When was the last time you walked through a store and spotted Cow Tales or a Charleston Chew? As more candies are created, the ones from the past get pushed off the shelf and become harder to find. Companies want to improve the design of their candies in hopes of inventing the next best thing, but unfortunately for many of us, that means losing our favorite treat. Find out what happened to the most popular retro candy through the decades. Most were invented in the early 1900s and can still be found today—if you know where to look.
Thankfully, the most popular vintage candies haven’t disappeared—they’ve just found new homes. While you can’t get penny candies for a penny anymore, you can still find them at old-fashioned general stores. If it isn’t convenient for you to find one of these niche shops, keep reading to uncover how you can get your hands on the most popular nostalgic candies from the past.
The 1900s – Chocolate, Rock Candy, & More!
The 1900s, in general, were a booming time for industry and candy. Many businesses and industries were developing during this time, and candy was one of them. Chocolate made an appearance at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, inspiring Milton S. Hershey to make chocolate as we know it today.
Candy was not yet a household commodity in the early 1900s. Most people considered it a special treat that was typically enjoyed as a reward or gift. Most candies were hard candies, the most popular of which were Rock Candy, Candy Drops, Nut Goodie, and Beemans Gum.
The 1910s – Caramel, Hershey, & More!
Caramel was a popular sweet in the early 1900s. Candymakers could make it into all sorts of shapes and textures, but a growing demand for chocolate overcame caramel. By this time Hershey had come out with its brand of milk chocolate, and the Kiss was on the market by 1907 with the milk chocolate bar with almonds following the year after.
The 1920s – Babe Ruth, Butterfingers, & More!
The Roaring 20s was a unique period of jazz and Wall Street. You couldn’t legally get a drink, but you could get candy. Perhaps the lack of alcohol inspired the rise in candy sales and other sales of sweets. The rise in popularity of nuts advanced chocolate sales and gave birth to Babe Ruth, Butterfingers, and Reese’s Cups. This decade also gave us Charleston Chews, Bit-O-Honey, and wax lips.
The 1930s – Tootsie Pops, Red Hots, & More!
The 1930s saw a slight change in the ways candies were made and marketed. This was the decade of two-in-one candies, which gave people a better bang for their buck. Most people wanted to save money and find nutrition wherever possible during the Great Depression. Popular candies that emerged in the 1930s include Tootsie Pops, Sky Bars, Red Hots, and Life Savers.
The 1940s – M&Ms, Jolly Ranchers, & More!
Due to recent economic disparity and WWII, food was rationed, and candy was not a priority in America or to most households. Many candy-making factories were forced to switch their operations to help advance the War, including that which made M&Ms. These candies were popular in the summer of the 1940s—and beyond—as chocolate sales often declined through the warm months. Junior Mints and Jolly Ranchers also came out in the 1940s.
The 1950s – Pez, Fireballs, & More!
Believe it or not, the cycle of nostalgia began in the 1950s. People were craving the candies from their childhood and wanted to share experiences with their children that they couldn’t have while growing up due to the Great Depression. Manufacturers made new Pez dispensers and revamped vintage candies like candy cigarettes, fireballs, and lemon heads.
The 1960s – Peeps, Swedish Fish, & More!
The 1960s were all about color, and therefore, the candy was all about sugar. A rainbow of colorful candies was in demand to satisfy the generation of peace, love, and happiness. Peeps, candy necklaces, Pixie Sticks, Swedish Fish, Fruit Striped Gum, and Starburst are timeless sweets from this decade that people still love.
The 1970s – Gobstoppers, Laffy Taffy, & More!
Our candies started getting scientific and experimental in the 1970s. We figured out that we could do more with texture than make things hard or gummy. The popularity of the Willy Wonka film inspired Gobstoppers to return along with a slew of candies that we still know and love today, such as Pop Rocks, Ring Pops, Laffy Taffy, and Blow Pops.
The 1980s – Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, & More!
By the 1980s, people had plenty of candy options, but that didn’t stop manufacturers from creating more sugary treats. This decade brought chewy sugar candies with unique flavors that ranged from fruity to tangy. The most popular types of candy to emerge were Skittles, Airheads, and Sour Patch Kids, which many people consider their favorites today.
The 1990s – Shock Tarts, Warheads, & More!
The candy that came out in the 1990s is not for the faint of heart. This was the decade that they invented the sour versions of everything. Sweet tarts became Shock Tarts and Air Heads became Warheads. You could even find sour chewing gums and sour Fun Dip. Baby Bottle Pops were also popular in the 1990s.
Today
Nowadays, stores carry full aisles for candy in addition to what they place in the impulse buy sections near the checkout. Companies come out with new types of candy every year, if not every few months. The most popular types of candies these days are seasonal varieties. Whether it is a ghost- or tree-shaped piece of candy or something that tastes like pumpkin spice, candies that remind people of their favorite holidays are the most special treats. The tradition of nostalgia and candy continues to this day.
If you grew up in any of these decades, you likely remember the candies that emerged. Further, if you lived through multiple decades, you may miss some candies that are no longer available at the store. Some people can remember their first bite of their favorite candy bar. Some types of candy are so vintage that you can’t find them just anywhere. When you are looking for old-fashioned candies from your youth, shop Sweet Services online retail store for the largest collection of nostalgic lollipops, chocolates, taffy, jellybeans, and more.
Shop our retro candy wholesale online to find old-fashioned candies you haven’t seen in years. You’ll find popular retro candy through the decades no matter which year your favorite candy was invented.
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