As one of the oldest cities in America, Charleston is no stranger to a long history of varied food. When most locals think of what sets our city apart, minds often jump to Lowcountry cuisine like Frogmore Stew or Charleston red rice. These are indeed worthy of their reputations, but today, we want to explore the options for anyone with a sweet tooth. What standouts make our city proud, and perhaps just as importantly, how does this gel with Charleston's emphasis on history?
The Eternal Stalwarts
Everybody has their favorite types of sweet food, but when push comes to shove, most tastes fall into two main categories: candy and ice cream. It makes sense since these are known all over the world, and every country and city can apply their own bends on the classic formula.
For the world of candy, one of our favorites has to be the OMG Candy Store. Operating now for more than 20 years, this family-run business has made waves across all of America, offering nationwide shipping and a huge selection of new and classic types of candy. From the classic soft teeth and hard candy to more contemporary gummies, and even themed packs like the Bob Ross Candy Bucket, this is a website we might not recommend visiting unless you have a full stomach.
On the ice cream front, Charleston again offers both smaller shops and chain stores like the always popular Kilwins. Boasting they offer the greatest ice cream and fudge in Charleston South Market is a bold claim, but if reputation is anything to go by, there might be something here beyond just confidence. We can personally vouch for their sea-salt caramel waffle cone, even if it is difficult to choose just one item.
What Makes Charleston’s Treats Such a Sweet Fit
Whether looking at the main menu or a dessert, food is more than just what goes in your mouth. Fully appreciating what you eat means taking into account the entire experience, the look, the smell, the ambiance, and of course, the history. Charleston is a city of history, and candy, even if we don't often think about it, has a hugely important backstory in many aspects of our culture.
A prime example here is demonstrated in seemingly disconnected entertainment, as we see in digital gaming. The Candy Crush series is a hugely popular modern example, but we can turn back the clock even further in how sweets integrate with casino games. The games in modern online casinos like Sky City start with bonus cash deposits, but many of their titles involve candy as a primary theme. Titles like Sunny Sevens and Exploding Pumpkins embrace fruit candy and other treats to reflect the origins of slot machines from over a hundred years ago. As sweets remained popular, so did this theme, and this is similar to how Charleston maintains such a strong presence in the dessert market.
The sweets we consume tend to be small, and this can make us underestimate just how giant their influence can be. Whether looking a local Charleston stores or larger chain establishments, the importance of this part of the culinary world is titanic, and it's not going anywhere. Sweets are about more than exciting our senses, they can help tell a story of where we've come from, and how we can connect our futures to our past.
