On my last trip to Italy, just about every place we went had bowls of tiny wrapped candies. Some were fruit flavored, and hard, and some were chewy...but all were very tiny. Does anyone know what they are called, and where i can buy them in the US?

are these candies wrapped in bright foil in multi colours?
are they about the size of your thumb nail?
if so, try trader joes.

Yes, they are about the size of a shirt button only a little thicker. In bright foil wrappers. I check out Trader Joes. Thanks!

They are old Italian loose change. Before Italy converted to the euro it was quite normal to get such things to bulk out equally valueless lire coins.

Caramelle.

http://www.corriere.it/Media/Foto/20.../caramelle.jpg

<i>They are old Italian loose change. Before Italy converted to the euro it was quite normal to get such things to bulk out equally valueless lire coins.</i>


Sorry, this is a little off-topic, but I had to respond to this ---- the first time we were in Italy (summer of 1972), we were regularly given tootsie rolls as change!

I remember we received candy in place of change when in Italy in the 1970's. Even the toll takers on the toll roads gave out candy or postage stamps.

Seriously?! That's crazy..but then again, Italy is not a totally sane place..

We got tiny packets of cheese for change in Venice, and a slice of sausage in Vicenza in the 70s.

We thought we were getting these tiny candies on our night table in Florence and my husband ate one (it looked like a chicklet). Turned out to be some sort of insect repellant that you insert into a plug.

Trader Joes has them

The Walmart in town gives slices of sausage instead of coins as well. We just pick the lint off it and enjoy.

ha ha , good one Bird

I honestly thought this thread was going to answer a question I’ve wondered about for years now. My hotel in Sorrento had citrus flavored candies that were small in clear wrappers. They were the best. I went back the following year but to Pisa and those same little candies where on the reception desk. I asked where did they get them and was told “no idea”. They came in orange, grape, grapefruit, lemon and lime. I saved a wrapper but it’s not helpful. It only says mini caramelle. I would love to know where I can buy them as google is of no help.

Sassy these might be close, they come in orange, lemon, strawberry, pear and blueberry https://www.amazon.it/CARAMELLE-FRUT.../dp/B00508UEIU

Clarkgriswold they might be the ones as they definitely look like them. I just don�t think they ship internationally so I will have to look further into it. Knowing the name certainly helps.

We had Glitterati. They are sold on Amazon.

Back in the days when the exchange rate was 600 lira to the USD those little pieces of candy were probably worth more than some of the coins.

The first time I was in Italy was in 1995. By then, the smaller lira coins were no longer seen, and prices were in larger denominations, so the candies were no longer needed as change. I think the smallest coin I ever saw was 50 lire. Telephone tokens, which were worth about 200 lire, were sometimes given in change and accepted as payment.

To give an idea of prices, an espresso at the bar was about 900 lire before the euro.

The 500 lire coin was about the same size and shape as a 2 euro coin, but worth little more than 20 cents; in the early days of the euro, when both coins were still legal, it sometimes happened that you would get one "mistakenly" in your change.

Seems silly but I got them from Staples (office supply) by mistake. Yes Italian. It was requested I put some hard candy in the chocolates grab bowl... it thought I was ordering a normal size... but these itty-bitty ones came instead. No one will let me forget it!