smoky mountains

6 Types of Tasty Food in Gatlinburg You Can Sample for Free

Aunt Mahalia's Candies
July 19, 2018

There are many things in Gatlinburg that awaken the senses. When it comes to your taste buds, you’ll be dazzled by the amount of food in Gatlinburg that’s available to sample. And the best part is it’s free! Here are 6 types of food you can sample while you’re browsing the Gatlinburg shops.

1. Fudge and Candy

peanut butter fudge

Fudge is one food in Gatlinburg that’s found in many of the sweet shops. Most of the employees of these places are happy to give you a sample of some of their best chunks of creamy fudge. They do this because many customers give in to temptation, and you’ll likely be one of these people walking out with a few slabs. Try Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen for some of the best homemade fudge, as well as Aunt Mahalia's for taffy, sweets, and candies of all sorts!

2. Ice Cream

Joining fudge as a top food in Gatlinburg readily available to sample is ice cream. This popular summer treat is a hit in Gatlinburg throughout the year, and you can find a good amount of ice cream in shops that also dole out fudge, such as Kilwin's. Make it a two-for-one for a sweet double dip!

3. Dips and Sauces

Not all the food in Gatlinburg you can sample is sweet; you’ll find all kinds of savory items too! At The Village Shops, you'll find Zi Olive, where you can sample high-quality olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Another place to go is The Pepper Palace. It has several locations in downtown Gatlinburg, offering all kinds of BBQ and hot sauces to try. 

4. Wine & Moonshine

At The Holler in Gatlinburg, ​Ole Smoky Moonshine​ has an incredible selection of local moonshine flavors to sample, Apple Pie and Blueberry to Mountain Java and Shine Nog! A regular tasting is $5, but you'll get a $5 coupon off your moonshine purchase, so the tasting ends up being free! If you enjoy wine or hard ciders, we suggest heading over to Tennessee Homemade Wines! Known for their variety of sweet and semi-sweet wines, you can try everything from Niagara, Concord, Muscadine, or strawberry wine. Their cotton candy wine is a favorite as well! 

5. Jerky

beef jerky pieces

Jerky has also been a popular food in Gatlinburg to sample. You can find your fix at the ​Beef Jerky Outlet​, where they have plenty of the savory treat on display. You’ll find classic flavors such as honey BBQ smoked beef jerky. Try something new like teriyaki smoked salmon jerky! The Beef Jerky Outlet isn’t afraid to let customers sample, because they know there’s a good chance they walk out with a bag of jerky!

6. Popcorn

There is popcorn all over the place, but as a food in Gatlinburg to sample, there’s no better place to try popcorn than ​Carmelcorn. This local business has been making fresh popcorn every day since opening its doors in 1961 and has an awesome selection. Their flavors include classics like caramel, butter, and kettle corn, as well as white cheddar, toffee, and more! Sample some of their sizable selection and walk out with a bag to enjoy with the family back at the cabin.

It’s quite possible to make a meal out of all the food in Gatlinburg you can sample. If you need a place with plenty of room for your stash of food items you bought after sampling, our cabins are the perfect place. ​Book one of our cabins now​ to get a huge sample of a sensational vacation with us.