Remember the days when your biggest worry was choosing which candy to buy with your allowance? Those sweet, sticky, often bizarre concoctions that you’d trade your lunch for at school.
Well, brace yourself for a sugary trip down memory lane! We’re diving into the world of retro candy brands—those delights that spun your taste buds into a tizzy but have since vanished into the confectionery ether.
Let’s unwrap these nostalgic gems and see if they still spark that childhood glee.
1. PB Max
First up, PB Max—an epic clash of peanut butter and chocolate that ruled the 90s candy scene. Imagine a rich peanut butter filling on a whole grain cookie, all wrapped in a chocolatey embrace.
But alas, its reign was short-lived as it disappeared, reportedly due to the Mars family’s dislike for peanut butter.
2. Bonkers
A juicy explosion in your mouth. With fruit-flavored chews and a burst of juicy centers, these candies were the ultimate treat in the 80s.
The commercials were as wacky as the candy itself, showing people literally bowled over by their flavor. But Bonkers disappeared, leaving a fruity void behind.
3. Reggie! Bar
The Reggie! Bar was a home run in candy form—a sweet tribute to baseball legend Reggie Jackson. Covered in chocolate with peanuts and caramel, it was a grand slam of flavors.
Introduced in the 1970s, this candy was as popular as its namesake, often sold out at games.
4. Marathon Bar
A candy endurance test—a foot-long braid of chocolate-covered caramel that challenged even the most dedicated sweet tooth. Every bite was an exercise in chewy delight.
Sadly, its marathon run ended in the 1980s, leaving behind a legacy of sticky fingers and chocolatey smiles.
5. Choco’Lite
Bubbly dream wrapped in chocolate—a bar that seemed to defy gravity with its airy texture. Introduced in the 1970s, it was like biting into a chocolate cloud.
The secret? Tiny air pockets that made it melt effortlessly on your tongue. But alas, it floated away in the 1980s.
6. Bar None
Bar None promised chocolatey bliss in every bite, with layers of chocolate wafer and crushed peanuts. Launched in the late 80s, it was the bar with ‘a lot in every bite.’
Yet, despite its rich promise, it didn’t last long on the candy aisle.
7. Danish Ribbons
Danish Ribbons candy brought a splash of color and flavor with its fruit-flavored stripes. These candies were a staple in candy stores in the 1960s, each stripe a different flavor waiting to be savored.
Like a sweet rainbow, they brought joy to anyone lucky enough to snag one.
8. Hershey’s Bar None
Candy bar equivalent of a rock concert—a bold mix of chocolate, wafer, and peanuts that packed a punch. It first rocked the candy world in 1987, promising a ‘chocolate lover’s dream.’
However, despite its dynamic composition, it didn’t have staying power, eventually fading out of production.
9. Space Dust
Before Pop Rocks, there was Space Dust—a cosmic candy that fizzed and crackled with every taste.
These effervescent granules were like eating stardust, capturing the imaginations of adventurous sweet seekers in the 1970s. But soon, Space Dust drifted away into the candy cosmos, leaving behind legends of its fizzy sensations.
10. Fizzies
Fizzies was an experience—tablets that transformed water into vibrant soda drinks. Popular in the 1960s, they fizzed with flavor, turning ordinary water into a soda spectacle.
Kids marveled at the transformation, a science experiment you could drink! But as times changed, Fizzies fizzled out.
11. Violet Crumble
Though more well-known in Australia, Violet Crumble was the crunchy sensation with a honeycomb center and chocolate coat. I
Introduced in the 1970s, it cracked with sweetness and left chocolate enthusiasts swooning. While still available Down Under, its global presence has dwindled, becoming a rare treasure.
12. Seven Up Bar
True Willy Wonka wonder—seven segments, each with a different filling. Introduced in the 1930s and peaking in the 1940s, it was a flavor adventure in a single bar.
Chocolate, nougat, cherry, jelly, and more—it was like a candy sampler, each bite a surprise. But eventually, it faded into obscurity.
13. Bit-O-Honey
Bit-O-Honey was a chewy delight that stuck around longer than many of its peers. With honey-flavored taffy and almond bits, each bite was a sweet and sticky affair.
This classic treat reached its peak in the 1950s, a staple in candy jars across America. Though it’s made a few comebacks, it never quite reclaimed its former glory.
14. Milkshake Bar
It was all about indulgence—a malted milk flavor encased in chocolate, reminiscent of a creamy soda fountain treat. In the 1950s, it was the candy equivalent of a trip to the local malt shop.
But like many retro sweets, it eventually vanished, leaving behind echoes of its milky decadence.
15. Clark Bar
Titan in the world of peanut butter and chocolate—a crunchy, satisfying treat. Originating in the 1910s, it peaked in the 1940s, loved for its bold flavor.
Though it has attempted comebacks, it often slips back into obscurity, a relic of the past. For those who tasted its glory days, it was the candy bar that brought smiles.
16. Smoothie Bar
Groovy peanut butter and butterscotch blend that strutted its stuff in the 1970s. With its smooth, creamy texture, it was a candy dance party for your taste buds.
But like many great dance moves, it eventually faded from the scene. Fans remember it as the candy that defined mellow sweetness, a true taste of retro indulgence.
17. Baffle Bar
Mystery wrapped in chocolate—a nut-filled enigma that kept candy lovers guessing. Emerging in the 1950s, each bite was a delightful surprise, a carnival of flavors.
But just as mysteriously as it appeared, it vanished, leaving behind a baffling gap in candy history.