Iconic Maine Treats
Beyond the lobster roll. A guide to the sweet, salty, and sometimes strange snacks that define Maine cuisine.
The Whoopie Pie
Maine's official state treat. Two cake-like chocolate cookies sandwiching a fluffy mound of vanilla filling. Labadie's Bakery in Lewiston claims to have invented it.
Moxie
The official soft drink of Maine. A polarizing, bitter-sweet soda flavored with gentian root. 'It's distinctively different.' You either love it or hate it.
Red Snappers
Bright neon red hot dogs with a natural casing that gives them a distinct 'snap' when bitten. Best served steamed.
Needhams
A unique candy bar made with coconut, dark chocolate, and... mashed potatoes. Yes, really. The potato gives the coconut filling a creamy texture.
Wild Blueberry Pie
Made with Maine's tiny, intense wild blueberries (not the big cultivated ones). Helen's Restaurant in Machias is famous for theirs.
Ployes
An Acadian buckwheat pancake, traditionally eaten as a bread substitute with savory meals (like chicken stew) or with butter and maple syrup.
Maine’s flavor profile goes far beyond lobster. The state has a unique pantry of snacks, sodas, and desserts that are fiercely loved by locals and often baffling to outsiders.
Sweet Tooth
We love our sugar. Whoopie Pies (the official state treat) are ubiquitous at gas stations and bakeries. Blueberry Pie is a seasonal mandate in August. And Moxie, the official state soft drink, offers a bitter-sweet flavor that separates the tourists from the true Mainers.
Nostalgic Flavors
Many of these treats are born from Maine’s history. Red Snappers (bright red hot dogs) stand out at every BBQ. Needhams (potato and coconut candies) reflect the state’s potato-farming heritage. Trying them is a delicious history lesson.
Explore More of Maine
Looking for more inspiration? Browse our full directory of towns or explore by region.