The importance of comforting sweets in the Harry Potter world

Welcome to Cozy Week, the place we'll curl up by the glow of our screens to have fun all that is comfortable in leisure. Pour your self a cup of sizzling cocoa and sit by us as we coo over the cutest video games, cry over the tenderest film moments, and drift off to essentially the most comforting reveals. As a result of it may be a chilly world on the market, and we'd like one thing to maintain us heat.
In darkish instances, muggles discover all types of libations, confectionery, and candy snackery to treatment what ails them, to spice up their spirits, and make them overlook for a minute that every little thing's not precisely nice. Yeah, they’re not that “good for us” however sweets, lollies, and candies typically assist of us share a second of friendship and silliness, or just present a scrumptious, sugary technique of inhaling one’s emotions.
What makes you suppose wizards and witches are any totally different?
Sweets present greater than a sugar rush in J.Okay. Rowling’s Harry Potter sequence, offering consolation, happiness, and even magical medical remedy in extraordinarily darkish instances. And whereas not all sweets are comforting — hey, Cockroach Clusters, Puking Pastilles, and Nosebleed Nougat — they're extra essential to wizards and muggles than mere sugar content material.
Or no less than we are able to use this to justify stocking up on Hershey's proper now. It’s for the Dementors, Mum.

Wizards have the largest candy tooth

Wizards positive love a great sugar repair. Removed from the grapefruit-quartered existence of Privet Drive, Hogwarts tables are all the time laden with sweets, whether or not Harry’s favorite treacle tarts within the Nice Corridor, or flaming puddings at Christmas. Even academics maintain sweets at their desks, with Minerva McGonagall hoarding Ginger Newt biscuits, and Horace Slughorn making his crystallised pineapple obsession fairly public. Even Albus Dumbledore, moderately keen on sweets, makes his personal private workplace password “Sherbert Lemon,” within the Chamber of Secrets and techniques and “Fizzing Whizzbee” within the Order of the Phoenix for one rattling second of frivolity in his day defending underage wizards from peril.

Honeydukes supplies.

Picture: Shutterstock / enchanted_fairy

Outdoors Hogwarts, Honeydukes is without doubt one of the few shops college students third 12 months and up can spend their sickles on in Hogsmeade, and supplies a palace for independence and stocking up on comforting goodies. "‘It’s this sweetshop,’ mentioned Ron, a dreamy look coming over his face, ‘the place they’ve obtained every little thing … Pepper Imps — they make you smoke on the mouth — and nice fats Chocoballs stuffed with strawberry mousse and clotted cream, and actually glorious sugar quills which you'll be able to suck at school and simply seem like you’re pondering what to jot down subsequent.” You may get Fizzing Whizzbees, “large sherbert balls that make you levitate a couple of inches off the bottom,” Droobles Finest Blowing Gum, “which stuffed a room with bluebell-coloured bubblest that refused to pop for days,” and shelf upon shelf of different sweets. The shop even shares blood flavoured lollipops for vampires within the Uncommon Tastes part.
Everybody wants some type of consolation, and there is nothing like having your individual little stash of your favorite muggle candy someplace in your house. Use widespread sense and moderation, however know there's somewhat little bit of magic hiding simply out of your roommate's attain.

Chocolate as magic medication

Chocolate within the muggle world has been for its magic endorphin-releasing properties. Chocolate within the wizarding world can also be well-known for its restorative results, particularly following encounters with Dementors, the soul-sucking jail guards of Azkaban who go somewhat rogue when allowed to prowl the student-packed Hogwarts Categorical. Bodily and emotionally drained from a Dementor assault within the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry is given a large chunk of chocolate by Professor Lupin. “Harry took a chunk and to his nice shock felt heat unfold abruptly to the information of his fingers and toes,” writes Rowling. It’s a technique that not solely impresses the no-nonsense Madam Pomfrey, who runs the Hogwarts hospital ward — “So, we’ve lastly obtained a Defence Towards the Darkish Arts trainer who is aware of his treatments” — however one Lupin repeats with Honeydukes chocolate when coaching Harry within the Patronus Allure. Chocolate, above any potion or spell, is the one famous remedy for feeling utterly shit after having your soul diluted by a horrible, evil factor. It doesn’t utterly eradicate the results for Harry, nevertheless it helps. Precisely like muggle chocolate.
Chocolate additionally finds a comforting function within the wizarding world’s favorite type of amphibious confection: the Chocolate Frog. These wizard card-paired treats present up in lots of a visit on the Hogwarts Categorical, first showing in Harry’s maiden prepare journey within the Thinker’s Stone, and marking the beginning of a phenomenal friendship with Ron Weasley. Not one to go away somebody to their lumpy, home-packed corned beef sandwich, Harry buys the lot from the Trolley Witch — Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Liquorice Wands — leaving Ron to present Harry (and us) a rolling commentary on each candy. “It was a pleasant feeling, sitting there with Ron, consuming their means by way of all Harry’s pasties and muffins (the sandwiches lay forgotten),” writes Rowling.

Simply have a look at all these scrumptious candy props, arrange in all their glory on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

What higher option to get to know a brand new pal than to strive Bertie Botts Each Flavour Beans collectively, even (or particularly) in the event you get the sardine or bogey flavour? In actual fact, this bonding over Bertie Botts is repeated within the sequence, notably with Albus Dumbledore attempting his luck with one whereas visiting Harry within the hospital ward on the finish of the Thinker’s Stone. “Alas, earwax.”
Whereas sweets won't be that good for our basic dental well being, their skill to convey individuals collectively or soothe a torn-up soul is not restricted to the wizarding world — in the event you've ever shared a bulging bag of jelly beans or an ideal huge slab of chocolate with somebody (or no one in any respect, both means), you know the way cathartic this may be.

Wizards love a little bit of cake

In actual fact, cake is a kind of treatment that quickly makes issues higher whereas every little thing’s a large number within the Harry Potter sequence. From Hagrid bringing Harry his Hogwarts letter paired together with his very personal 11th birthday cake, to these massive stacks of Cauldron Desserts trundled up and down on the Hogwarts Categorical trolley, cake is served up at among the most dire moments of the sequence. Cake supplies much-needed consolation after among the characters' largest trials, a slice of peace and normality.
The primary actual deal with Harry’s ever been given, Hagrid’s massive, sticky chocolate birthday cake within the Thinker’s Stone is the last word consolation meals, a heartfelt mess of inexperienced icing that Hagrid “mighta sat on it sooner or later, nevertheless it'll style all proper." The Dursleys had by no means actually confirmed this degree of acknowledgement or care for his or her nephew, and in a single cake (and sure, a fairly essential letter and a journey outta there) Harry’s life adjustments for the higher.
Even Almost Headless Nick’s huge, gray, tombstone-shaped Deathday cake with “tar-like” icing brings sombre festivity to the partygoers, surrounded by different muffins (“burned charcoal black”), maggoty haggis, piles of rotten fish on silver platters — all of which might’t really be tasted by ghosts. “I count on they’ve let it rot to present it a stronger flavour,” Hermione supposes. Good.

"He had cake, and Dudley had nothing however grapefruit."

Desserts proceed to roll into Harry’s life all through the sequence — within the Goblet of Hearth, Harry receives not one however 4 “excellent” birthday muffins within the publish from Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Hagrid, all of which he retains below a free floorboard and permit him to outlive Aunt Petunia’s new “rabbit meals” food plan for his cousin Dudley. Harry’s secret birthday cake stash, together with a complete host of S.O.S. treats despatched to him by Mrs Weasley, Hagrid, and Hermione, bodily and emotionally will get Harry by way of the summer season, away from Hogwarts. “He sat there on the ground consuming it, savouring the happiness that was flooding by way of him. He had cake, and Dudley had nothing however grapefruit," Rowling writes. "It was onerous, simply now, to really feel nervous about something — even Lord Voldemort."
In actual fact, there’s loads to be mentioned for the quantity of consolation Mrs Weasley supplies together with her baked items all through the sequence, sending Harry home-made fudge, plum cake, mince pies, and nut brittle at Christmas over time, hand-painting Golden Snitches onto Easter eggs for Harry and Ginny to smuggle into the library, making treacle pudding to mark the tip of the summer season holidays, and making sufficient rhubarb crumble to feed the Order of the Phoenix between conferences. She even makes Christmas pudding for the Order whereas her husband is in hospital after being attacked. Somewhat assist, anybody? Then, whereas planning her son’s marriage ceremony whereas Loss of life Eaters are all over the place, she finds time to create a seashore ball-sized, hovering golden snitch cake for Harry’s 17th birthday. "'Oh, it’s nothing,’ expensive,’ she mentioned fondly."
Hagrid’s additionally fairly the baker, however alas, his treats don’t precisely present consolation, whether or not it’s his treacle toffee that “had cemented [Harry’s] jaws collectively” within the Chamber of Secrets and techniques, or these dreaded rock muffins that make their first look within the Thinker’s Stone and maintain turning up all through the sequence, normally remaining untouched. “The rock muffins virtually broke their tooth, however Harry and Ron pretended to be having fun with them as they advised Hagrid all about their first classes.” That being mentioned, it’s good to be supplied muffins, even when they overwhelm your gown pockets. By the Goblet of Hearth, Hagrid has wised up, sending Harry a field of his favorite sweets for Christmas as a substitute.
It doesn't matter what's occurring on the earth, even for muggles, a little bit of do-it-yourself cake all the time places issues proper or marks an essential event — even when they break your tooth.

Sweets that offer you a great ol' snigger

Usually sweets within the Harry Potter sequence can present a great hearty chuckle within the midst of significant enterprise. In actual fact, using magical sweets for comedic functions is without doubt one of the very finest bits of the sequence. Wizards can really thank the sweet number of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes for this, the joke and prank store opened by Fred and George Weasley following their legendary exit from Hogwarts. It’s one of many solely remaining shops open in Diagon Alley following Voldemort’s return, for numerous causes. Whereas different outlets sit boarded up, the Weasley's retailer, its cabinets full of Nosebleed Nougat and Skiving Snackboxes, is brimming with prospects. "Fred reckons individuals want fun as of late," Ron says within the movie model of the Half-Blood Prince. What higher option to discover command over impending doom than snacking on an edible Darkish Mark?
Fred and George present this type of candy aid all by way of the sequence. Generally you want a great outdated chuckle after you’ve tackled the equal of a Hungarian Horntail, so one of many Weasley’s cheeky Canary Lotions left for an unsuspecting Neville Longbottom to seek out is simply the ticket — sure, it quickly turns him into an unlimited yellow chicken within the Goblet of Hearth. Harry makes “a psychological be aware by no means to simply accept a lot as a crisp from Fred and George in future.” The pair had earlier slipped Dudley Dursley a cheeky Ton-Tongue Toffee, which causes his tongue to develop a foot lengthy and switch purple, “lolling round like an ideal slimy python.” This occasion makes the Weasley kitchen “explode” with laughter. These moments are what you’ll hold on to whenever you’re about to go right into a Triwizard Event process, actually about to face your demons.
And that goes for muggles too. Can extremely advocate investing in some Ghost Drops to show your tongue vivid blue, to make somebody snigger after they really want it.

Does butterbeer rely? Sure, sure it does.

There’s one sort of drinkable candy that the witches and wizards of the Harry Potter sequence depend on for consolation: butterbeer. Foaming mugs of the notably non-alcoholic stuff (they begin consuming it at 13, individuals) frequently make appearances in the course of the sequence, primarily served up on the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade or shared throughout moments of triumph, scheming, or bonding. “Harry drank deeply,” Rowling writes within the Prisoner of Azkaban. “It was essentially the most scrumptious factor he’d ever tasted and appeared to warmth each little bit of him from the within.” Butterbeer counts as a candy right here, purely for the quantity of sugar every one served up on the Common Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter or the Warner Bros Studio Tour canteen most likely incorporates. Muggles get to expertise this magical candy firsthand.

Cheers.

Picture: Shutterstock / MontenegroStock

Whether or not used as a magical treatment, a way to make a brand new pal, or act as a reminder that even within the darkest of instances, there are individuals who love and care about you (even when their rock muffins will break your tooth), sweets are as essential to the wizarding world for consolation as they're to our personal. Wizards and muggles alike survive on moments of levity, silliness, and sweetness when battles arrive on our doorstep, and whereas they could rot our tooth, these moments are extremely wanted.
In instances of soul-sucking darkness, no less than we've chocolate.

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