Polish Confectionery in the UK: A Complete Guide to Wafers, Sweets and Where to Buy Them [2026]

That first bite of a Familijne wafer—thin, impossibly crisp layers giving way to a smooth cocoa cream filling—told me I'd been missing out. I've reviewed hundreds of biscuits over the years. Digestives, Bourbons, the entire McVitie's back catalogue. But Polish wafers exist in their own category entirely. Lighter. More delicate. The kind of treat that makes you wonder why the British biscuit aisle looks the way it does.

Poland is the seventh largest confectionery exporter in the world. In 2021 alone, Polish sweets exports totalled €4.1 billion. Yet most British shoppers walk past the Eastern European section without a second glance. That's a mistake.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Polish confectionery available in the UK—what to try, where to find it, and why brands like Jutrzenka deserve a place in your biscuit tin.

The Best Polish Sweets to Try

Polish confectionery isn't trying to compete with British classics. It occupies different territory entirely. Where British sweets tend towards the robust—think Dairy Milk, Jaffa Cakes, shortbread with structural integrity—Polish treats favour lightness and layered textures.

Here's what's worth seeking out.

Ptasie Mleczko (Bird's Milk)

This is Poland's most famous confectionery export, and for good reason. Each piece is a small chocolate-covered bar filled with soft, marshmallow-like mousse. The texture sits somewhere between a marshmallow and a soufflé—airy, yielding, not too sweet.

Invented by the Wedel company in the 1930s, Ptasie Mleczko remains a staple gift box item in Poland. A single pack contains around three dozen bite-sized bars. The vanilla flavour is traditional, but you'll also find chocolate, strawberry, and lemon varieties.

My verdict: genuinely excellent. The texture is unlike anything in the standard British confectionery range. If you enjoy light, mousse-filled chocolates, this belongs on your shopping list.

Krówki (Little Cows)

Krówki are Polish fudge—semi-soft milk toffee candies wrapped in paper adorned with a cow illustration. The name literally translates to "little cows," which tells you everything about Polish confectionery branding. Direct. Unpretentious.

According to historical records, Krówki were first created in 1921 by Feliks Pomorski, who established a confectionery factory in Poznań. The recipe is deceptively simple: milk, sugar, butter, and vanilla. The execution matters more than the ingredients.

Good Krówki should be slightly chewy—not tooth-breakingly hard, not so soft they disintegrate. The ones from Jutrzenka Dobre Miasto are the benchmark. I've tested several brands and there's noticeable variation in texture and flavour depth.

Familijne Wafers

Here's where Jutrzenka truly excels. Familijne wafers are thin, layered wafer biscuits with cream fillings. They come in several flavours: cocoa, vanilla cream, coconut, strawberry, and hazelnut.

The wafer itself is the star. Crisp without being dry. Delicate without crumbling into dust the moment you apply pressure. The filling sits between multiple layers—typically five or six sheets of wafer with cream between each.

At roughly £0.90-1.10 for a 180g pack, Familijne wafers offer remarkable value. They're available at both Tesco and Sainsbury's in the World Foods section.

The cocoa variety is the most popular, and deservedly so. But don't overlook the hazelnut—it has a richness that pairs brilliantly with coffee.

Śliwka w Czekoladzie (Chocolate-Covered Plums)

Whole prunes coated in chocolate. Sounds simple. Tastes far better than it sounds.

Chocolate-covered plums are a traditional Polish confection, typically served at celebrations and given as gifts. The plum provides tartness and chewiness; the chocolate adds sweetness and snap. It's a combination that works surprisingly well.

These tend to be pricier than wafers or fudge, and availability is more limited. Polish specialty shops are your best bet.

Michałki

Peanuts coated in chocolate, available in various flavours. The Wawel brand's Michałki are the most recognised, with options including classic, white chocolate, and coconut.

Think of them as a more sophisticated take on chocolate peanuts. The coating is thicker, the quality of chocolate noticeably higher than budget brands.

A Guide to Polish Wafer Biscuits

Polish wafers deserve their own section. They're that good.

The category breaks down into several types:

Traditional Layered Wafers

These are what Familijne produces—thin wafer sheets sandwiched with cream. The cream flavour varies, but the construction remains consistent: multiple layers, each impossibly thin.

Key brands available in UK:

• Familijne (Jutrzenka/Colian) - The benchmark. Available at Tesco and Sainsbury's.
• Grześki (also Colian) - Similar quality, slightly different flavour profile.

Chocolate-Coated Wafers

Wafer biscuits fully or partially coated in chocolate. More indulgent than traditional wafers, with the chocolate adding richness.

Comparison with other brands:

I've tested Familijne against Loacker (Italian) and Tunnock's (Scottish). Each has merits:

Familijne wins on value. Loacker wins on premium positioning. Tunnock's wins on nostalgia and heft. Different products for different occasions.

Pink Wafers

A word on pink wafer biscuits. These are technically British—Fox's makes the most recognisable version—but the category exists across Europe. Polish pink wafers tend to have more delicate textures than their British counterparts.

Search volume for "pink wafer biscuits UK" runs at about 140 searches per month, which tells me there's ongoing interest in this admittedly niche product category.

Jutrzenka and Colian: Poland's Confectionery Giant

Understanding who makes your sweets matters. Let me explain the corporate structure behind Polish confectionery.

Jutrzenka began in 1945, when war-devastated factories in Bydgoszcz, Poland, were nationalised. The name means "Aurora" in Polish—the dawn. Fitting, given the post-war reconstruction context.

In 2001, Jan Kolański began acquiring Jutrzenka shares. By 2004, he held a majority stake. What followed was a consolidation of Poland's confectionery industry:

• 2004: Acquisition of Goplana brand from Nestlé
• 2005: Acquisition of Kaliszanka (owners of Grześki wafers and BeBe biscuits)
• 2007: Acquisition of Hellena beverages

The holding company became Colian in 2014. Today, Colian owns Jutrzenka, Familijne, Jeżyki, Akuku!, Mella, Goplana, Grześki, Appetita, Hellena, and Siesta brands.

In 2016, Colian purchased British confectionery brand Elizabeth Shaw. So if you've eaten a mint crisp from Elizabeth Shaw recently, you've indirectly experienced Colian's quality standards.

Why this matters for shoppers: Colian operates BRC-certified facilities. Their products undergo consistent quality control. When you buy Familijne wafers, you're getting products from one of Europe's largest confectionery operations—not a small-batch cottage industry.

A Note on Jutrzenka Dobre Miasto

Confusingly, there's a separate company called Jutrzenka Dobre Miasto. It's not part of Colian. Founded in 1955, it specialises in cream fudge (Krówki), chocolate-covered prunes, and toffees.

Both entities trade under variations of the Jutrzenka name, which can cause confusion when shopping. Check the packaging for manufacturer details if it matters to you.

Where to Buy Polish Confectionery in the UK

The good news: Polish sweets are increasingly accessible. The days of needing a Polish friend to bring back treats from visits home are largely over.

Major Supermarkets

Tesco maintains the largest Polish food selection among mainstream UK supermarkets. Their Eastern European section typically includes:

• Familijne wafers (multiple flavours)
• Wedel chocolates
• Krówki fudge
• Various Colian products

Sainsbury's has expanded their Polish range in recent years. You'll find Familijne Cocoa Cream Wafer Biscuits (180g) and the hazelnut variety.

Both supermarkets stock Polish products in the World Foods aisle rather than the main biscuit section. Don't make the mistake of looking alongside the Digestives.

Online Polish Shops

Several online retailers specialise in Polish groceries:

Polish Shop Online (polishshoponline.co.uk) - Comprehensive range including Wedel Delicje biscuits and Jeżyki cookies. Reasonable delivery charges.

Smakołyk (smakolyk.co.uk) - A Polish grocery store with both online ordering and a physical location at 71-73 Riley Square, Bell Green, Coventry. Their Familijne selection includes flavours not always available in supermarkets.

Polish Specialities Store - Wholesale-oriented but accepts consumer orders. Good for bulk buying.

Physical Polish Shops

Most UK cities with significant Polish communities have dedicated Polish shops. Birmingham, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow all have multiple options. These shops typically stock:

• Fresh Polish bread and pastries
• Full Colian product ranges
• Traditional items not available in supermarkets
• Seasonal and holiday confectionery

The advantage of physical shops: fresher stock, wider variety, and staff who can make recommendations based on your preferences.

London Stockists

For London-based readers, Polish food shops concentrate in areas with Polish communities:

• Ealing (sometimes called "Little Poland")
• Hammersmith
• West London generally

Specific shop recommendations change over time, but a search for "Polish deli near me" will typically surface options.

The Honest Downsides

I wouldn't be doing my job if I only praised Polish confectionery. Here's what didn't work for me.

Shelf stability varies. Some Polish sweets—particularly those with fresh cream or marzipan elements—don't travel well. I've received online orders where products were past their best before dates or had clearly been stored poorly. Stick to established retailers.

Availability is inconsistent. One week, your local Tesco has three flavours of Familijne. The next, they've reorganised the shelf and everything's gone. This isn't unique to Polish products, but it's frustrating.

Some products don't translate. Polish confectionery culture includes items that might not appeal to British palates. Salted plum candies, for instance, or particular flavour combinations that feel unusual. Not everything labelled as "traditional" will be your thing. That's fine.

My failed experiment. I once ordered a "Polish sweets selection box" from an online retailer without checking contents. Half of it was liqueur-filled chocolates that I couldn't share with colleagues. Read descriptions carefully.

Why Polish Confectionery is Worth Exploring

"But Tom," I can hear some of you thinking, "why bother? The biscuit aisle is right there."

Fair question. Here's my view.

British chocolate and sweets dominate through familiarity. We know what we're getting with a KitKat or a Cadbury's bar. That's reassuring. It's also limiting.

Polish confectionery offers different textures, different flavour profiles, different traditions. The emphasis on layered wafers, on light and crisp rather than heavy and rich, provides genuine variety.

More practically: the value is exceptional. Familijne wafers at £0.90 for 180g deliver quality that British equivalents can't match at that price point. When money's tight—and in January 2026, when isn't it—exploring budget-friendly alternatives makes sense.

And there's something to be said for broadening horizons. Poland is the seventh largest confectionery exporter globally. Their industry exists at scale, with proper quality controls and established supply chains. This isn't exotic novelty—it's mainstream European confectionery that we've historically overlooked.

How to Use Grocefully for Polish Sweets

Grocefully makes it easier to find Polish confectionery at the best prices. Search for specific products like Familijne wafers or browse the European Continental category to compare prices across retailers.

Given the inconsistent availability mentioned earlier, checking stock across multiple supermarkets before making a trip can save wasted journeys.

The Verdict

Polish confectionery deserves a place in your snacking rotation. The wafers are exceptional—lighter and more sophisticated than most British alternatives. The traditional sweets (Ptasie Mleczko, Krówki) offer genuinely different flavour experiences. And the pricing makes experimentation low-risk.

Jutrzenka products, particularly the Familijne wafer range, are my top recommendation for newcomers. Start with the cocoa cream wafers. They're widely available, affordably priced, and excellent. From there, explore based on what appeals.

My desk is finally clear of Polish sweet wrappers. The testing is complete. And I can confidently say that the Eastern European aisle deserves more attention than it typically receives.