The Most Popular Candies
Handmade and original raw materials
We use only natural flavours and colours and of course no preservatives. Since we moved into our current location in 1932 there have only been small changes in production: The stove, the sugar is boiled on, is still the original, which is converted from coal burning stoves to being heated with gas.
In addition, Theodor Søemod came up with two ideas that could improve the candy production: an electric fan, so sweets were cooled faster when in their final shape, as well as a small heater, so you could prolong the working time with candy with about 10 minutes.
There are also introduced small everyday devices in order to reduce the workload: The candy makers got a cart to transport the 27 kg heavy copper saucepan, with the boiling sugar, from the stove to the production table.
The ladies in the store has been given a closing machine for the candy bags, so they don’t physically have to close the many bags that is weighed every day.
The biggest change, however, is the packaging. In the 1950s candies was still packaged in a traditional paper Cone, but it is now no longer possible to use paper cones, since they are not airtight.
Similarly, it is a necessity to have air conditioning during production, to minimize the moisture that causes drops to get sticky.
Visit Sømods Bolcher in Copenhagen and gain insight into the old-fashioned craftsmanship and traditions associated with the candy production.
Visit the production
We have retained the old manufacturing method, so the candies are still produced as for over 125 years ago.
This we have maintained despite the production has increased from 27 tons on an annual basis, to the current 50 tonnes annually.
Come to visit Sømods Bolcher factory, where time seems to stand still. Sømods Bolcher have been in the factory in Nørregade 36 since 1932, where it is now 5. generation, who manages the daily production of quality candies on the 319 square meters factory.
Historic time capsule
Sømods Bolcher is like a historic time capsule, which gives an insight into the history and traditions of craftsmanship in Copenhagen, and where you can gain insight into how we make our sweets.
Although we cherish our traditions, we are always open to new ideas. Our inspiration for new recipes comes from our customers, as well as new flavours we encounter in everyday life or find around the world. You can read more about our history and how we make our candies.
The production
Monday to Friday at 10:15, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00.
Changes may occur – see them on our Facebook.
Groups and institutions MUST reserve time by calling +45 33 12 60 46.
Homemade candies like in the old days
Our candies are, like our name, tied up on a long tradition of candy making. Our recipes are passed down from generation to generation.
This means that we still produce candies as in the old days, after the same recipe, and everything is still homemade with genuine natural products. Our candies are made with respect for traditions and follow the good old craft methods. Everything is still made as we did it in 1891, with the same machines and methods as were used in the production at that time.
In our production we do not use glucose, maize starch, flavourings or other synthetic sugars. Only the best Pearl sugar makes it into our traditional candies.
We have a wide range of candies with different colours, sizes, shapes and flavours. Common to them all is that they are without artificial flavours and colourings. Everything is 100% natural.
As when we started in Nørregade in 1891 we still have our popular classics such as:
‒ The King of Denmark
‒ Bismarck candies
‒ Suchre D'ore
‒ Dutchmen candies
In order to keep up with our customers' tastes and preferences, we have since expanded the range to include sweets like cola, liquorice, rhubarb, honey and even sugar free candies. In addition, we follow with future trends and offers delicious hand-crafted lollipops and candies to the people allergic to flavours and colours.
The Customers' Favourites
Are you visiting Copenhagen?
Our Copenhagen Guide
As a tourist in Copenhagen the tour guides provides you with informations on some amazing sites to see, while in town. We often get asked where we, as locals, prefer to go, so we decided to make our top 5 picks of odd and different sight and places we enjoy on our days off.
There is a bit of culture to see, since Mr. Sømod enjoys Copenhagen history, and there is some for the tastebuds - because let's face it, we love flavours and good taste. We hope you will enjoy your stay in town and see the same beauty we see everyday.
Copenhagen from the water
Copenhagen is an old harbour and maritime city, and one of the most beautiful and enjoyable ways to see it, is from a boat sailing down its charming canals.
Back in the 17th century, King Christian the 4th expanded and developed much of the old city and created what we know it as today. Many of Copenhagen's famous buildings was ordered by him, but one of the less known impacts he had on the city was its canals. To the east of the city, inspired by Dutch planning, the king developed the district of Christianshavn with canals and ramparts. It was initially intended to be a fortified trading centre but ultimately became part of Copenhagen.
There is many ways you can experience Copenhagen from water level and the most common ones is the regular tourist boats. The Sømod family can’t say anything bad about the tourist boats, since they still take a trip from time to time. It is a nice way to see Copenhagen and the guides are good at their jobs. The boats usually takes you down the mainstream canals and shows you the amazing buildings which are facing the waters edge.
The district of Christianshavn is teaming with small cosy nooks and crannies, off the tourist tracks, and in the heart of the old authentic Copenhagen. This is where our recommendation comes in.
There are rental services, where you for a couple of hours, can be the captain of your own solar powered picnic boat. Bring a good lunch and set out to explore these small romantic canals and see the old Copenhagen off the beaten path and from an angle many never gets to experience.
It is something you want to consider ahead of time, since this is very popular with the locals and the number of boats is limited. Visit GoBoat or FriendShips for booking.
Copenhagen from above - The Towers
When people are on their walk through Copenhagen, many forget to look up. Printed in the old buildings you can see gargoyles, castle formations, canon balls and proof of hundreds of years history, and as you look up you can see towers. Many of these towers are accessible for the public and they are worth a visit when you pass by the anyways. It usually cost a little to get up in them, but the experience is worth it.
Mr. Sømod love the history of Copenhagen and this is his top picks when it comes to seeing Copenhagen from above.
Frelser Taarn
This tower is more than 250 years old and it has so much history connected to it that it is impossible to go through here. A good part of the walk up is through small crooked stairs, inside the heart of the tower, before you get to the spire. If you are not claustrophobic and can handle stairs this journey to the top is on it own filled with history. As you fill with amazement and i tid bit of lightheadedness on the way to the top, it all gets blown away when you walk outside. Yes, the last bit to the top is walking on the outside of the spire.
The walk up, the sudden burst of light and fresh air, the narrowing of the spire and the amazing view over Copenhagen is in this combination mind blowing and breathtaking. It is located in the very old part of town, which makes the sight even more spectacular.
Rundetaarn
This tower is on of the most iconic in Copenhagen. Located around the corner from the candy factory it is worth a quick peek. It was finished in 1642 after orders from King Christian the 6th and in the late 1760’s it became Denmark's “ground zero”. The first correct map of Denmark was created then, with this tower as its centre.
The unique construction of this town have later allowed for some more entertaining events, like when Zar Peter the great wrote up the tower on horseback or the different bicycle races which have taken place in the curved tower spiral. There is allot of different facts and history about this tower, both crucial for the development of Denmark as a country and more fun ones as the yearly unicycle race to the top and down.
Frederiks Kirke / Marble Church
This is not a tower, but it is definitely on the list of amazing sights in Copenhagen. The history of this church is very long and complex but the dome speaks for itself. And now you can enter the dome inside and out. You need to check the opening hours of the tower, since it is limited when they let people up and yes, the admission fee is a little more than the other towers. But if you like history, architecture and a spectacular view, it is worth it. You get a unique perspective of the elaborate and complex architectural structure needed to build a dome of this size out of wood. And as you venture to the top it feels like you are on an adventure back in time, before entering outside the top of the dome and seeing the full perspective of Copenhagen and the Royal family's daily residence.
If you go there, arrive 15-20 minutes before the scheduled time, because it is limited access and it is nice not to be the back of the line when you make your way to the top through the small and narrow walkways and stairs. Visit their website for more information.
Christiansborg Castle
We have put this under towers, because it does have a tower you can enter and enjoy the view of this old part of Royal Copenhagen. This castle though have so much more to see and experience that you can easily spend the good part of a day here. It is an amazing peak back into the life of the life of the Royal Family back in the Old Copenhagen.
It is well visited, but not as much as the other popular castle in Copenhagen Rosenborg Slot, where you find the Royal Crown Jewels.
Christiansborg castle now houses everything from ancient to recent history and it is now also location for the Government, the Supreme Court and National Ministries
The Tower in Zoo
If you are a zoo person, the Copenhagen is a delightful way to spend a day. They have done amazing upgrades to the animal facilities and enclosures and it is nice to see animal interact like the for example would on the savannah.
While you are in there you want to take the trip up into the over 100 year old wooden tower. It has become an iconic part of the Copenhagen illustrated skyline and because of the elevation over the rest of Copenhagen, this tower provides a view over the entire Copenhagen and Amager and on clear days you can even see the Bridge to Sweden.
It was from these hills the British bombed Copenhagen back in 1807, catching everyone by surprise. People was in the belief that it was the British navy ships which was the destructive force, but little did they know that English forces had taken up the hills and had a clear view over Copenhagen. Throughout different wars Frelser Taarn was used as a aim, due to it central location and proximity to the Royal Castle, and during this battle it was no exception.
Balderdash
The cocktail bar Balderdash is located at Valkendorfsgade 11, in the heart of Copenhagen and it is a fantasy land for your tastebuds. Geoffrey Canilaois a true magician and carnoisseur when it comes to mixing unique and fantastic taste experiences.
He has opened his cocktail bar in in one of the old historical basements in Copenhagen. The building is from 1732 and he has managed to preserve the unique history that goes with a building of that caliber and embrace it into the concept of Balderdash. The small bar houses nothing but friendly faces and you immediately feels welcome. And if desired, you can always ask and he will gladly share some of the basements unique history as well as show you his lab, where he mixes and create flavour never experienced before.
The lab of cause leads to the reason Sømods Bolcher really enjoy this place. Like a mad scientist do Geoffrey and his staff create flavours and scents like never experienced before and that is all put into effect in the most amazing cocktail experience ever. In the summer day time they top it all up by offering the utmost delicious ice cream deserts based on alcohol and homemade ice cream in combinations never before imagined. It doesn’t matter how absurd it sounds with avocado ice cream, you can be absolutely certain your tastebuds will be laughing in pure joy. And if you are more traditional, their version of a banana split, will make any banana split you will have afterwards faint in comparison. Of course the bar it not just about ice cream. Like the seasons change, so does their menu with it and it is always delightful how they manage to incorporate the wonders of the seasons into their drinks.
In Balderdash it is not just about the standard alcohol poured into a fancy glass. There is no boring standard alcohol or liquors to be found in the small bar. All the alcohols are sourced from small unique distilleries and imported from all over the World and to top it all off a cocktail is not just the flavour. They manage to create cocktail experiences that combines both taste and smell as well as a visual treat. Yes a cocktail is not just a cocktail in Balderdash.
Copenhagen has a lot of great bars and restaurants around, but this place is found special and completely in the spirit with Sømods Bolcher. From the respect to the history they have found themselves in to most importantly, the quality of the experience to recieve when going there. Yes, we actually do not have any “buts” about this place. The owner and the staff are great people and the cocktails are absolutely world class amazing.
Ida Davidsen
Another common question we receive in the store is “where can we get some traditional Danish food?”
Trust us, Denmark have a lot of traditional foods that is absolutely amazing, but strangely enough there is not a lot of restaurants serving it. One thing though that almost every Dane has grown up with and rely on every day is the open faced sandwiches for lunch - in Danish called Smoerrebroed. And there is no better place to get the absolutely best than in Ida Davidsens restaurant. It is located in Store Kongensgade 70, which is in the corner of Copenhagen with Nyhavn, Amalienborg (The residence of the Royal Family) and Frederiks Kirke (another recommendation of ours).
Like our own history is this a place of tradition and respect for quality and family. It is now 5th generation running this unique restaurant and there is no question why this place is still as popular as it is.
Smoerrebroed is a slice of Danish rye bread topped with cold cuts. Danes in all ages rely on these everyday for lunch and many make them themselves in more simple, standart versions. There is no simple or standart over Ida Davidsen. Here you have a selection counting more than 250 different pieces and one is more of a delicate artwork than the next. The creativity and attention to details makes these sandwiches culinary delicacies, that can make any lunchbox envy and any mouth crave more.
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