Lentilky (Czech Chocolate Sweets)

Lentilky are Czech chocolate sweets coated in a colourful sugar shell, among the most beloved confectionery in the country. They were originally made from the early 20th century by the Kneisl company in Holešov (later renamed Sfinx, part of the Nestlé group since 1992). today they are sold under the Orion brand. Their name derives from the Czech word for lentil, reflecting their distinctive lens-like shape. Inside the crunchy sugar coating lies a smooth milk chocolate centre. Lentilky have been made in the Czech lands for more than a hundred years and are especially popular with children. They are enjoyed as a snack, used to decorate cakes and pastries, or as a colourful topping for ice cream sundaes.