Sweets is the term that holds the crown (dental pun fully intended!) It reigns king across the north and south of England (67%), alongside sweeties, which tempted 18% of taste buds.
A few regional variations cropped up in the north. These included spice in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Bradford and Leeds, and goodies in the northwest and a smattering of other northeastern areas. The term kets is prominent in Newcastle and Sunderland, but its influence doesn’t quite extend to Middlesbrough, where goodies and sweets remain the terms for these delectable delights.
Respondents in Lancashire enjoy getting their teeth into toffies, particularly in Manchester, St Helens and Blackburn. In Nottinghamshire and South Derbyshire, the same term is used but a vowel change turns them into tuffees. Meanwhile, on the North Norfolk coast, cooshies are still enjoyed, but the term appears to be on the decline, despite being reported by speakers as young as 12 and as old as 84. Young speakers across the country seem to be talking increasingly of candy.
