😉🍭 We’ll take you to the candy shop

It’s Monday, Boston.

🍵 Calling all matcha girlies: TikTok has crowned a new viral matcha, and you can find it at BON Specialty Coffee in Beacon Hill. We gotta say, if it tastes half as good as it looks, we’re IN. 

👀 What’s on tap today:

• C’s fans are crying in the club

• Apple owes you money

• The Red Sox’ new threads

Up first…

CULTURE

The candy that broke the internet

The final boss of *little treat* culture: Swedish candy. Sweden’s bright, pillowy gummy candies have taken over the internet, going viral enough to cause a global candy shortage and create a new market for IRL candy shops, including right here in Boston.

Here’s what to know:

🍬 It all started with one viral TikTok. In 2024, @marygracegraves’ video showing off her Swedish candy haul took NYC candy shop BonBon from under-the-radar to completely viral, and put Swedish candy on the map in the U.S. From there, Swedish candytok blew up, and suddenly, a massive market for the sweets was born. This year alone, two pick-n-mix shops carrying Swedish candy have opened in Boston, lil sweet treat on Newbury Street and Madeleine’s Candy Shop in the South End (both of which drew huge crowds).

📲 Swedish gummies are giving candy the prebiotic soda treatment. In the same way brands like Olipop successfully rebranded soda for the girls, Swedish candy is changing Americans’ candy narrative from “inherently bad for you and childish,” to a guilt-free, chic indulgence, said Madeleine Brason, owner of Madeleine’s Candy Shop. See: The aesthetically pleasing colors and foamy, luxurious textures, plus delicate, not-too-sweet flavors, and ingredient lists full of natural flavoring and real sugar. Sour Patch Kids could NEVER.

🍭 But for Swedes, candy isn’t a trend. According to Maria Stolt, who owns Hull’s Nantasket Sweets by Swedes, candy for Swedes is like ice cream for New Englanders: It’s “built into our culture,” said Anna Sandell, a 35-year-old who grew up between Sweden and the U.S. And they’re not kidding: The average Swede consumes 35 pounds of candy a year, over triple that of the average American. They even have a word for their tradition of indulging in sweets on Saturdays: Lördagsgodis. 

😋 Local shops are hoping the treats have staying power. Though the rapid expansion of candy shops makes Brason a little nervous (“I hope we don't have a fro-yo graveyard [situation],” she said), she’s hopeful the pick-n-mix format will allow for her to “evolve with consumer trends,” adding new candies as they come in and out of style. And just in case, Madeleine’s is working to add ice cream. 

🇸🇪 No matter what, the candy has given Sweden a moment in the sun. Stolt’s shop has been open since 2020, but her customer base has blown up since the virality of Swedish candy — bringing in customers from Alaska to California and beyond. It’s “brought a lot of people together and … made Sweden a place to talk about,” she said. “It's a really wonderful journey.”

QUICK QUESTION!

🍬 Have you tried the viral Swedish candy?

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

😭 Celtics fans are crying in the club. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that after a painstaking, heartbreaking playoff series against the Knicks, the C’s season was ended by a nearly 40-point L on Friday. The series’ final tally was 4-2, but considering JT’s ruptured achilles, JB’s torn meniscus, the fact that the band most likely will not be getting back together next season — and New York fans rubbing our noses in the win — emotionally, it feels a little closer to 1,000,000-0. So … let’s go Red Sox?

🥊 Mayor Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft went toe-to-toe IRL. On Thursday, the pair (plus candidates Domingos DaRosa and Alex Alex) gathered for the first candidate forum of the mayoral race to answer questions and land some jabs. Issues like car dependency, city budget cuts, and tackling the opioid epidemic pit Wu and Kraft against each other, while DaRosa and Alex used the stage to share their stories with voters and outline policy proposals. One cringeworthy moment: Kraft not knowing which ward he lives in. You can watch the whole thing here.

⚾ Fenway workers might get their first STRIKE. Pun intended. Over 1,000 of Fenway’s unionized concessions workers are threatening to go on Fenway’s first-ever labor strike, and will vote to authorize it next month. Why? Money, honey. Right now, most concessions workers at Fenway are making less than $20/hour, which is well below Boston’s cost of living, and, they say, less than other comparable ballparks’ wages. They’re also seeking protections against automated food kiosks, which Fenway debuted in 2022.

📲 Do you have an iPhone? Apple probably owes you money. The tech giant is paying $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit over Siri turning on unintentionally. TL;DR, if that happened to you anytime between 2014 and 2024, you’re entitled to $20 per Siri device, from iPhones to Macbooks to Apple TVs, up to $100 a person. To file a claim, head to this website by July 2, where you’ll provide some info (like device models and serial numbers) and check a few boxes. Then, just wait for the cash to roll in (which won’t be until August, at least).

THINGS TO DO

Weekday checklist

🍳 Chow down like it’s 1995. In celebration of its 30th b-day, Mike’s City Diner is bringing back its OG “weekday special” breakfast price. Through Friday, you can get bacon (or sausage), eggs, home fries, toast, and coffee for just $6.99.

🏋️ Get movin’ on the Greenway. Say goodbye to $50 hot yoga, and hello to the Greenway’s FREE fitness series, kicking off this week. Tonight: HIIT and flow yoga by Healthworks.

🧑‍⚕️ Salute some healthcare heroes. The Globe’s annual Salute to Nurses event is back on May 20 at The Grand. Expect networking, free drinks, and hors d’oeuvres. Nurses get free entry. RSVP here.

🎥 Catch a (cult) classic film. We have three options: On May 21, Josie and the Pussycats at the Speedway with pizza and cocktails; and on May 22, 10 Things I Hate About You at the Coolidge followed by a rooftop bash, or Mean Girls at Boston Landing. Show up early for a pre-party.

🎸 Pregame Boston Calling. Sam Adams’ JP brewery is hosting a FREE mini music fest on May 22, with sets from six local artists and a Boston Calling ticket raffle.

☀️ Say hello to summer. The Revere Hotel, one of Boston’s best (and only) rooftops, is hosting a summer launch party on May 22 with live music and summer cocktails. B-Side members get $7 off!

🎶 Give epic female composers their flowers. On May 22, the Boston Public Quartet is putting on a night of music and conversation showcasing five landmark female composers at Strand Theatre. 

🥳 Celebrate Allston’s new food hall. Craft Food Halls’ grand opening is on May 22, and it’s going all out. Think: Food, drinks, live music, games, and most importantly, free samples.

ONE LAST THING

The Red Sox’ new lewk

Red is officially out of vogue for the Red Sox. 

On Friday, the Sox were the last team in the MLB to unveil their new “city connect” uniforms, which the team will wear at select home games. And considering how popular the last ones were (you might remember the bright yellow and blue color scheme), the pressure was ON.

The verdict? The new “Fenway greens” didn’t disappoint. While not as flashy as the yellow unis, the new threads are Green Monster-themed (which is to say, they’re green with a few Fenway-themed touches) and earned an A- grade from ESPN. 

Even better news: The yellow jerseys aren’t going away! They’ve officially been slotted into the Red Sox’s road rotation, replacing their navy unis. … Though it seems like the fans might be happier about it than the players.

— Written by Gia Orsino

⚾ Thanks for reading! Gia’s two cents: Not to be a hater, but banana yellow is a tough color to pull off.

👖 The results are in: It was a tight race, but 51% of B-Siders say they’re team thrift over team retail. One reader said: “Fast fashion is not hot!”

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].