Merchant Spotlight: Süss Candy

One of the great joys of running a community-centric business is getting to know the creative makers and crafters who reside in our region and make up our merchant base. This post spotlights some of these talented folks and their inspiring, nourishing, creative endeavors.

Süss Candy is a small confectionery based in Bellingham, WA whose mission is to redefine candy with a more natural approach to the craft. You can find Julia’s handmade sweets at maker’s markets around Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Madrona Gifts currently sources their Harvest Honey lollipops and Salted Coffee caramels, available in our Bee’s Knees and Coastal Coffee curated gift boxes or our Build-a-Box store.

Hi, I'm Julia founder of Süss Candy! I started this business three years ago because I wanted candy my kids could enjoy without worrying about what was in it. That meant using real ingredients, with readable labels, and colors sourced from things like spirulina, beets and turmeric. I shared my creations with friends and family and the feedback was great - and here we are still going strong.

How long have you been in business and how did you learn your craft?

It’s been three years since we opened for business. Honestly, learning this craft took a whole lot of trial and error! I started out making caramels for my husband's coworkers, tweaking an existing recipe to make it my own using mostly organic ingredients, and the feedback was great. From there my kids wanted something fruitier, so I started researching and landed on taffy, which was fun to experiment with in terms of flavors and color combinations. Over time though I realized the shelf life and labor of taffy just didn't work for a small operation, so I went back to researching and discovered fruit chews. I think the base recipe was called "dreamies." I took that as a starting point, added my own flavors, colors, and techniques, and that's how the Süss fruit chews were born. So I guess you could say I learned my craft by starting with a foundation and making it my own, recipe by recipe, batch by batch.

What is the guiding principle/mission of your business?

Our guiding mission is to offer real flavor and real ingredients. We aspire to make candy with amazing flavor, not just sugary sweetness. We use ingredients you can actually read and feel good about eating and feeding to your family.

Share your favorite or best-selling product in your shop. Why is it a favorite?

My personal favorite candy is the Sour Watermelon Chews, and it’s our bestseller by far. Think softer Starburst but actually sour. I love watermelon to begin with but the sourness really enhances the flavor. It actually started with a plain watermelon chew that customers really loved, but at markets I kept hearing people ask for something sour. So I started experimenting with ways to add that element, and landing on a sour outer coating was a game changer. The response was immediate. I honestly had no idea how much people loved sour candy until that moment. What makes them a favorite I think is that the sourness isn't harsh it actually enhances the watermelon flavor rather than overpowering it. It just works.

In what ways, big or small, do you apply sustainability in your business practices?

I keep it local where I can. The labels that go on my candy bags are made by a friend with his own small business and I source ingredients locally too. For example I get my honey from Maries Bees, coffee beans from Makeworth Coffee Co and I just started another fun collab with Funky's Hot Sauce. I’m still on the hunt for compostable packaging that holds up for our candy but it's always on my mind.

Where is your favorite place to spend time in the region? Why is it special to you?

Honestly, Sudden Valley, where I live with my family, is my favorite place. We moved here from California about 5 years ago and I've never felt more at home. The community is so supportive and I've made more friends here than anywhere else. With two little ones we don't venture too far, but I love spending time on the lake, kayaking and just enjoying it all with family and friends.

(Sudden Valley is a growing community nestled in forest along the west side of Lake Whatcom.)

Where can customers find you, and what are some ways they can show their support?

You can find Süss Candy online at susscandy.com and on instagram @susscandy1 and Facebook. I also do a lot of local markets where you can sample before you buy, I always share where I'll be next on social media and through my monthly newsletter so following along or signing up on the website is a great way to stay in the loop. As for showing support, it all helps! Follow, like, comment, leave a review or just grab some candy. For a small business every bit makes a real difference.

Gratitude to Julia for her contribution of time and talents to our business and the community at large!