Top 10 Candies From the Early 1900's

Old Fashioned Candy from a Simpler Time

Imagine having to walk miles for your favourite chocolate bar, or travelling to the general store by horse and buggy? That's what getting your candy cravings in the early 1900's would have been like.

During the 1900's, the living was very simple when compared to today's standard of living. There was no running water, no toilets and no showers. The way to get around was with a horse and buggy, or with your own two feet. Having a job in that day and age is what we would consider hard labour today. There were no cars on the roads, no television, internet or cell phones. Their main form of entertainment consisted of families gathering together in the evenings and singing their favourite songs. If you were well off you could do some ballroom dancing, and hire musicians who travelled with their own instruments to perform for you.

Sure they did without a lot of amenities we take for granted today, but one thing they still enjoyed as much as we do, is candy! You probably think you've never tasted any candy from that era, but I'm sure you have.

This old-fashioned chocolate bar came out in the year 1900. Some things never go out of style, and this delicious, classic chocolate bar is one of them. A smooth and creamy chocolate bar made with the famous Hershey's milk chocolate. Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar is often referred to as "The Great American Chocolate Bar". This iconic chocolate bar was introduced to us by Milton Hershey. Mr. Hershey started out making caramel candies, but after a visit to the World's Fair in 1893, he became fascinated with the art of chocolate making. He realized that there was a huge demand for chocolate. Lucky for us, he hit the ground running with his chocolate endeavours! Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar was a huge success and just a few years later, in 1907, he gave us the famous Hershey's Kisses. These morsels of supreme goodness were also a huge hit with candy lovers. Only a year later in 1908, Milton Hershey introduced us to the  Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar with Almonds. To this day, Milton Hershey's chocolate is loved all over the world, along with his many other famous treats. The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar is a decadent yet simple treasure we love to this day! 

Cracker Jack was first introduced in 1896. This old-fashioned treat is a  molasses flavoured popcorn, with a delicious coating of caramel, and the addition of crunchy peanuts. This old-fashioned snack has been loved for generations, and is still a sought-after treat to this day! Besides the Cracker Jack delightful popcorn, every box still comes with a prize inside! Cracker Jack was introduced at the World's Fair in 1871, by German Immigrant, Fredrick William Rueckheim. It took a few years but finally, his sweet concoction became world famous! The Cracker Jack boxes still feature it's two cute mascots, Sailor Jack and his loveable dog, Bingo. These characters are actually based on the German creator's grandson and dog. Inside of every box of Cracker Jack, is not only the popcorn and prize but sweet memories.

This old fashioned candy really is "A Hole Lot Of Fun". Brought to us in 1912, Pep-O-Mint Life Savers was the very first flavour of the Life Savers candy brand. Invented by Clarence Crane because he wanted a candy that would not melt in the sun. He also insisted that his candy be a round shape with a hole in the center in order to make them different than any other candy on the market. After a years time, Clarence Crane was approached by businessman Edward Noble, who wanted to buy the Life Savers brand. Clarence obliged and in 1913 he sold Life Savers for $2,900.00. Edward Noble along with his partner grew the brand into a million dollar corporation. The packaging was changed to the iconic rolls of candy we know today, and the flavours eventually expanded. The Life Savers Butter Rum flavour has become a huge hit with customers along with the Life Savers Five Flavour Mix. Life Savers Candy has satisfied our cravings and "saved" our candy desires for well over 100 years!

Maynards Wine Gums were introduced in 1909. This old-fashioned candy has been a classic for generations. Maynards Wine Gums are known and appreciated for their chewy texture. Never being too sticky or stretchy. Their fruity flavours are distinctive, delectable and intense and meant to resemble the taste of a port or fine wine. Despite the name "Wine Gums", these candies contain no alcohol and were actually made in order to deter people from drinking. Maynards Wine Gums are made with natural colour and real fruit juice, which is always an added benefit. Overall, Maynards Wine Gums are sweet with a hint of tartness. The variety of delicious flavours include Lemon, Orange, Lime, Black Current, Grapefruit and Raspberry. Maynards has recently introduced Sour Maynards Wine Gums are already aged to perfection, just waiting to be indulged in.

Since 1890, this old-fashioned candy has either made people cringe or gleam with excitement! Love it or hate it, Candy Corn has been savoured for many generations. Made to resemble chicken feed, which was once its original name. Candy Corn looks like a corn kernel and is a triple coloured candy. Thought of by George Renninger of Philadelphia, until it was acquired by the Goelitz Confection Company which is the largest producer of Candy Corn to this day. There are 35 million pounds made every year, which is equivalent to 9 billion individual pieces. A popular candy especially during Halloween season and Thanksgiving. Often candy corn is used as an accent candy, representing the Autumn season, used on dessert tables, and candy buffets. Candy Corn is a polarizing candy. Take it or leave it, it's been eaten for 128 years!

This well-loved candy had its humble, sweet beginnings in a small and very hot Texas kitchen. It was 1908 and two sisters, Dee and Sarah McCraw had 50 cents worth of sugar and a very sweet recipe they knew the world would love! McCraw's Old Fashioned Taffy is a long and thin, mouthwatering, flat piece of taffy. The original flavour is vanilla, but now there are even more delicious varieties, which include, Rainbow, Cotton Candy, Banana and Grape. There is no other taffy that comes in such a thin and fragile form. It may be delicate but serves to melt on your tongue so very perfectly. Believe it or not, besides the newer flavours, Mc Craw's Old Fashioned Taffy is made the same way it originally was in that hot kitchen in 1908. Upon unwrapping this delicious taffy, it's wafting sweet scent, deliciously takes us back to a simpler time and place.

NECCO Wafers are a classic, old fashioned candy. They've been enjoyed since 1847 and were invented by Oliver Chase. Oliver Chase also invented the machine used to make these candies. These rolls of lozenge-shaped candies are the perfect fit for any pocket making them easy to share.  These delightful candies used to be known as "Hub Wafers" until they became known and loved as NECCO Wafers which stands for New England Confectionary Company. Original Necco Wafers are a multi-flavoured variety which includes licorice, chocolate, wintergreen, cinnamon, lime, orange, and clove. Now, the varieties have expanded to include the all Chocolate NECCO Wafers roll, and also a Tropical NECCO Wafers variety. A fun and memorable old fashioned candy that will always be simple and sweet!

A delicious black licorice candy treat, Crows Candy came out in 1890. Crows are an old fashioned candy, that is a black, cone-shaped licorice flavoured gumdrop that is made with the flavourful addition of real anise seed. Invented by two confectioners Henrique Cataldi and Joseph Maison. These two candy makers intended to name their candy "Black Rose" but the printer misheard them and printed wrappers with the name "Crows" on them instead. A suitable name for these delectable real licorice flavoured candies. The package depicts a very classy gentlemanly looking Crow, with a cane in one hand, and a fancy top hat he's tipping in the other. Crows Candy has been delicious since the last century, and this old-fashioned candy still is to this day!

A hundred-year-old chocolate treat, that remains a favourite, old fashioned candy to so many. The Cherry Mash is an American chocolate bar that is made of a soft fondant maraschino cherry center that is covered with milk chocolate and chopped roasted peanuts. A similar treat to our Canadian candy, the Cherry Blossom. The deliciously famous Cherry Mash was developed by Ernest Chase in 1918 in St.Joseph, Missouri. Cherry Mash is made by the Chase Candy Company and according to them, the Cherry Mash remains to be the best selling American candy bar in the United States. The Chase company makes 200 hundred of these delicious treats every minute. That's a lot of cherry, chocolatey goodness! The century-old Cherry Mash is sure to induce some sweet memories!

Tootsie Roll Candy is an exemplary old fashioned candy that has been lovingly indulged in since 1907. A chewy and chocolatey experience that has become a world-famous candy. Tootsie Roll was America's very first, individually wrapped, penny candy. This unique candy was created by Leo Hirschfield, an Austrian immigrant who made a home in Brooklyn, New York. Along with his iconic candy confection, he also owned a candy shop that quickly became a sweet destination for the whole neighbourhood. Tootsie Roll Candy was lovingly named after Leo Hirschfield's daughter, Clara. His cute nickname for Clara was Tootsie. The name and the candy is now a recognized worldwide brand. 64 million Tootsie Roll candies are made every day! Tootsie Roll Industries are the makers of countless retro candies such as the Sugar Daddy, Charms Blow Pop, Razzles and Cry Baby Gum, just to name a few. Eating a Tootsie Roll Candy is like unwrapping a memory, one that you could savour forever!

The early 1900s gave us some of the most delightful, old-fashioned candies around. It was a simpler time, but the candies were anything but. We have loved them for generations, indulged in their sweetness, and shared them with our nearest and dearest. They remain some of the most popular and well-loved candies to this very day.