Throughout the years, candies have come and gone. We’re so focused on today that we forget about all the vintage candies that might even be better than our current favorites.
Over time, things like food trends and candies will come and go. Being so focused on what we currently have, we tend to forget what it was like in years past, where what we now call vintage candies were at their peak of popularity. For some that you will see below, they are still relevant and being sold in stores today; for others, we cannot find them anywhere, and need to bring them back.
Let’s go ahead and take a look at some of the best vintage candies that once were the main thing you saw when walking down the candy aisle, and determine if they’d not only still be relevant today, but also loved in today’s times. In addition, let’s figure out just what made all of these candies so popular and how they compare to some similar candies of today as well.
As you will see in the following slides, vintage candies, while they can’t all be found on the shelves of our grocery stores today, they are definitely not being forgotten. And perhaps going forward they may even make a sweet comeback.
Necco Wafers
Necco Wafers definitely go way back, as the production of these vintage candies began in the late 1840’s, under the Boston-based manufacturing company called the New England Confectionery Company. The original recipe, as they’ve always been made, was created by Oliver Chase.
Taste and texture wise, Necco Wafers can most commonly be compared to conversation hearts (made by the same company, Necco, as well) that we always see around Valentine’s Day (and that have also been around for quite some time now).
Since being in production for more than one hundred of years, in 2018, the production of Necco Wafers was put on a hiatus, and according to SpanglerCandy, sometime in the middle of this year, the company will be making further announcements about the availability of this particular product (so, stay tuned if you enjoy these as much as I do)!
Necco Wafers are a very chalky kind of candy, much like the conversation hearts are. You might think that they don’t look like they have a lot of flavor, but they most certainly do!
There are eight flavors that are included in each roll of Necco Wafers, and the flavors and their corresponding colors go as follows:
- Lemon (YELLOW)
- Lime (GREEN)
- Orange (ORANGE)
- Clove (PURPLE)
- Cinnamon (WHITE)
- Wintergreen (PINK)
- Licorice (BLACK)
- Chocolate (BROWN)
Personally, my two favorite flavors are the Wintergreen and the Chocolate (yes, I just finished a roll about a week ago, so don’t judge).
If you like conversation hearts, you’ll love you some Necco Wafers, so be sure to show them some love if you can still find them! If not, then hopefully soon, production will be put back into play for us all to enjoy once again!
Mallo Cups
Mallo Cups go back to 1936 when they were first invented. In fact, Mallo Cups were the first candies ever to be considered a ‘cup candy’ as well. These were actually invented by two brothers, named Bill and Bob Boyer (hence the company name, Boyer Candies) who did this as a means of supplementing their income and bringing in some extra money.
In case you aren’t familiar with Mallow Cups, it is, according to Wikipedia:
"A coconut-laced milk chocolate cup that contains a whipped marshmallow center."
While the description of Mallo Cups includes the word ‘coconut’, if you’re not a fan of coconut flavored things, fear not, because in my opinion, the coconut itself doesn’t add much flavor, just some different textures throughout.
I have definitely seen these in stores recently. In fact, there’s a tiny little shop in Door County, Wisconsin called Uncle Tom’s Candy. They have one wall chock full of all things vintage candies, and sure enough, Mallo Cups are there (that’s actually the first time I remember trying one and remembering what it tastes like).
In a nutshell, Mallo Cups taste like the inside of a S’mores, so who wouldn’t like something like these?
Turkish Taffy
Turkish Taffy was founded back in 1912, originally on Coney Island, and at the time, was one of the most sought-after candies. Upon looking at their website, they had the following to say about such a much-loved candy:
"As the first interactive candy, Bonomo Turkish Taffy has thrilled generations as there was simply nothing like it. Bonomo Turkish Taffy is now back in its original formula and flavors."
Their website has some great ways to stroll down memory lane with its packaging, and even featuring one of their most famous ads that was ever created. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, there were four original flavors of Turkish Taffy, consisting of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and banana. Since its origination, there have been two new flavors added, both in 2012, and those were: Blue Raspberry and Wild Cherry.
While I don’t believe I’ve ever tried this particular vintage candy, I have read up on it quite a bit and do know that it was one of the hottest candies of its time nonetheless.
Maybe this is similar in consistency to what we know as Salt Water Taffy and things like that? Maybe it’s completely different? If you’ve tried this, let us know in the comments for sure!
Boston Baked Beans
The original Boston Baked Beans is set in its classic red brick-like pattern package, and was originally created back in the early 1930’s to be exact, right around the same time as Red Hots, (which you will read more about later). Boston Baked Beans, in the candy and sweets-based industry, is basically another term for sugar-coated peanuts (BBB are bright red to be exact). The company that began producing these was known as The Ferrara Pan Candy Company.
If you’re curious about how Boston Baked Beans are made or produced, here’s what a vintage candy website had to say about the process:
"The Boston Baked Bean is created using the cold panned candy process. This process involves building candy pieces from single units, such as peanuts, and tossing them into revolving pans while adding flavor, color and other candy ingredients. This process continues until the pieces become the size desired."
While this may not be the sweetest candy, it reminds me of the concept of Peanut M & M’s, in the fact that there is candy coating on the outside, and a nut on the inside. The only thing that truly sets them apart is the chocolate itself. Other than that, the concept is one and the same truthfully.
If you’re a fan of Peanut M & M’s, then you’ll probably be a fan of these Boston Baked Beans, and will at least be familiar with such a texture.
Definitely give these a try if you like candies that are a bit less sweet to begin with.
Black Crows
Black Crows can be traced super far back, much like the Necco Wafers, to the 1890’s. These were invented by two different confectioners named Henrique Cataldi and Joseph Maison.
Black Crows are very similar to what we consider to be today’s version of Dots. They are the same shape, texture, and everything! Given that I’m a huge, huge fan of all black licorice, Black Crows are definitely something that I would’ve had my hands all over, had I been living at that time.
Personally, I’ve never seen Black Crows on today’s markets and grocery store shelves, so I’m safely assuming that they’re not being made anymore; however, I could be wrong, and you might be able to find these vintage candies somewhere (besides online stores, of course).
The candy company Tootsie says that Black Crows are members of the Dots family, but they also have been around for so much longer than their fruit-flavored variety (cousins) as well.
If you’re a fan of Dots, and you love the taste of black licorice itself, then Black Crows probably would’ve been your go-to candy.
Charleston Chew
The Charleston Chew was created back in 1925 by the Fox-Cross Candy Company, which was then founded by a stage-actor named Donley Cross and his friend Charlie Fox. At the time, there was a very popular dance called the Charleston, hence what the candy was actually named after.
Essentially, the Charleston Chew is a nougat covered in milk chocolate. They’re also made by the Tootsie company, having joined them in 1933, and consist of three flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry.
This is one of those candy bars that you hear of people enjoying mostly frozen, and calling it ‘the Charleston crack’. Upon Charleston Chews joining the Tootsie company, five years later, they introduced a few different versions and selling points, such as the Charleston Chew Minis, single-serving boxes of bite-sized full-flavored versions of the original Charleston Chew (which only came in Vanilla back then).
As for today, although Charleston Chews are very much still being sold in stores, the most comparable candy would have to be the Brach’s Jelly Nougat; however, there are so many different nougat-based candies out there, such as an Italian favorite of mine called Torrone.
If you like a good sticky nougat bar, then you’ll definitely enjoy yourself some Charleston Chews!
Zotz
Believe it or not, Zotz were actually originally made and manufactured in Italy, by G.B. Ambrosoli SPA in Ronago, quickly hitting shelves across the U.S. back in 1968.
Zotz are little hard candies that have a powder in the middle that fizzes, and you typically see them being sold in strips of four pieces, all perforated together to hold them in place. Some come in a box of 48, in which there are eight strings of each flavors, making and giving you a total of 192 total pieces of candy within them. Zotz have six current flavors, including:
- Cherry
- Orange
- Watermelon
- Apple
- Blue Raspberry
- Strawberry
If you’ve ever had a Zotz before, you might be wondering why they’re so fizzy and what exactly makes them the way that they are. Well, the powder on the inside of each of the hard candies is made from malic and tartaric acids, and then mixed with sodium bicarbonate. When all of that combined mixes with saliva or water, the fizzing begins.
Something else comparable to Zotz in terms of today’s candies, would be the Fizzy Sherbet Powder Candy that comes with a lollipop that you lick, then dip in the powder, therefore, creating the same fizzing sensation that is similar to what a Zotz feels like.
If you’re into candies that change texture or sensations, then try out some Zotz for yourself, as they are most definitely still being sold in the stores’ today.
5th Avenue
Produced and marketed by Luden’s, originally brought to be by their coughdrop-fame, 5th Avenue Candy Bars were first introduced back in 1936. However, in 1986, Hershey purchased Luden’s and has been making and producing 5th Avenue Candy Bars ever since.
The 5th Avenue Candy Bars consist of various layers of peanut butter crunch layers, similar to those of a Butterfinger Bar, all covered in deliciously smooth milk chocolate.
I’m not sure what these taste like, or what their given texture is really like, however, peanut butter crunch layers for sure sound like something I would indulge in and eat on a cheat day for sure!
Going based off of all of the research I’ve done here, if you like the texture of other different candy bars, such as Butterfingers, then I’m sure 5th Avenue vintage candies would’ve been a favorite of yours.
Definitely give these a try, or do some research for yourselves, as to find something similar that can suffice until you find them.
I’m not 100 percent sure if you can still find these on the shelves in today’s grocery stores, however, if I’m ever able to find them, then I will certainly get my hands on some, that’s for darn sure!
Valomilk
Valomilk was first created back in 1931, by a company called Sifers, hence part of the original name Sifer’s Valomilk.
The recipe for these Valomilks actually came about by complete accident. The recipe for Valomilks came to be when a candy-maker at Sifers, which was then located in Kansas City, (as opposed to Merriam, Kansas now), added too much vanilla extract to the given batch of their signature marshmallow mixture, which never set. The filling (accidental) is now used to fill their roughly 2 oz. cups of delicious and smooth chocolate, which is in the same shape as a peanut butter filled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup!
Comparable to these, obviously speaking, are Mallo Cups, which you can still find in stores today! Sifers, as you can read on their website, only produces Valomilk now, as opposed to other things that they used to produce, because they want their business to be focused and nailing what they already know.
All of that being said, I’m still not 100 percent sure if these are still being sold on grocery and convenience store shelves, but if you find them, let me know where I can get them (in store or online).
If you like marshmallows and chocolate, Valomilks are your thing. Have some fun and compare them to Mallo Cups and let us know which ones you like the best.
Red Hots
Red Hots were first introduced in the 1930’s (1932 to be exact here) by The Ferrera Pan Candy Company.
According to Snack History, here’s the method used to make and produce Red Hots:
"Red Hots were introduced in 1932 and made with the cold panned candy method that tosses sugar in a rotating pan while adding other ingredients, including cinnamon before coating it with a shell."
Respectively, although these Red Hots are tiny little bits of candy, like the tops of a Mike & Ike type size for reference, they still pack quite the cinnamon spicy punch that you’d come to expect from their bright red color.
As someone else who has researched these vintage candies has pointed out, “these Red Hots candies will hit you from your nose to your toes.”
If you’re a fan of cinnamon-flavored candies and gummies alike, then you’ll definitely like and appreciate Red Hots. I feel like cinnamon candies and gums are an acquired taste for some people, and you either love it or you hate it (but then again, that’s just me, and I personally love it).
Check these out if you’re looking to add some cinnamon spice to your candy repertoire of favorites and tell us what you think (as they are still available in stores), and see how exactly they compare to other hot and spicy candies, such as Hot Tamales.
Astro Pops
Astro Pops were first introduced back in 1963, which so happened to be during the space race. Astro Pops were produced and created by the Nellson Candy Company, which was then based out of California.
If you’ve never seen or even heard of an Astro Pop, its design, according to Candy Blog back in 2012, was something like the following:
"The design of the pop was a simple cone with three layered flavors to emulate the three stage space rocket of the time."
There were three original flavors to the Astro Pops, and those were Cherry, Passionfruit, and Pineapple. However, Spangler then made the delicious decision to expand their flavor repertoire to include flavors like Banana Split and Caramel Apple to their delicious cone-shaped lollipops.
This definitely sounds like something I would’ve loved to eat and enjoy as a kid just as much as I would as an adult now.
If you can, give these vintage candies a try! If not, ask someone you know about them and maybe they can help find something similar to them.
All in all and as you can see, a lot of these Vintage Candies can still be found in stores today. While some will just leave people reminiscing about the days where that particular candy was all the talk of the town. In comparison to some of the candies that exist today, I feel like the vintage candies of days past just remind me of family and home.
If you know of a website or store that sells vintage candies, much like Uncle Tom’s in Door County (mentioned above) then let us know down in the comments, so we can swipe up some of these old favorites and see if we can sway some people into making them their new favorites.