Just like the beloved Yo-Yo biscuit or slightly sad-looking frog cake, South Australia has a couple of foodie quirks that are unheard of to the rest of us. And while available in limited supply in other states, South Australians have another regional special in the FruChoc. What is a FruChoc, you ask? Allow us to enlighten you.

FruChocs trace their origins to the 1940s. The choc-covered fruit balls were originally developed by the Menz family as a way to use up dried apricots, peaches and leftover produce from the Barossa Valley and Riverland region. 

As the name suggests, Fruchocs fuse fruit with milk, dark, or white chocolate for a balance of sweetness and tanginess with flavours like apricot, raspberry and strawberry. In their heartland of South Australia, these treats have transcended mere snacking, and have become something of a cultural symbol.

The state favourite even has its own odd little mascot, Mr Fruchoc.

Now in its 75th year of production, Robern Menz currently produces 100 million FruChocs annually (who is eating all these FruChocs??).  In 2005, the brand was granted the highest honour available to SA sweets and officially certified as an ‘Icon of South Australia’, alongside Penfolds Grange Hermitage and  AMSCOL Vanilla Ice Cream.

Every year, Adelaide locals turn out for a FruChocs Appreciation Day, usually held end of September or early October, to celebrate their favourite sweet treat and rally for it to become an official public holiday.

Related story: Never heard of Arnott’s Yo-Yos? That’s because they’re only found in one Australian state