Nostalgic Candy is More Popular than Ever
Jul 7th 2020
If you’re old enough to remember penny loafers, sock hops, and peddle pushers you probably remember Black Jack, Necco Wafers, and Baby Jane. Whenever you sit back and recall the “good old days,” you can’t help but think about some of the candy that was around back then.
But did you know that some of your favorite old time candy is still around?
Nostalgia is hotter than ever with a whole new generation digging into the past and learning about what the trends were “back then.” Candy manufacturers have brought back many of the classic candies you may have grown up with but thought were long gone. These confectionery delights are now being introduced to a whole new audience with nostalgic candy making a comeback.
Let’s take a walk down Memory Lane and take a look at some old time candy that’s still around today.
Candy Cigarettes
Candy Cigarettes have been around for over a hundred years! You probably remember the packaging that was designed to look just like a real pack of smokes, but inside was a chalk-like sugary stick with a pink “lit” end. Other varieties included bubble gum and chocolate. As time went on, a push was made to ban Candy Cigarettes, however, since these treats did not contain any tobacco, candy companies changed the name to Candy Sticks and redesigned the packaging to avoid the link to smoking. If you were a fan of their unique taste, Candy Cigarettes, or Candy Sticks, are still sold today!
Clove Gum
History says this classic chewing gum was introduced in 1914 by the Thomas Adams Company and as the name implies, was flavored with cloves giving it an unforgettable unique taste and smell. Rumor has it that during prohibition, Clove gum was a favorite of those who imbibed at speakeasies as it supposedly masked the smell of alcohol! Clove, Black Jack and Beeman’s gum disappeared for a while until all three were brought back in 2018 and have gained new found popularity.
Sugar Daddy
No not that kind! We’re talking about another sweetheart of a candy that’s been around since 1925. This hard caramel candy on a stick was originally called the Papa Sucker, but was renamed Sugar Daddy in 1932. Over the course of its history, the candy was made by several different companies before finding a permanent home with Tootsie Industries in 1993. Today, those who crave a simple caramel candy scoop ‘em up by the box!
Abba-Zabba Candy Bar
In 1922 the Colby and McDermott candy company had the idea to create a different type of candy bar - one that had a peanut butter center with a taffy coating. The Abba-Zabba bar was born and it was an immediate hit! Besides its unique makeup, there’s no mistaking an Abba-Zabba bar. The yellow and black checkerboard wrapper has remained unchanged since the bar first made its appearance nearly a century ago.
Necco Wafers
No discussion about nostalgic candy is complete without mentioning Necco Wafers - the candy you either love or hate! Necco Wafers date back to 1847 and were made right up until 2018 by the now defunct New England Confectionery Company (NECCO). The nickel size wafers of varying flavors were rolled up into a wax paper package and have become the symbol of classic candy and it’s usually the first one that comes to mind. When NECCO went bankrupt, fans banned together hoping that another company would come to rescue their favorite nostalgic treat. Spangler Candy Company heard their cries and the candy is now in production and slated to arrive this summer. Be sure to sign up for an alert when it comes in, so you’ll be one of the first to experience it all over again.
Well, there are a few of our favorite old time candies, we hope this brought back some memories for you. If it did, be sure to check out our selection of nostalgic candy and order some to try all over again.
But did you know that some of your favorite old time candy is still around?
Nostalgia is hotter than ever with a whole new generation digging into the past and learning about what the trends were “back then.” Candy manufacturers have brought back many of the classic candies you may have grown up with but thought were long gone. These confectionery delights are now being introduced to a whole new audience with nostalgic candy making a comeback.
Let’s take a walk down Memory Lane and take a look at some old time candy that’s still around today.
Candy Cigarettes
Candy Cigarettes have been around for over a hundred years! You probably remember the packaging that was designed to look just like a real pack of smokes, but inside was a chalk-like sugary stick with a pink “lit” end. Other varieties included bubble gum and chocolate. As time went on, a push was made to ban Candy Cigarettes, however, since these treats did not contain any tobacco, candy companies changed the name to Candy Sticks and redesigned the packaging to avoid the link to smoking. If you were a fan of their unique taste, Candy Cigarettes, or Candy Sticks, are still sold today!
Clove Gum
History says this classic chewing gum was introduced in 1914 by the Thomas Adams Company and as the name implies, was flavored with cloves giving it an unforgettable unique taste and smell. Rumor has it that during prohibition, Clove gum was a favorite of those who imbibed at speakeasies as it supposedly masked the smell of alcohol! Clove, Black Jack and Beeman’s gum disappeared for a while until all three were brought back in 2018 and have gained new found popularity.
Sugar Daddy
No not that kind! We’re talking about another sweetheart of a candy that’s been around since 1925. This hard caramel candy on a stick was originally called the Papa Sucker, but was renamed Sugar Daddy in 1932. Over the course of its history, the candy was made by several different companies before finding a permanent home with Tootsie Industries in 1993. Today, those who crave a simple caramel candy scoop ‘em up by the box!
Abba-Zabba Candy Bar
In 1922 the Colby and McDermott candy company had the idea to create a different type of candy bar - one that had a peanut butter center with a taffy coating. The Abba-Zabba bar was born and it was an immediate hit! Besides its unique makeup, there’s no mistaking an Abba-Zabba bar. The yellow and black checkerboard wrapper has remained unchanged since the bar first made its appearance nearly a century ago.
Necco Wafers
No discussion about nostalgic candy is complete without mentioning Necco Wafers - the candy you either love or hate! Necco Wafers date back to 1847 and were made right up until 2018 by the now defunct New England Confectionery Company (NECCO). The nickel size wafers of varying flavors were rolled up into a wax paper package and have become the symbol of classic candy and it’s usually the first one that comes to mind. When NECCO went bankrupt, fans banned together hoping that another company would come to rescue their favorite nostalgic treat. Spangler Candy Company heard their cries and the candy is now in production and slated to arrive this summer. Be sure to sign up for an alert when it comes in, so you’ll be one of the first to experience it all over again.
Well, there are a few of our favorite old time candies, we hope this brought back some memories for you. If it did, be sure to check out our selection of nostalgic candy and order some to try all over again.