Candy from the 70s are very cool!
The 1970's were an intense time. The start of new attitudes from the 1960's grew even stronger throughout the 1970's decade. The fight for equality continued, there were urban riots and anti-war protests. The hippies continued their plight of "free love", while the cold war got colder.
The Beatles announced their split, while Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" topped the charts. Mary Tyler Moore gave us a glimpse into being an independent, career woman, and Gene Wilder ran a chocolate factory as Willy Wonka.
The Eagles took us to "Hotel California" and John Travolta serenaded us on the big screen with "Grease". ABBA made us believe we could all be "Dancing Queens", and Pink Floyd informed us about being "Comfortably Numb".
The silver screen met the intensity of a feared mob boss as Marlon Brando played "The Godfather". JJ gave us "Good Times", Bruce Springsteen informed us that we were "Born To Run", while Marvin Gaye begged to know, "What's Going On"
Among all the platform shoes, butterfly collars and loud patterns, brightly coloured polyester was the fabric of choice. There were micro mini's, skin-tight pants, bell bottoms, and an abundance of chest hair that featured larger than life gold medallions. Men grew enormous sideburns, while woman began to frequently wear pants. It all made a statement, it was funky, fresh and fun.
While the world went through its brave new changes, there was plenty of sugar rushes to be had with all of the delicious and enticing retro candy of the 1970's.
Here are our Top 10 Candy from the 70s
#1. Ring Pop
This retro candy has let us make a real fashion statement over the years! Ring Pop lollipops are the sweet candy jewel that we love to wear and eat!
Ring Pop first came out in 1979 and was the brainchild of Frank Richards. Frank had a reason in mind when he came up with this candy. Frank's young daughter had the bad habit of sucking her thumb and he thought that maybe his Ring Pop could curb the habit. It did just that, and in the meantime, people became enamoured with this sweet bling of a candy ring.
Ring Pop is made by Topps, and come in a variety of 5 fun flavours, so you can wear one Ring Pop on every finger and really make a statement! Ring Pop comes in Raspberry Lemonade, Berry Blast, Watermelon, Blue Raspberry and Strawberry.
Why not be bold? Add some 70's flair to your outfit with these funky and sweet Ring Pop!
#2. Bottle Caps
Bottle Caps Candy are a memorable retro candy, that comes in a tablet form, and are made to look like a metal soda bottle cap. These retro candy is a combination of a sweet and slightly tart taste.
Bottle Caps candy is made to resemble your favourite fizzy soda drink. Bottle Caps come in a roll of exceptional flavours. There are Cherry, Root Beer, Cola and Grape flavours.
Upon their arrival to the candy world in 1972, they were a hit with consumers. The timing was perfect as it coincided with the 1971 film, Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. It made us believe in the sweet power of candy, and we the audience, could taste it too!
#3. Pop Rocks
This explosive retro candy popped onto the scene in 1975. Invented by food chemist, William Mitchell. Pop Rocks has had many copycat candies over the years, but none come close to the likes of the original popping candy, Pop Rocks. This retro candy was thrilling, as they popped and explode in your mouth. You can not only taste their carbonated quality but feel it too!
Pop Rocks became the cool new candy around. They flew off the shelves and everybody and their brother had to try them. This went on until 1983 when the big rumour about Mikey from the Life cereal commercials began to spread.
The rumour was that Mikey's stomach had exploded while eating Pop Rocks Candy and drinking his favourite soda. This was not true, and Pop Rocks even set up a hotline to assure concerned and paranoid parents that this was not the case. After much controversy Pop Rocks finally came back to the candy world, and once again we could eagerly taste these delicious, popping morsels of exploding goodness.
Those of us who were brave also tried to tempt fate and test out that old "Mikey rumour". We drank soda and ate Pop Rocks at the same, and we lived to tell! Perhaps the rumour enticed us even more and only heightened the Pop Rocks candy experience. For that brave and bold 70's candy lover in you, Pop Rocks are a true blast from the past! Go ahead and taste the explosion!
#4. Reese's Pieces
This well-loved retro candy was introduced in 1978. Reese's Pieces became an even bigger hit in 1982 when our adorable alien friend E.T. took a liking to them. Reese's Pieces is a Hershey Candy that was originally thought of in order to capitalize on the sweet success of the famed Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Reese's Pieces are a delightful peanut-buttery smooth middle, that is surrounded by a thin and crunchy candy shell.
The brown, orange and yellow mixture that makeup Reese's Pieces almost went by a different name. Originally they were going to be called PB's.
The company claims that upon their release they were a hit with consumers but then saw their sales slowly decline until that is, E.T. saved the day, making Reese's Pieces more popular than ever!
This candy has expanded and ventured out of its usual form. Reese's Pieces can now be found inside of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, together making the Reese's Big Cups. A dynamic and delicious combination that has won over tons of delighted taste buds!
#5. Gobstopper
Another Wonka Candy that we could never forget! Gobstopper was introduced in 1976. This retro candy let us in on all that Wonka Candy magic! The Everlasting Gobstopper was originally made by Breaker Confections before becoming acquired by the Nestle Brand and based on the book by Roald Dahl, and the 1971 film Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
Gobstopper is fashioned like a jawbreaker but with a few creative tweaks. Made of layer upon layer of changing colours and flavours, after 42 years it's still an astonishing and phenomenal retro candy!
Gobstopper has remained a popular candy over the years, amazing adults and children alike, and giving us that sweet Willy Wonka magic!
#6.Sour Patch Kids
Sour Patch Kids were born in the late 1970's. This retro candy was invented right here in Ontario, Canada! Originally thought of by Frank Galatolie, and were based on another product of his called "Mars Men".
These cute little chewy candies were originally shaped as Martians until the cute looking kid factor won over. When the candy was changed to the "Sour Patch Kids" name they benefitted greatly by capitalizing on the Cabbage Patch Dolls craze.
They didn't make it to the USA until 1985. When they did, they were all the rage!
Sour Patch Kids were originally made by the M&A Candy Company but have since been acquired by Maynards Candy.
This sweet than sour, retro candy has delighted us for years now. The fact that they are so darn cute makes the Sour Patch Kids that much harder to resist!
#7. Jelly Belly
No one really knows the exact time when Jelly Beans were invented. But we do know about this jelly bean!
Jelly Belly is the world's most famous and well-loved gourmet jelly beans. Along with their endless colours and Jelly Belly flavours, it's no wonder!
Jelly Belly was introduced in 1976 and had eight original Jelly Belly flavours, Very Cherry, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Tangerine, Green Apple, Lemon, Licorice and Grape.
They first started off as a part of the Goelitz Confectionery Company before creating this very special brand of jelly beans. When these intense tasting jelly beans first launched their response was unbelievable!
Inevitably more Jelly Belly flavours were added to the Jelly Belly Collection.
In 1981, the Blueberry Jelly Bean was created out of Ronald Regan's love for them. Jelly Belly shipped 3.5 tons to Washington D.C. for Regan's inauguration. Jelly Belly has grown tremendously since it started in 1976. There are 50 flavours of gourmet jelly beans to be had. Some are even made with all natural ingredients and real fruit juices.
Some, if you've ever heard of Bean Boozled, are just downright nasty tasting! From Very Cherry flavour to Rotten Egg flavour, Jelly Belly has extensive and exquisite flavours,(not including the Jelly Belly Beanboozled ).
Not since 1976 has a jelly bean been so delicious!
#8. Blow Pop
This is a double whammy treat! You get two treats in one with this retro lollipop. Charms Blow Pop made their delicious debut in 1973, although the idea was patented in 1969, it was not released until later.
Blow Pop was certainly one of a kind when we first tasted them. No one had heard of such a lollipop.
Upon their sweet arrival, they quickly became insanely popular among candy fans. In 1988 Charms Blow Pop was acquired by the Tootsie Roll Industries and of course, they began to add their old-fashioned Tootsie Roll candy to the lollipops making them the largest lollipop manufacturer in the world!
Blow Pop have satisfied generations with their hard candy delicious lollipop shell, that is the sweet passage into a luscious piece of bubble gum. This lollipop is still a number one seller today!
Blow Pops will always be charmingly delicious!
#9.Curly Wurly
This unforgettable chocolate bar was launched in 1970. Its shape is as unique as the candy bar itself. Curly Wurly is made of braided caramel that is covered in rich Cadbury milk chocolate.
It's a thin and somewhat delicate looking candy bar, but one that is definitely worth savouring! This delicious Cadbury chocolate bar is an exquisite experience, with its chewy caramel and delectable milk chocolate, it's simply irresistible.
When the Curly Wurly was first released in Canada it was called the "Wig Wag" bar, and in the USA it was known as the Marathon Bar. Curly Wurly is a British chocolate bar and is currently manufactured by Cadbury UK. Curly Wurly is one of the best and most delicious chocolate bars to come out of the 1970's!
#10. Zotz Candy
This retro candy packs a surprise! Zotz candy is intriguing, with it's secret and intense fizzy powder that is concealed in its hard candy shell. There was always something compelling about these hard little retro candies.
The fizzy powder contained inside is surely enough to make your eyes water. If you crunch them fast, they will suddenly erupt, and you're left with a volcanic explosion of a sour, tart and zinginess flavour that is unique to only Zotz Candy. On the other hand, if you let them dissolve slowly, you get a slow seeping, fizzing experience.
Zotz Candy first originated in Italy and was made by G.B Ambrosoli, until being distributed to North America in 1970, by Andre Post Inc.
Zotz Candy comes in Cherry, Apple, Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, Orange, Grape and have recently added Strawberry to the mix. The slogan for this candy is perfectly fitting
"Where The Fizz Izz!". With their fizzy eruption of flavourful sourness, the retro candy called Zotz stands out as one of the 1970's best candies!
Sweet Memories of the coolest retro candy.
The delicious candy from the 70s remains. It may have been the era of disco, bell bottoms and polyester, but while the world has changed, one thing we'll always hold onto is our sweet 1970's candy memories
4 comments
Does anyone remember the little square candy bars that were a rum soaked cake covered in chocolate? All us kids were eating them on the way to school and getting buzzed. They weren’t around very long and pulled from the shelves much to our disappointment!
It was really great to recapture the joy of some of my childhood favorites. I really miss the little candy store in our neighborhood which sold the many different candy from $.01 penny candy to the $.05 nickel candy.
This was a great way to gather some of your favorites with your weekly allowance. I will be really contacting you to place an order for my business the Holiday Boutique. NYC
What ever happened to forever yours, and zero candy bars?
This was super helpful! I’m working on a story set in the 70s and I want it to be as accurate as possible to the time period, even down to the candy that’ll probably only be mentioned in passing lol.
Also now I really want to try Zots haha