Home of the Polkagris and Candy Capital of the World

Gränna is a beautiful town on a sloping hill in South Sweden with a stunning view over lake Vättern that will take your breath away. The houses, gardens and streets are just as they were centuries ago, small picturesque and cozy.

The woman who made Gränna famous was Amalia Eriksson who in 1859 started her own business by making the so called Polkagris. After her husband passed away, only a week after she gave birth to her daughter, Ida, she had to find means to support herself and Ida. She wrote to the city council and asked for permission to start making finer confectionary and biscuits and sweets, and also the so called Polkagris, a red and white candy stick which she usually cut into small pieces. The Mayor of Gränna, Carl Johan Wennberg, signed and gave her “the letter of privilege” to run a small scale business.

Nobody knows where the name polkagris came from, (the word “Polkagris” literally means Polka – pig). It is believed that the popular polka-dance at that time inspired her to name it “Polka”, together with the red colored part of the candy twisted round the white stick, just like a pigs tail, inspired her to name it “Pig”.

Soon her business grew steady, delivering confectionary and the Polkagris to the people of the city as well as visitors and tourists. Many from the royal family came to Gränna and bought her Polkagris. Naturally this boosted her business and the interest for the Polkagris from Gränna. Amalias daughter, Ida, helped her mother in the making and marketing of the Polkagris and understood how to develop the concept.

After Amalia passed away, at the age of 99 in 1923, Ida took over the business and made Polkagris until 1945. Other people in Gränna took over the trade and many housewives started making Polkagris in their homes and sold them to people passing through Gränna. At that time the main road between Stockholm and the continent went right through Gränna and many travelers stopped for a meal, petrol and also to buy the famous Gränna Polkagris. Mr Olle Mattias, born in Gränna and a Polkagris maker, was the first to have the manufacturing process on display and show the customer how the trade is done. Today, 150 years later, the Polkagris is still made in Gränna and it is made the same way Amalia used to make them. A real Gränna Polkagris is made with Sugar, Water, vinegar and Peppermint oil.

Read more about the manufacturing of Real Gränna Polkagris.