Liquorice allsorts facts for kids
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| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Region or state | Sheffield |
| Created by | Geo. Bassett & Co |
| Main ingredients | Liquorice, sugar, coconut, aniseed jelly, fruit flavourings, gelatine |
Liquorice allsorts are a fun mix of different liquorice candies. They come in many shapes, colors, and textures. These tasty treats are made from ingredients like liquorice, sugar, coconut, aniseed jelly, fruit flavors, and gelatine.
The first liquorice allsorts were made in Sheffield, England. A company called Geo. Bassett & Co Ltd. created them. Today, many companies around the world make allsorts. They are very popular in Europe, especially in Britain and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, they are called Engelse drop, which means "English liquorice." People also enjoy them in Scandinavia, where they are known as Engelsk konfekt or Lakridskonfekt.
How Liquorice Allsorts Began
The story of liquorice allsorts started in 1899. A sales person for Bassett's, named Charlie Thompson, was showing candy samples to a customer in Leicester. He accidentally tripped and dropped his tray of sweets. All the different candies mixed together on the floor.
When Charlie quickly tried to put them back in order, the customer was very interested in the new mix. They thought it looked like a great idea! Because of this accident, Bassett's decided to make the mixed candies in large amounts. The new "allsorts" quickly became a very popular candy.
Over the years, Bassett's has also made different kinds of allsorts. Some versions do not even have liquorice. For example, "Fruit Allsorts" have mixed fruit flavors. "Dessert Allsorts" taste like treats such as apple tart or lemon cheesecake. These new kinds still have the same fun shapes as the original candies.
Meet Bertie Bassett
The Bassett's company has a famous mascot named Bertie Bassett. He is a cartoon character made up of different liquorice allsorts. Bertie Bassett is a well-known part of British culture.
Bertie was created by an advertising writer named Frank Regan. He used actual candies and pipe cleaners to build the first version of Bertie. Today, one of the candies in the allsorts mix is a liquorice figure shaped just like Bertie.
Bertie Bassett has even appeared in popular culture. In an episode of the TV show Doctor Who, there was a villain called the Kandy Man. This character was made from liquorice allsorts. Some people thought he looked a lot like Bertie Bassett. The BBC, which makes Doctor Who, later promised Bassett's that the Kandy Man would not appear again.
In 2009, Bassett's held a fun event to promote their candy. They staged a pretend wedding between actors dressed as Bertie and another candy character, Betty Bassett. This "wedding" took place at their factory in Sheffield.
