In today’s world of artisanal chocolates and gourmet sweets, it’s easy to forget the simple joys of childhood candies. The thrill of spending your allowance on a colorful assortment of treats at the corner store or trading your favorite candies with friends during recess was an experience like none other.
These sugary delights weren’t just snacks – they were an integral part of growing up, creating memories that still bring a smile to our faces decades later.
On that note, we’re about to take a sweet trip down memory lane with these forgotten candies from your childhood that we can confidently say will make you nostalgic! Who knows? You might even discover that some of these retro treats are still available today, waiting to be rediscovered by a new generation of candy enthusiasts!
Abba-Zaba
This chewy classic taffy and peanut butter combo has been around since 1922, but it’s more of a retro candy item than anything else now. Back in 2005, Annabelle Candy Co., the company that now owns Abba-Zaba (acquired in 1978), released new flavors of the taffy bar, including an apple variant and a chocolate one with a peanut butter and chocolate spread in the center. Perhaps, if you manage to get your hands on one of these, it’ll take you right back to the good ol’ days.
Candy Cigarettes
Before the days of strict tobacco regulations, these chalky sugar sticks, believed to have been introduced in the 1800s, were a staple in every kid’s candy stash. Pretending to puff up a cloud of smoke just like an adult would with these sugary sticks was every kid’s pastime back in the day.
Unfortunately, the Candy Cigarettes of yore are no longer what they used to be. Gone are the red tips and powdered sugar, owing to fears that children might get desensitized to cigarettes and even turn to smoking once they’re adults. While our beloved Candy Cigarettes may have lost some of their “cool factor” over the years, the memories still remain.
Chuckles
We all love our candies, but jelly candies are what we love more, and no one does it better than Chuckles. These sugar-coated jelly candies with their five classic flavors: cherry, lemon, lime, orange, and licorice, are the sweet treats of our childhood.
First developed by marshmallow maker Fred Amend, Chuckles was an instant hit with its irresistible jelly centers coated in a thin layer of sugar. Each package contained one piece of each iconic flavor, a delightful variety that has remained unchanged for over a century.
Razzles
Razzles were the ultimate two-in-one treat that started out as a tangy, fruit-flavored candy before transforming into a delightful chewing gum. If, like us, you also miss this addictive confectionery, then you’d be happy to know that Razzles are still very much around and readily accessible in local stores and online.
Originally released in 1966, Razzles come in several delicious flavors, including the OG raspberry, orange, lemon, and grape. Tootsie Roll Industries, the company that now owns Razzles, has introduced two new packs to the original product line: a tropical fruit and sour pack.
Sixlets
These tiny, candy-coated chocolate balls were a perfect bite-sized snack that became a favorite of ’60s kids. While M&M’s had already established the popularity of candy-coated chocolate decades earlier (introduced in the 1940s), Sixlets arrived on the scene around 1960, quickly becoming a fondly remembered treat in their own right.
They came in classic red, brown, yellow, green, blue, and orange colors and were allegedly sold for six a penny, which is how the name is said to have originated. The only problem? One sleeve was never enough!
Nik-L-Nips
Remember biting into these wax bottles to get to the sweet, syrupy goodness inside? Some of us actually chewed the wax off the caps of these and survived the experience. Nik-L-Nips were first introduced in the early 1900s and came in a wide assortment of fruity flavors.
Many attribute the word ‘Nip’ in the name to what alcohol was commonly referred to in many places in the US at the time. Others claim that the action of having to nip at the wax bottles brought about the ‘Nip’ in the name. But since it was introduced during the prohibition era, we’re willing to bet creator Vinny Cavallo probably wanted to soothe the souls of everyone pining for a pint and have us nip into this confectionery in its stead.
Candy Lipstick
These colorful candy tubes made you feel all grown up, even if the flavors were pretty much all the same. Collecting every single one of the cap colors was half the fun! Some of us even got to buy them as part of a princess set. The princess-themed candy tubes were a stark contrast to a variation of the design from the 70s, which came in silver with a gold base that made them look like bullets, effectively catering to kids who loved G.I. Joe.
Fun Dip
First introduced in the 40s, the iconic Lik-M-Aid candy, which later came to be known as Fun Dip, came with its own edible sugar stick for dipping, which was a fun thing to do growing up, especially during recess! The real debate, however, was always about which flavored sugar reigned supreme among the many sour and fruity ones we could choose from.
Charleston Chew
Before the Milky Way took over the nougat game, Charleston Chew was the go-to chocolate-covered, marshmallow-flavored nougat bar that was out of this world. Introduced in 1922, the candy was typically available in three classic flavors—original, strawberry, and vanilla—but it is a rare sight to behold in retail stores nowadays. You’ll have better luck finding them online, but at exorbitant rates.
Zotz
These hard candies with a fizzy, sour center filled with effervescent powder (a sherbet of sorts?) were a staple at movie theaters and corner stores. The intense burst of flavor was always a pleasant surprise, no matter how used to it we were. Introduced to the US market in 1970, Zotz is thankfully very much still available in stores, on the confectionery’s official website, and online.
Bit-O-Honey
Bit-O-Honey is a retro candy that seems to have a loyal following, even if it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The unique blend of honey-flavored taffy and almond bits was probably something we enjoyed more as adults than as kids. However, Bit-O-Honey has been around for quite a while (it was introduced in 1924), and for that alone, it deserves respect as an enduring American candy classic.
Candy Buttons
These colorful dots of pure sweetness, delicately placed on strips of paper, were a birthday party favorite. The challenge was always trying to peel them off without ripping the paper! Candy Buttons is purported to have been around since the 1930s and has changed hands since, but you can still manage to find these treats online even if they’re not available in stores.
Bonkers
Not to be outdone by Razzles and Zotz, Bonkers were chewy rectangular chunks that hid a mouth-tingling secret. These delightful, fruit-flavored candies by Leaf Brands, which were popular in the 1980s, delivered a double punch. You’d bite into the chewy outer layer expecting a standard fruity experience, only to be surprised by a little burst of tangy, dissolving powdery goodness from the center.
Available in flavors like Cherry, Grape, and Strawberry, getting a pack felt like discovering a hidden treasure, promising that unique combination of chew and fizz that made them unforgettable. While they might be hard to find today, the memory of that unexpected ‘bonk’ of flavor is still crystal clear.
Astro Pops
What happens when two rocket scientists decide to make candy? You get Astro Pops! Created in 1963 by two former Rocketdyne engineers who worked on the Space Race, these cone-shaped lollipops were designed to resemble a three-stage rocket. The striking red, white, and blue layers weren’t just for show – each represented a different flavor (cherry, lime, and cinnamon) that you could enjoy as you made your way through this space-age treat.
Their unique design made them notoriously difficult to eat without making a sticky mess, but that was part of the fun! After being discontinued in 2004, these retro rockets made a comeback thanks to Leaf Brands, allowing a new generation to experience what was once touted as “the candy of the future.
Black Cow
Before there were gourmet chocolate caramels, there was the humble Black Cow. This chocolate-flavored caramel bar has been an American tradition for over 80 years, first appearing in the 1920s when it was made by Holloway.
What made Black Cow special was its perfect balance of chocolate and caramel flavors – not too sweet or rich, just right for a quick afternoon indulgence. The modern version has evolved into a chocolate-infused caramel rather than a chocolate-flavored one, but the nostalgic appeal remains the same. Generations of candy lovers have fond memories of unwrapping these simple treats after school, their distinctive taste offering comfort long before artisanal chocolates became trendy.
Fruit Stripe Gum
Yipes! Stripes!” If that catchphrase instantly triggers memories of a colorful zebra mascot named Yipes, you definitely grew up with Fruit Stripe Gum. Introduced in 1960, this vibrant, striped gum offered an intense burst of fruit flavor that, sadly, disappeared faster than your allowance money.
But what it lacked in lasting flavor, it made up for with its bright rainbow appearance and the temporary tattoos that came in every pack. Each stick was striped like a zebra in different colors with one of five fruity flavors: melon, cherry, lemon, orange, and peach. After delighting children for more than 60 years, Ferrara Candy Company discontinued Fruit Stripe in early 2024 ( the brand had changed ownership multiple times since its 1960 launch (Beech-Nut → Nabisco → Farley’s & Sathers → Ferrara), marking the end of an era for this beloved, even if short-lived, flavor explosion.