful mix of candies gave birth to a new product.

Blighty's carries imported Liquorice Allsorts from the UK. Customers who buy them regularly tell me the Liquorice Allsorts from the UK are softer than the ones made here in Canada. I believe.