Here's What Candy Came Out the Year You Were Born
Seven decades of sweet, salty and sour goodness.
Remember being a little kid and running to the store to pick up these treats? Oh, the good ol' days.
1941
M&M's
These little candies have a very colorful origin story. During the Spanish Civil war, Forest Mars Sr., son of the inventor of the Milky Way, witnessed soldiers eating small chocolate beads covered in hard sugar shells and was inspired. Chocolate sales typically dropped during the summer when temperatures rose and Mars was excited at the idea of inventing a product that wouldn't melt. He and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey executive William Murrie, joined together to create the original M&M's (Mars + Murrie = M&M).
In 1941, Mars received a patent for his product and began mass-producing the little chocolate in Newark, NJ. They were originally sold in tubes and shelled in brown, red, orange, yellow, green, and violet coatings and only available to soldiers in the war. The candies were first stamped with a black "M" in 1950, which later changed to the white "M" we know and love today in 1954.
1945
DOTS Gumdrops
Boasting itself as "America's favorite, #1-selling gumdrop brand" since its introduction in 1945, these chewy little guys have been beloved for over six decades. Tootsie makes over four billion DOTS each year and they still come in the same original flavors today as they did in the 1940s: cherry, strawberry, lemon, lime, and orange.
1947
Bazooka Bubble Gum
Just looking at that picture brings the classic pink bubblegum taste to my mouth and has me humming, "Bazooka-zooka bubblegum..." Developed at the end of World War II in Brooklyn, New York, Bazooka Bubble Gum, with its Bazooka Joe comics inside, has been a classic chewing gum for decades.
1948
Almond Joy
While its partner candy bar Mounds has been around for almost a century, Almond Joy didn't join the game until a little later. While Mounds were already becoming a classic among Americans, the demand for milk chocolate was increasing steadily, leading to the development of the Almond Joy candy bar.
1949
Junior Mints
With a creamy mint filling covered in a chocolate shell, Junior Mints were named after a popular Broadway show, Junior Miss, that was on stages in the 1940s. Today, over 15 million Junior Mints are produced each day in Cambridge, MA.
1949
Smarties
Edward "Eddie" Dee, an English immigrant, moved to New Jersey in 1949 and founded Ce De Candy, Inc. From there, he began to create the candy wafer rolls we all know and love today. Today, Smarties are made 24 a day in factories in both Union, NJ and Newmarket, Ontario.
1952
Pixy Stix
In the 1930s, a fruit drink called "Frutola," made of a Kool-Aid-esque powder that was mixed into water, was all the rage for kids. Eventually, it evolved into "Fruzola," powdered sugar that came packaged ready with a spoon, erasing water from the equations. Kids, naturally, loved this idea: they were allowed to eat straight-up sugar.
In 1952, the name "Pixy Stix" was first used when the sugar from the Fruzola packets was packaged into straw-shaped containers. Today, Pixy Stix come in five sweet flavors (Grape, Maui Punch, Orange, Red, and Strawberry) and are still providing nightmares to parents everywhere.
1954
Peeps
Manufactured by Just Born, everyone's favorite marshmallow chicks were created by hand until Bob Born joined the company in 1946. Since then, Peeps have been produced using a machine, popping out a package of the cute little guys in only six minutes.
1958
Candy Necklaces
These strings of candy wafers were first introduced in 1958 and have been a classic at birthday parties and candy stores ever since.
1960
Lemonheads
Using the same formula that produces Red Hots, these sweet and sour candies were first produced by the Ferrara Pan Company in 1960. The process is called "cold-panning," in which candy pieces are tossed into revolving pans as color and flavor are added.
1960
Starburst
These fruity, chewy candies were first launched in the U.K. in 1960, making their way over the Atlantic in 1967. The original flavors were strawberry, lemon, orange, and lime.
1962
Now and Later
When these taffies were created in 1962, they were given their name based on the idea that you could enjoy some now and save some for later, but we think anyone who has ever opened a pack of these devoured them all right away.
1963
SweeTARTS
These sugary, sour candies have been a favorite for candy-lovers for over four decades.
1966
100 Grand
Formerly known as "$100,000 Bar," these chocolate bars were named after a popular game show in the 1960s and have been a fan-favorite ever since.
1966
Razzles
These babies are the best of both worlds: candy and gum, a combination that mystifies children. While they were only offered in raspberry in 1966, today Razzles are available in a wide variety of flavors, including Gushin' Grape, Luscious Lemon, and Tangerine Orange.
1970
Snickers' Munch Bar
Introduced in 1970, this candy bar is known today as simply "Munch" and has been a chocolate-peanut butter classic for decades.
1971
Laffy Taffy
At their introduction in 1971, these fruit-flavored taffies were used as a way to promote a movie that was just coming out. However, because they continued to be popular once the movie left theaters, they have been produced ever since.
1974
Pop Rocks
These bad boys were developed in 1956 by scientist William A. Mitchell, but weren't released to the public until 1974. Using little air pockets of carbonation that melt in your mouth, these candies leave a mild crackling and popping sensation in your mouth.
1976
Jelly Belly
Though this company had been around for decades before this, it wasn't until 1976 that the breakthrough recipe for Mini Jelly Beans allowed for this colorful beans to be created. The original flavors included Root Beer, Green Apple, Licorice, Cream Soda, Lemon, Tangerine, Very Cherry, and Grape.
1978
Reese's Pieces
Created as a way to maintain popularity levels for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Pieces were originally produced in 1978 and became extremely popular after being featured in the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982.
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