Joris Sweets: Belgian craftsmanship since 1938
Discover Joris Sweets, the Belgian family business behind nostalgic candy classics such as Belgas, Morello cherries, and Agents Mauves. A story of 4 generations of craftsmanship, traditional recipes, and real gum arabic.
Some candies not only taste good but immediately evoke memories. A recognizable shape, a typical texture, or that one flavor you used to fish out of the candy jar.
That nostalgic feeling is central to Joris Sweets, a Belgian family business with a history stretching back almost 100 years.
Since 1938, Joris has continued to build on traditional recipes, carefully selected ingredients, and special expertise in gum and confectionery. Today, the 4th generation is at the helm.
At Vandeca, you'll find an extensive assortment of Joris Sweets candy, from classics like Belgas and Peppermint Squares to fruity cherries, soft gums, and the recognizable Agents Mauves.
Joris Sweets: 4 generations of Belgian confectionery
The story begins with Joris Van den Driessche, the great-grandfather of the current 4th generation.
In the 1920s and 1930s, he took the first steps in what would later become Suikerbakkerij Joris (Joris Confectionery). In the 1930s, his son Jan Van den Driessche joined him.
Jan then made the sweets himself in a small kitchen and managed to produce approximately 50kg of candies per day.
In 1938, the company was named Joris.
At that time, production was still entirely by hand. Not only gums but also pralines, hard candies, soft caramels, dragées, and nougat were part of the assortment.
Through 4 generations, the family adhered to the same foundation: taste, tradition, and quality.
why gum arabic is so special
One of the most striking features of Joris Sweets is the use of real gum arabic.
According to the family business itself, Joris is one of the few companies that still uses gum arabic as a basic raw material.
Gum arabic is a natural gum derived from acacia trees. At Joris, it plays an important role in various traditional gum candies and contributes to their distinctive texture.
For hard gums, gum arabic is carefully selected, broken into smaller pieces, melted, and purified before further processing.
This makes the production method quite different from many modern gummies.
nostalgic candy with recognizable classics
Anyone looking at the Joris Sweets assortment will discover quite a few names and shapes that have been around for generations.
For example, think of:
- Belgas
- Zwarte Muisjes (Black Mice)
- Muntblokjes (Peppermint Squares)
- Citros
- Agents Mauves
- Washed Cherries
- Colored Blackberries
- Gommes Pectorales
- Aniseed Gum
- Bears
Some candies are fruity, others spicy, soft, firm, or sour. These different flavors and textures make the assortment interesting for those consciously looking for nostalgic Belgian candy instead of just the typical modern candy mix.
On the current Joris Sweets page at Vandeca, you can discover the different varieties side by side.
traditional recipes and special ingredients
Gum arabic is not the only ingredient with which Joris keeps its history alive.
Anise also reappears in traditional recipes such as Belgas and Zwarte Muisjes. For Bruine Pector, Joris uses a homemade organic elderberry syrup from a recipe dating back to the 1930s.
Many recipes are still based on the original formulations of the family business.
That does not mean that every candy is still made entirely by hand today as it was in 1938. However, Joris combines modern production with traditional production methods, carefully selected raw materials, and various manual quality controls.
tradition with an eye on the future
A company that has existed for almost 100 years can only continue to grow by combining tradition with change.
Joris did so, for example, in 2003, when parts of the company roof were converted into a green roof during renovation work.
The assortment also evolved over the years. In addition to the traditional hard and soft gums, there are, among others, sugar-free gums and organic variants.
In this way, the brand continues to offer new choices without completely abandoning its historical identity.
why Joris Sweets still feels recognizable
Joris Sweets ultimately is not just about how long the company has existed.
It is primarily the products themselves that make history tangible.
The familiar shapes, classic names, specific textures, and recipes ensure that many adults recognize tastes they knew from childhood. At the same time, younger candy lovers are discovering these same classics anew today.
This interplay of nostalgia and Belgian craftsmanship makes Joris Sweets special.
Not candy that necessarily tries to follow the latest trend, but products that want to remain recognizable.
Discover Joris Sweets at Vandeca
Curious which classics still exist today?
At Vandeca, you will find different types of Joris Sweets candy in large packages. From fruity cherries and soft gums to spicy Belgas and colorful candy classics.
If you want to discover other types, check out the complete candy assortment with well-known brands, candy mixes, lollipops, sour candy, liquorice, and other sweets.
Whether you know Joris Sweets from your childhood or are discovering the brand for the first time: almost 100 years of Belgian candy history is not something you taste every day.