Key Lime Buds
WHAT TO EXPECT
Butterfields Candy Buds are traditional hard candy. They are made to savor slowly. They are true to the fruit, never overly sweet. Handmade in copper kettles so no two candies are exactly alike.
Small Batch
No Preservatives
Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegan
Salt in the air. The drive down to the Keys.
Key Lime is my personal favorite. It reminds me of the times I spent in Florida, driving south toward the Keys — the air changing, the salt arriving, and thinking about the coolness and freshness that Key Limes bring to everything they touch.
And then there's that moment when you squeeze a Key Lime and the juice catches you, that sharp scent that twists up your nose before you're ready for it. That's what our Key Lime Bud does. It catches you.
Our Key Lime Bud is not key lime pie. It is key lime just like the fruit, the rind, the real thing. Cool. Bright. A little sharp. If you've driven to the Keys and felt the world simplify around you, that's what this candy carries.
Some people expect dessert and are caught off guard. We take that as a compliment. Our Key Lime Bud is for the person who wants the fruit itself , it is unapologetic, unforgettable, and nothing like what you'd find anywhere else.
What does Key Lime remind you of? We'd love to hear your story — write to us.
*Please note we coat the candy in powdered sugar, due to this, color and brightness may vary.
Product Details
Butterfields Buds are old-fashioned hard candy with a glasslike look and feel. They are meant to dissolve slowly; we do not recommend biting into them. The flavor is fruit- or spice-forward and balanced rather than made to taste like a dessert or an intensely flavored gummy candy.
Every batch is made by hand, and our colors come from fruit and vegetable sources. Small differences in color, shape, size, and sugar coating are normal and are not product defects.
All Butterfields candies contain coconut, a tree-nut allergen. Most flavors use natural flavor. Peach Buds contain both natural and artificial peach flavor as part of the longstanding recipe.
Ingredients
Allergens
Candy Storage
Humidity is the enemy of hard candy. Keep Butterfields in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from heat and moisture.
Shipping & Returns
Orders over $45 ship free, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Other orders ship for a flat rate of $9.99.
Our standard processing time is 4–6 business days before an order leaves our factory. We ship Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Carrier transit time begins after the order has shipped.
Need your order sooner? In the order-notes or special-instructions box in your cart, write RUSH REQUEST — Need by [date]. A rush note is a request, not a guarantee. Rush processing depends on production capacity and product availability. Expedited carrier service and rush handling may require an additional charge. Do not assume the request has been accepted until Butterfields confirms it.
Carrier transit time begins after the order has shipped. Orders to the West Coast can take approximately 5–10 business days in transit. Orders to Alaska or Hawaii can take at least 15 business days. Processing and transit times are estimates; carrier delivery dates are not guaranteed.
Because candy is a food product, we do not accept physical returns or restock returned candy. If your order arrives damaged, melted, incorrect, or defective, contact us within 30 days at 252-459-2577 or sales@butterfieldscandies.com. Include your order information and clear photographs when possible. We will review the issue and provide a replacement or refund when appropriate; you will not be asked to return the candy.
We do not provide refunds or replacements based only on personal taste preference. Please review the What to Expect, Ingredients, and Allergens information before ordering.
Gluten Free
No Preservatives
Zero Dyes
Vegan
Not sure what flavor to start with?
Try the 11-flavor sampler, our best seller!
Choose options
Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1924
For decades, Butterfields Candy moved—from Winston-Salem to Rocky Mount, Rocky Mount to Nashville—carried forward by families who believed the candy was worth keeping. Then in 2009, it went dark. The kettles went cold. The recipes sat waiting. And someone who spent 15 years carrying the memory of a candy that comforted her took a leap of faith and brought it back to life.
Dena Manning is the steward of that story.
Frequently Asked Questions
They are old-fashioned hard candy with a glasslike look and feel. We do not recommend biting into them.
Butterfields is old-fashioned hard candy, not a chewy or gummy candy. Each piece is meant to dissolve slowly. Our flavors are fruit- or spice-forward and balanced rather than made to taste like a dessert. Because every batch is made by hand, the pieces will not have the perfectly uniform size, color, or finish of mass-produced candy.
Yes. Butterfields candies are vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Yes. All Butterfields candies contain coconut, which is classified as a tree nut. Please review the ingredient and allergen information on the individual product page before ordering.
No. Our colors come from fruit and vegetable sources, including red carrot, turmeric, grapes, and spirulina, depending on the flavor.
Most Butterfields flavors use natural flavor. Our Peach Buds contain both natural and artificial peach flavor. This is part of the longstanding recipe I chose to preserve. Mixed assortments that include Peach Buds also contain that flavoring.
Yes. Sugar Free Peach Buds are available in an 8-ounce cello bag and a mason jar. They contain isomalt rather than sugar. Please see the product page for current availability and complete ingredients.
Coconut is part of the traditional recipe and is used during the hand-folding process to keep the candy from sticking. Small pieces also remain in the finished candy. It is not a strong coconut flavor, but coconut is a tree nut and must be treated as an allergen.
We make the candy by hand in small batches. Natural color sources and the light sugar coating can also affect how bright each piece looks. Small variations in color, shape, and size are normal.
Humidity is the enemy of hard candy. Keep Butterfields in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from heat and moisture.
No. Some flavors have a bright or tart finish, but we do not currently make sour candy.
Was hoping they the flavor would be more sour. But enjoyed still.
Hi ~ I bought a small bag of the Key Lime Buds a few weeks ago, at Marin French Cheese Co. in Nicasio, CA. They were fantastic! I wanted to give 5 bags as gifts to my friends, and Marin Cheese was out. So, I purchased a large bag of them from you. I am a bit disappointed, as they are not the same bright lime green color... and , I'm not sure if they tasted the same. Mostly, the color was murky and not as pretty. The candies in the above picture are the green I hoped for. Thank you ~ Betsy
I love these candies, to much I go through them so fast.
I absolutely love this, just the perfect mix of sweet/sour
Great flavor with just the right tartness that invites you back for one more! Just like the perfect Key Lime pie!
I have never had a hard candy that was so full of flavor. Most have a hint of the flavor they say, but mostly it is just a super sugary and bland flavor. But these did not disappoint at all.
These key lime buds are so refreshing! Tastes like picking one in Key West and buying into it!
No key lime taste. So very disappointing.
Love them
Really love these. Great lime flavor.
I got these along with some other flavors and absolutely love them. I even shared them with my mom and she took the whole bag.
I was hopeful, but they were underwhelming
This is my favorite so far. I love the Key Lime flavor. I will be ordering more of these for sure.
Did not like this flavor.
If I'm craving just a little "sweet treat" these buds are just perfect. The balance of sweet/sour is awesome and just 2 little pieces are perfect.
Always good!
This is my first time trying these hard candies, and I am impressed. They are very good. I will be a repeat customer.
Great flavor.
super taste - just like Key Lime pie.
I love them, they are as good as key lime pie!
Took me back to Margaritaville in Key west,,, what a treat!!
I love lime and they are perfect
Awesome!
So tasty and refreshing.
Love the flavors! This old fashioned candy reminds me if candy my grandparents has when I was growing up.
We have liked all the flavors we’ve ordered. Key lime is great.
This is my favorite flavor. Very refreshing
Excellent key lime flavor. Island time
If you love Key Lime Pie, this will not disappoint! Fantastic flavor that tickles the tastebuds! Blown away by the other flavors as well. You can taste the care that this company puts into their product!
I ordered not only this large bag but a sampler of other flavors and I love them all!
I was disappointed with the lack of taste. The other candies had a much stronger taste than the Key Lime Buds.
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Crafted in North Carolina Since 1924
Our methods haven’t changed. Copper kettles. Measured heat. Some things don’t improve with shortcuts.
True to the Fruit
Vegan, gluten- & dairy-free. Made with natural flavors and pure cane sugar for a true to the fruit taste.
No Preservatives or Additives
We simply coat the candy in confectioner’s sugar to prevent sticking. No anti-caking agents or additives.
Living History
Passed through Rocky Mount to rest in Nashville, North Carolina. Carried for decades by people who believed the candy was worth keeping.
