Happy Lab

I almost walked right past Happy Lab, thinking it was a makeup store. How wrong I was!
Happy Lab is a candy store, believe it or not! And they display their candy in test tubes and beakers, which can be quite misleading if you’re not on the alert.
They have all kinds of strange, counter-​intuitive packaging… like flavoured popcorn in what appear to be milk cartons! Chocolate-​covered nuts in beakers! Candy-​coated chocolate in test-​tubes!
It’s magnificent.
The sales assistants strut around in their lab coats, presumably to further confuse (and excite) unsuspecting patrons.
With such an awesome idea and execution, the candied treats are, of course, a little more expensive than average, but that was to be expected.
This is a great once-​in-​a-​while indulgence.

«What’s Happy Lab?» was the first thing on my mind when I passed this store. The closer I got, the more I realised it wasn’t cosmetics like I had initially thought, but confectionery. And lots of it.
Well thought out packaging, alluring store layout and sales assistants wearing lab coats. The ceiling lights looked as though we were in a scene from Clockwork Orange. But the treats were what stood out most.
One of the sales assistant offered samples and gave a little run down about how the store came about. She must’ve seen my curiosity. With lollies in test tubes and coloured chocolate coated nuts in beakers, who wouldn’t be.
It’s an Australian company with three stores in Melbourne (where they’re based) and another in Westfields Sydney CBD.
There’s about 16 jelly bean flavours and are distinguished easily as they’re separated by colour. The counter had so many bite sized everything, such as the chocolate shaped as characters and striped lollipops.
But the highlight for me were the milk carton popcorn. If it wasn’t for the cost, I would’ve bought one and downed it like it really was milk. Out of the 6 flavours, the one I wanted to try most was the Carmel Cashew nut POP carton.
These treats will be a great stocking filler come Christmas time. I might start hinting now.

If high– end sweets are your thing, you have to check out happy lab. The name Happy Lab brings to my mind something quite different to what it actually is. Rest assured the contents of Happy Lab located at Bondi Junction Westfield are all legal.
Happy Lab has taken a novel approach to the presentation of lollies and other sweet delights by packaging them in science beakers, test tubes and milk cartons. The packaging does make them presentable to make an excellent gift for those of us suffering from sweet teeth, but keep in mind if purchasing for yourself, you are also paying for the fancy packaging.
Happy Lab is about much more than packaging though with offerings such as: Alberts, which are hazelnuts coated in Belgian chocolate, then coated in sugar or Karma Nutras, which are almonds coated in variety of flavours including vanilla and crème brulee. Also if you want to pretend you’re being healthy you can go for the strawberry, apple or mango Munch Crunch.
They are priced high, but still with what is being offered Happy Lab is setting the temptation resistance bar fairly high.