Percy Pigs are a beloved British sweet produced by Marks & Spencer, and an American visiting the UK decided to try them among other popular British snacks – but made one ‘big mistake’
An American tried Percy Pigs for the first time, but made one ‘crucial mistake.’ The UK boasts several iconic savoury and sweet snacks, including Percy Pig. The beloved pig-shaped gummy treat has been a popular confectionary in the UK for many years, enjoyed by both adults and children.
Created by Marks & Spencer (M&S), it has become a favourite for many British people – so much so that visitors to the country will often seek them out. Kevin Escalera, based in Miami, Florida, is a food and travel vlogger who tries popular snacks when visiting different countries. Known as Snack Eating Snacks online, he recently shared a video on TikTok sampling a range of British snacks from crisps to chocolates to sweet treats, like Percy Pig, while visiting the UK.
Kevin said: “We [have] got the Percy the pig fizzy gummies and these are supposedly super popular here. Everyone told me I had to try them.”
Taking a bite, he remarked: “Mmmm, they have a great chew to them, a little sour. These are fantastic gummies and I’m a gummy connoisseur.”
Kevin tried the M&S Percy Pig phizzy pigtails, but many TikTok users in the comment section of his post said these are the ‘wrong’ version of the sweet. One user simply stated: “Wrong percy pigs.”
Another added: “Should have got the original Percy pigs and not the fizzy tails. Original Percy pigs are an elite sweet.”
A third exclaimed: “No not those Percy’s! You needed the classic.” A fourth chimed in: “No one goes to M&S and buys those Percy pigs.”
The original M&S Percy Pig sweets are shaped like smiling pig faces and have a distinctive fruity, sweet taste and chewy texture. They offer a blend of raspberry, grape, elderberry, blackcurrant and mandarin flavours.
Percy Pig was launched in stores in 1992 and has since become a cultural phenomenon. Since 2019, the recipe has been changed to remove gelatin, making the sweets suitable for vegetarians. In 2022, beeswax was removed from the ingredients list, so they can now be enjoyed by vegans as well.
Percy Pig has become a huge brand with 124,000 followers on Instagram and a notable presence on TikTok.
Fans have even been inspired to create their own Percy Pig themed bakes as well as Percy-inspired accessories.
In 2024, Percy Pig collaborated with Dr Paw Paw to launch a vegan lip oil formula and a signature Percy scent.
The brand has also launched a pink nail polish duo set which dries down to release its exclusive scent.
In addition to Percy Pig, Kevin also tried Walkers Monster Munch crisps, prawn cocktail crisps, Tunnock’s Milk Chocolate Tea Cakes, Jammie Dodgers and a Cadbury Double Decker chocolate bar.
He compared the tea cakes to a mallow bar in the US but was confused about why they’re called tea cakes and wondered if you’re actually supposed to eat them with tea.
Despite the confusion, the food reviewer enjoyed all the British snacks he tried and concluded: “Overall, England, you guys know your snacks.
“I think England might be at the top of the charts of [all] the countries’ snack game(s) that I’ve tried.”
