10 Vintage Maine Snacks That Only True Locals Still Talk About
Maine’s cravings go far beyond lobster rolls and blueberry pie. For generations, locals have snacked on quirky, homegrown treats that rarely make it past state lines – think potato candy or those unmistakable bright-red hot dogs.
Many of these oddball yet beloved bites are still around today, tucked away in corner shops and bakeries, ready to spark nostalgia for anyone who grew up with them.
1. Needhams – The Potato Candy Mystery
Most people think potatoes belong on dinner plates, not in candy bars. Maine begs to differ with Needhams, a chocolate-covered confection hiding mashed potatoes in its coconut center.
This unusual combination creates an incredibly smooth texture that melts perfectly on your tongue. Seavey, a 19th-century candymaker, invented this quirky treat that became uniquely Maine.
Specialty candy shops still craft these unusual sweets using the original recipe. You can also order them online from dedicated Maine makers who keep this potato-powered tradition alive.
2. Moxie – The Bitter Truth About Maine’s Official Drink
Gentian root gives Moxie its famously bitter bite that either wins your heart or sends you running. This cult soda became Maine’s official state soft drink in 2005, cementing its place in local culture.
Every July, Lisbon celebrates with the annual Moxie Festival, where thousands gather to honor this polarizing beverage. The festival runs from July 11-13 in 2025, featuring contests and Moxie-themed fun.
Locals describe the taste as distinctively different – sweet yet bitter, loved by some and puzzling to others. Once you develop a taste for Moxie, no other soda quite compares.
3. Whoopie Pies – Maine’s Official Sweet Victory
Two soft cake rounds sandwich creamy filling in Maine’s official state treat, a title earned in 2011 after much debate. Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston claims they’ve been perfecting this recipe since 1925.
My grandmother always kept a stash of whoopie pies in her kitchen cookie jar, and sneaking one before dinner felt like winning the lottery. The combination of chocolate cake and vanilla cream creates pure childhood nostalgia.
Bakeries across Maine still make these handheld desserts, and Labadie’s ships them nationwide. Each bite delivers that perfect balance of cake and cream that made them legendary.
4. Red Snapper Hot Dogs – The Crimson Cookout Kings
Bright red natural-casing franks deliver that signature snap when you bite down, making them essential at every Maine cookout. W.A. Bean & Sons has been crafting these colorful dogs for generations.
The Red Hot Dog Festival celebrates these crimson classics, proving that Mainers take their unusual hot dogs seriously. Their vibrant color might surprise newcomers, but locals wouldn’t have cookouts any other way.
Markets throughout Maine stock these distinctive franks, and you can order directly from W.A. Bean. That satisfying snap and smoky flavor make regular hot dogs seem boring by comparison.
5. B&M Brown Bread – The Can That Changed Everything
Sweet, dense brown bread slides perfectly from its can, ready to slice and serve with cream cheese or baked beans. The label itself suggests pairing with B&M’s famous baked beans for authentic New England dining.
Even after the Portland plant closed in 2021, this pantry icon remains available in stores and online. Generations of Maine families relied on this convenient bread for quick meals and comfort food moments.
Opening that familiar can brings back memories of Saturday night suppers and simple family dinners. The slightly sweet flavor and moist texture make it perfect for both savory and sweet toppings.
6. Humpty Dumpty Chips – All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go
Founded in 1947, this Maine-born chip brand introduced flavors like All Dressed and Sour Cream & Clam that sound weird but taste amazing. The company became part of Maine snack folklore before joining Old Dutch’s family.
All Dressed chips combine multiple flavors in one bag – sweet, salty, tangy, and savory notes dancing together. Sour Cream & Clam might sound questionable, but locals know better than to judge before tasting.
Regional stores and online retailers still carry these nostalgic flavors under the Old Dutch umbrella. Each crunchy bite delivers that distinctive taste that separates Maine chip lovers from everyone else.
7. Pier French Fries – Old Orchard Beach’s Golden Tradition
Hand-cut fries served with malt vinegar have been an Old Orchard Beach ritual since 1932. Pier French Fries operates seasonally on the famous strip, drawing crowds every summer.
Nothing beats walking the boardwalk with a cone of these crispy fries, salt air mixing with that distinctive vinegar tang. The 2025 season promises another summer of this beloved tradition continuing.
These aren’t your typical frozen fries – each potato gets hand-cut daily for maximum freshness. Locals know that visiting OOB without stopping for Pier fries is like going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower.
8. Ployes – Aroostook County’s Buckwheat Beauties
Acadian buckwheat flatbreads roll up perfectly with butter or serve alongside baked beans in Maine’s northwoods. These crêpe-like creations represent generations of Aroostook County cooking traditions.
My cousin from Fort Kent always brought ployes mix when she visited, and we’d spend Saturday mornings making them on my mother’s griddle. The nutty buckwheat flavor paired with melted butter created simple perfection.
Bouchard Family Farms still sells ployes mix statewide and online, keeping this regional specialty alive. Rolling them warm with butter creates comfort food that connects you directly to Maine’s Acadian heritage.
9. Sea Dogs Biscuit – Hadlock Field’s Home Run Dessert
Gifford’s vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies creates the ultimate ballpark dessert at Portland Sea Dogs games. This frozen treat ranks as one of Hadlock Field’s most popular concession items.
Baseball and ice cream sandwiches go together like summer and sunshine, especially when you’re cheering from the bleachers. The combination of cold ice cream and chewy cookies provides perfect relief during hot innings.
Gifford’s partnership ensures this beloved dessert returns for the 2025 season and beyond. Catching a Sea Dogs game without grabbing one of these treats feels like striking out before stepping up to bat.
10. Maine Italian Sandwich – The Original Grab-and-Go Classic
Giovanni Amato invented this soft-roll masterpiece in early 1900s Portland, loading it with ham, American cheese, tomato, onion, green pepper, pickles, olives, and oil. The original Italian sandwich was born right here in Maine.
Amato’s locations and countless corner stores across Maine still serve this iconic combination. Each bite delivers that perfect balance of fresh vegetables, savory meat, and tangy oil that makes ordinary sandwiches seem incomplete.
This grab-and-go classic represents Maine’s working-class roots and immigrant traditions. When you need lunch fast, nothing beats the satisfying crunch and flavor explosion of an authentic Maine Italian.