> I was surprised you'd never had a candy cane before, since they seem to be *the* ubiquitous Christmas candy. Do they not exist in the UK, or is it just that you never happened to try one?

I for one have never seen an actual candy candy cane. The only ones I have seen are the fake ones designed to be used as tree decorations, and I've only seen those once or twice. I don't think I've ever seen anything edible labeled with the name "candy," either.