Snapshots from the UK: Percy Pigs
There is a strict rule in the Oxford University library prohibiting visitors or guests, but I did manage to sneak in one friend to keep me company on those long, dark, and grueling dissertation nights: Percy.
He was a little porky, with round pink cheeks, and an indelibly sunny personality to counteract the gray drizzle outside the library's windows and the absolute recurrent boredom of literary research. The fact that he was a gummy fruit-flavored candy did not in any way diminish my love for him. Percy Pigs are the Marks and Spencer cult answer to the Haribo gummy bear: adorable, yummy, and positively addictive. Just look at that face! It was love at first sight; until I bit his ear off. But even then he stuck by my side.
He was a true friend—nothing artificial about him, not even his colors or flavoring. Percy is grape with raspberry ears, but he also has several "pals": Sheep, who is orange with strawberry ears, and Cow, who is cola all over. We four maintained something of a book club throughout my masters. Sometimes, Percy would bring his girlfriend Penny Pig, who was his golden girl, and tasted of lemon cream. She didn't mind sharing him with me.
On the day of my Oxford graduation, I was happy as a pig in the mud. And I knew I owed it all to one person: the sugary, delicious, uplifting, and reliable Percy Pig.
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11 Comments:
Oh, my. Too cute. Are they sold in the U.S.? My kids would really get a kick out of them. They would also make terrific stocking stuffers.
dhorst at 8:43AM on 12/22/08
Are they sold in the USA? My kids grew up in England and SIngapore and have found a bag of Percy Pigs in their stockings every year until this one.
It would be wonderful to find a source here in the States!
smallblondemom at 9:50AM on 12/22/08
I am searching for you two, but I just can't seem to find a US seller. It may be impossible, because they are a Marks & Spencer's product, and not sold, as far as I know, anywhere but M&S. If you find them, let me know! I miss my Percy.
Kerry Saretsky at 11:25AM on 12/22/08
I live in the UK and have probably eaten some but can't remember what they are like! I will have to try some soon.
mskempster at 11:58AM on 12/22/08
GRAPE! That's what the flavor was!
I found something similar to these at Cost Plus World Market. It may not have been the exact same thing, but the gummy pigs looked exactly the same. The bag wasn't in English and I couldn't figure out what the flavor of the piggies were outside of "incredibly fruity."
Check out your local World Market if you have one -- let us know if it's the same thing!
tabbiewolf at 1:31PM on 12/22/08
Yep, I've bought the pigs at Cost Plus before -- the bag's in German.
mschlock at 1:40PM on 12/22/08
Looks like I need to set up a Percy Pig export business!
london_janice at 2:32PM on 12/22/08
Beg to differ. I thought these things were chalky and foul. This is what depression tastes like.
atom12 at 2:43PM on 12/22/08
@mschlock - Yes! I've had those, they're made by HARIBO®
they're good!
hungrychristel at 3:58PM on 12/22/08
@London_Janice - I would try to set up a business but I think I'd end up eating them all before posting! I sent these to friend in the States regularly as she cannot get them there - they are by far my favourite sweet! Maybe we need to set up a Serious Eats food exchange!
I've stopped going into M&S as I really am trying to wean myself off these!
Iheartcupcakes at 6:11PM on 12/22/08
Aha -- Katje's makes them, and in German they're called Fred Ferkel. Saw them at Cost Plus again this weekend.
Someone had a pic: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2566231232_ff72128c3e.jpg
mschlock at 6:05PM on 01/05/09