This archive report was first published on 18 September 2019.
On a typical day, you can find bowls of sweets in hotel seminar rooms, with Eclairs and Tropical Mint being the most popular brands. The Eclairs are always in short supply and are the first to go. For many, these sweets evoke a sense of nostalgia, reminding them of their childhood days when sweets were a rare treat reserved for special occasions.
As we grow older, it's hard to reconcile the fact that adults can also indulge in sweets. In the US, for instance, professors would often bring sweets to class, a practice that was unheard of in Kenya. Is this a sign of Americanization, where we're adopting Western customs and values?
The popularity of sweets among the affluent and hustlers has not gone unnoticed by entrepreneurs. They place sweets on shelves at eye level, making them hard to miss while queuing in supermarkets. The low prices of sweets make them an attractive and profitable option, with many people buying them without analyzing the price.
Interestingly, the prices of sweets, from Patcos to high-end imported chocolates, cut across all social-economic classes. Whether you're a hustler or a 'sonko', there's something sentimental about sweets. They evoke memories of childhood days, sharing, and romance. So, why not buy a sweet for yourself or someone else and stir fond memories?
As XN Iraki notes, 'Sweets link us to the past, present, and future. They cut across social-economic classes.' Indeed, sweets have become an integral part of our lives, reminding us of our childhood days and the importance of sharing and romance.
