7 Vintage Candies New Yorkers Wish They’d Never Tried & 7 They’d Love To Taste Again
Growing up in Brooklyn during the 1980s, the neighborhood candy store was more than just a place to grab a treat, it was a ritual, a destination, and practically a second home.
I’d race there with my allowance in hand, eyes wide and nose pressed against the glass, mesmerized by the rainbow of sugary options.
But not every sweet lived up to its flashy wrapper. Some vintage candies delivered nothing but sticky disappointment, while others became nostalgic icons that still stir cravings decades later. Join me on a trip down memory lane as we revisit the sweet hits, and hilarious misses, of a Brooklyn childhood.
1. Candy Cigarettes: Sweet Sticks of Regret
My fifth-grade teacher confiscated these chalky white sticks when half our class pretended to smoke during recess. Marketed as harmless fun, candy cigarettes now make most New Yorkers cringe at the thought of products encouraging kids to mimic smoking.
The powdery texture and bland flavor weren’t even worth the rebellious thrill. Some brands even came wrapped in packaging that perfectly mimicked cigarette boxes, complete with fake brand names!
Parents eventually caught on to the problematic messaging, and many stores stopped carrying them. Today, they’re remembered as a bizarre relic of less health-conscious times.
2. Licorice Pipes: All Style, No Substance
Remember those licorice pipes that made you feel like a tiny detective? The novelty wore off after the first disappointing bite. The waxy, artificial taste made me question why I’d wasted my precious quarters.
Candy necklaces weren’t much better. They looked amazing hanging around your neck, but the flavor was just generic sugar, and the elastic string collected every bit of dust and lint it touched.
Both treats prioritized gimmick over taste. New Yorkers reminiscing about corner store candy runs typically leave these off their wish lists, preferring sweets that delivered on flavor rather than just looks.
3. Horehound Drops: Medicine Masquerading as Candy
My grandmother swore by these dark brown lozenges, claiming they cured everything from sore throats to broken hearts. One taste was enough to make me hide behind the couch whenever she reached for her candy tin.
Horehound drops possess a bitter, herbal flavor that perfectly matches their unappetizing name. Derived from the horehound plant, they taste more like cough syrup than candy.
Even the most adventurous New York candy connoisseurs typically grimace at the memory. While they maintain a small, dedicated following among older generations, most of us who tried them as kids are perfectly happy leaving this “treat” in the past.
4. Choward’s Violet Mints: Perfume in Candy Form
I discovered these purple curiosities at a theater concession stand in Manhattan. The striking lavender packaging promised something special, but that first bite was like munching on my aunt’s potpourri!
Choward’s Violet Mints divide New Yorkers into passionate camps. Some find the floral flavor sophisticated and unique, while others compare it to eating soap or perfume.
The company has produced these polarizing mints since 1934, proving they have their devotees. But for many who tried them once, that botanical blast was enough to last a lifetime. Their distinct purple color and powerful aroma remain instantly recognizable to candy enthusiasts across the five boroughs.
5. Turkish Taffy: The Jaw-Breaking Disappointment
The commercials made it look so fun, smack it on a table and enjoy the shattered pieces! Reality proved less delightful when I nearly lost a filling trying to chew this rock-hard confection.
Despite its name, Turkish Taffy isn’t actually taffy but a hard nougat that becomes chewy once it warms in your mouth. The waiting game tested even the most patient candy lovers.
The texture was oddly tough, and the flavors never quite lived up to the exciting crack-and-enjoy ritual. Many New Yorkers remember the anticipation more fondly than the actual candy, which often stuck stubbornly to teeth and dental work, causing parents and dentists alike to frown.
6. Necco Wafers: Colorful Chalk Discs
My uncle kept these in his glove compartment during summer road trips. The heat transformed them into something even less appetizing than their room-temperature selves, if that was possible.
Necco Wafers boast an impressive history dating back to 1847, but their chalky texture and mild flavors leave many wondering how they’ve survived so long. The multicolored discs look promising in their wax paper roll but deliver a disappointing, powdery experience.
The chocolate ones were particularly baffling, neither chocolatey nor satisfying. Despite their longevity and nostalgic packaging, most New Yorkers who reminisce about corner store candy runs remember these as something they bought when better options were sold out.
7. Candy Buttons: Paper-Backed Sugar Dots
The rainbow rows of tiny sugar bumps on paper strips caught my eye every time I visited the corner store on Flatbush Avenue. What a letdown when I realized half the experience involved eating paper!
Candy Buttons offered nothing but pure sugar with artificial coloring. The “fun” of peeling them off the backing inevitably resulted in either paper stuck to your candy or teeth marks in the paper strip.
Like Astro Pops, those rocket-shaped lollipops that were mostly just hard sugar, Candy Buttons prioritized visual appeal over taste. Both represent style-over-substance treats that New Yorkers remember buying repeatedly despite consistent disappointment, proving kids will fall for bright colors every time.
8. Tootsie Rolls: Chocolate Chews That Stand the Test of Time
I’ll never forget my grandfather’s pockets always jingling with these wrapped treasures. “Good enough for Sinatra, good enough for us,” he’d say, unwrapping one with a wink.
Since their 1896 debut, Tootsie Rolls have remained remarkably unchanged. The chewy chocolate cylinders strike that perfect balance between firmness and give, lasting just long enough to satisfy without testing your dental work.
While fancy chocolate shops dot New York neighborhoods today, there’s something comforting about the familiar brown-and-white wrapper. The slightly cocoa-ish, slightly molasses-y flavor doesn’t pretend to be gourmet, it’s unpretentious, reliable, and somehow tastes exactly like childhood no matter when you were born.
9. Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews: Philadelphia’s Gift to New York
My first Peanut Chew came from my piano teacher’s reward jar after I finally mastered “Für Elise.” One bite of that molasses-peanut magic, and suddenly practicing didn’t seem so bad!
These dense, chewy rectangles combine roasted peanuts with a molasses-based chew, all wrapped in dark chocolate. Despite being born in Philadelphia, they found a devoted following among New Yorkers who appreciated their substantial texture and not-too-sweet flavor profile.
Even Barbra Streisand reportedly kept them handy during her Brooklyn days. Unlike many vintage candies, Peanut Chews deliver a surprisingly sophisticated flavor combination that appeals to adult palates while still satisfying the sweet tooth of younger candy lovers.
10. Mallo Cups: Chocolate Cups of Marshmallow Bliss
Finding a Mallo Cup in my lunch box meant Mom was in a good mood that morning. These chocolate cups cradling a cloud of marshmallow filling made cafeteria trading wars fierce!
Born in 1936, Mallo Cups pioneered the cup-shaped candy concept, beating those other famous cups to market by years. The combination of coconut-flecked milk chocolate with the soft, sweet marshmallow center creates a textural wonderland.
Each package came with cardboard “money” that could be collected and redeemed for prizes. Most New Yorkers never saved enough for anything worthwhile, but the thrill of possibility added to the experience. The nostalgic taste remains largely unchanged, offering a direct portal to simpler times.
11. Charleston Chew: The Frozen Treat Trick
My older brother taught me the ultimate Charleston Chew hack: freeze it solid, then smack it against the kitchen counter to shatter it into a dozen delicious shards. Mom wasn’t thrilled about the noise, but the transformed texture was worth the scolding.
Since 1922, this marshmallow nougat bar covered in chocolate has delighted with its satisfying chew. Available in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors, it’s named after the Charleston dance craze of the Roaring Twenties.
The vanilla remains the quintessential classic, with its sweet, creamy interior contrasting perfectly with the chocolate coating. New Yorkers of a certain age can still recall the distinctive yellow wrapper and the arm workout required to eat one straight from the refrigerator.
12. Bit-O-Honey: The Patience-Testing Treasure
The corner store owner would laugh when I’d grab a Bit-O-Honey. “Hope you’ve got all afternoon, kid,” he’d joke, knowing the infamous chewiness that awaited me.
Created in 1924, these honey-flavored taffy rectangles studded with almond bits require commitment and strong jaw muscles. The natural honey flavor sets them apart from artificial-tasting competitors, offering a wholesome sweetness that’s never cloying.
Unwrapping each piece from its wax paper was part of the ritual, as was the lengthy chewing process that followed. Many New Yorkers recall saving these for movie theaters, where the extended chew time made them last through crucial plot points, a economical choice for budget-conscious candy lovers.
13. Life Savers: The Candy with a Hole in its Soul
Grandma’s purse always held a mysterious power, the ability to produce a roll of Life Savers at exactly the moment church services became unbearably long. That minty freshness bought my silence through many a sermon.
Since their 1912 invention by Clarence Crane, these ring-shaped candies have remained a constant in American life. The “Roll of Five” mints became iconic, but flavors like Butter Rum and Wild Cherry earned equally devoted followings.
The distinctive click of the metal-edged package opening remains one of candy’s most recognizable sounds. New Yorkers fondly remember the Wint-O-Green sparks, chewing these in a dark room created tiny blue flashes, a bit of candy magic that delighted generations of kids before smartphone entertainment.
14. Turkish Taffy Revisited: The Love-Hate Relationship
My dentist actually banned this from our house, which naturally made it forbidden fruit I’d sneak whenever possible. Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy demanded technique, never bite directly, always smack and crack!
While it appears on both our regret and nostalgia lists, Turkish Taffy deserves this second mention for its devoted fan base. Those who mastered the proper eating method, freezing it briefly, smacking it against a hard surface, then enjoying the fractured pieces, discovered its charm.
The banana flavor developed a particularly fervent following among New Yorkers. When production ceased in the 1980s, fans mourned its loss. Its 2010 revival proved that sometimes absence makes the taste buds grow fonder, with many former critics giving it a second chance.