7 bizarre Belgian candy names
From lutsepoepe and muiletrekkers to nonnebillen and boeretenen: snacking at the old Ghent candy shop Temmerman is not only a treat for sugar addicts but (above all) for language fanatics.
Recently, I called for the Flemish word ‘sneukelen’ to be added to the Dutch language. What did I discover? With my Amsterdam Randstad mindset (and its corresponding limitations), I hadn’t realized that the word has long been used in Brabant. I was tagged in posts, received corrective messages and was even sent a photo of a real Brabant ‘sneukelplenkske’. Thanks for that, Ward.
Anyway, Flemish or not, that doesn’t change the fact that I still think sneukelen is a wonderful word, and that the Flemish (or Brabant too?) candy made for sneukelen comes with names that are at least as amusing. Here’s a list:
Wippers
A spherical candy with a hard caramel center and a layer of powdered sugar, whose name is said to come from the way it was created. A Ghent baker’s assistant was admiring a girl and left the caramel on the heat for too long, making it harder than planned. He tried to turn it into candy anyway and voilà: wippers.
Muilevol
Like the wipper, this is a variation on traditional caramel. The candy gets its name from its shape and texture: a large, flat, soft caramel that, if you put it in your mouth all at once, fills your mouth so completely that you can’t speak for a moment—in other words: ‘muilevol’.
Lutsepoepe
This is actually both the name of a jelly pudding (a type of flan) and a candy version of that jelly pudding. What does the name mean? A moving or wobbling backside.
Poepkes
These bright-red candies were intended to look like halved cherries and were called ‘washed cherries’, but with a little imagination you can also make out a backside. And, well, Flemish people do have plenty of imagination. So the candies now go through life as ‘poepkes’ or ‘poepegatjes’.
Nonnebil
It’s soft, foamy, pink and white—what does that make you think of? I think of a marshmallow, but apparently our southern neighbors think of a nun’s buttock. This candy (a cross between a marshmallow and a meringue-like foam candy) is also known as ouwewijvevlies (old women’s flesh) or jongmaskesvlies (girls’ flesh). It all depends on your preference.
Muiletrekkers
Think of the face you pull when eating a sour belt. Exactly—that face is what gave this sour candy its name. Originally, there were only yellow muiletrekkers with lemon flavor, but by now they also come in red and blue. Beware: they’re so sour that excessive consumption can damage your tongue.
Boeretenen
Foot fetish? This is the candy for you! Minus the nasty smells and toe cheese, that is, because this is really just stretchy meringue wrapped in a thin layer of chocolate. Where does the name come from? Its shape is reminiscent of the plant of the same name, a type of white, thick ornamental bean.
And there are plenty more crazy names to list, but I’d especially recommend visiting Temmerman if you’re in Ghent. Can’t choose from all the options? Then just buy a ready-made sneukelzak. Something different for your sneukelplenkske.
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