North Carolina hides a world of old-fashioned sweetness in plain sight. In small towns and busy city corners, candy makers still stir copper kettles, pull ribbons of taffy by hand, and craft treats the same way their grandparents did.
Step inside these shops, and it feels like time slows down – scents of caramel and peppermint fill the air, counters gleam with glass jars of vibrant confections, and every bite carries decades of tradition. These nine candy havens don’t just sell sweets; they keep alive the art, craft, and charm of handmade candy for a new generation to savor.
1. Rocket Fizz – Asheville, NC
One of Asheville’s most whimsical sweet spots brings nostalgia to life with retro candies and soda pops from decades past. Located near Pack Square, Rocket Fizz stocks everything from vintage saltwater taffy to novelty treats in bright, fun packaging.
The shelves are lined with glass jars of brightly colored fudge cubes, rock candy, and hand-wrapped sweets. Customers love browsing aisles stocked with throwback classics – dime candies, old-school bubblegum, and specialty confections you won’t find at big-box stores.
2. Candy Barrel – Blowing Rock, NC
Nestled inside the historic Mast General Store, this candy haven features wall-to-wall wooden barrels filled with colorful treats from another era. Children and adults alike marvel at the selection of over 500 varieties of candy, many unchanged since their great-grandparents’ childhoods…