Oldest American Candy Still In Production – Full List to Feel Nostalgic

Today, there are countless varieties of candies around us. The supermarket and store shelves are packed with sweet treats that can have many different flavors, shapes, tastes, and textures. So, making the choice is pretty hard, right? 

Candies started appearing in the 16th century. However, major changes were made in the 19th century, which led to the creation of sweet treats the way we know them today. It’s difficult to believe that the chocolate bar wasn’t even created until less than 200 years ago. 

If you are wondering about the oldest American candy still in production, we are here to satisfy your interest. So, below, you will find some of the most loved and cherished vintage sweets that may be considered the oldest American candy still in production. 

Names of Oldest American Candy Still In Production

1. Good & Plenty
2. Lemonhead
3. Chick-O-Stick
4. Bottle Tops
5. Circus Peanuts
6. The Charleston Chew
7. Hershey Bar
8. Oh Henry
9. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Oldest American Candy Still In Production

1. Good & Plenty

Licorice candy, known as Good & Plenty, is the first on our list of the oldest American candy still in production. The treat is a little capsule-shaped piece of tasty black licorice that has been encased in a hard candy shell. The pieces are delivered in a purple box or bag and are brilliant pink and white.

The first appearance of this chewy licorice candy was in 1893, in Philadelphia. It had a capsule shape and was pink. Good & Plenty is still available at all concession booths, making it a delight that candy lovers of all ages may enjoy.

2. Lemonhead

Do you remember lemon-shaped candies from the 1960s? Well, the Ferrara Candy Company initially developed the American candy brand Lemonhead in 1962. 

Round lemon-flavored candies called “Lemonheads” have a sweet exterior, a soft, sour shell, and a firm candy inside. Apple heads, Cherryheads, and Grapeheads are the most common flavors. Those sweet, mouthwatering treats are undoubtedly among the oldest American candy still in production.

The candy was created using the same cold-panned method as the company’s Red Hots. In this method, flavors and sugar are added in layers until the candy is in the right size and form. Although they are also made in a single-sale 3 cm form, they are most frequently sold in their usual 1-centimeter size. Today, Ferrara produces 500 million Lemonheads annually.

3. Chick-O-Stick

Since the 1950s, the Atkinson Sweet Company has been manufacturing Chick-O-Stick, a sweet snack that has become the oldest American candy still in production. Its main ingredients are peanut butter, cane sugar, corn syrup, toasted coconut, natural vanilla flavor, and salt. The candy also comes in a sugar-free variety today. 

At the moment, Chick-O-Stick is made as a stick that varies in length and thickness and is naturally colored and sprinkled with pulverized coconut. The inside part of the candy is honeycombed with peanut butter and a solidified syrup/sugar concoction. The candy is dry and brittle when eaten right away, but if left out in the open for a while, it tends to absorb moisture and get firm and chewy.

4. Bottle Tops

Bottle Tops are tablet sweets that come in grape, cola, orange, root beer, and cherry tastes. They are designed to resemble metal soda bottle caps. Breaker Confections first offered Bottle Caps candies in 1972. The Ferrara Candy Company now sells these.

When first selling bottle caps, green pouches were used. They are now sold in purple bundles, comprising around 24 pieces, each weighing 0.73 oz. Additionally, they may be bought in boxes containing 48 packets or in little pouches of three candies.

5. Circus Peanuts

Circus peanuts have endured through the ages, and we can say for sure that they may be the oldest American candy still in production. The banana-flavored, orange-colored, spongy-textured marshmallow delight was created in the 1800s, a period is known as the “penny candy days,” and it has been a traditional sweet favorite ever since.

The most popular type of mass-produced circus peanuts as of the 2010s are orange in color and taste artificially flavored like bananas. These are often created from ingredients including sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, pectin, soy protein, food coloring, and synthetic flavors. 

Circus peanuts were one of several sweets that were made year-round available in the 1940s as a result of the widespread use of cellophane packing in manufacturing.

Oldest American Chocolate Bars

6. The Charleston Chew

After discussing the oldest American candy still in production, let’s switch to the oldest chocolate bars in America that you can still buy. The most nostalgic one for American people is indeed Charleston Chew.

The Charleston Chew bar has been around for more than a century and was invented in 1922. In terms of present popularity, this chocolate bar is still one of the least popular ones on the list. The Charleston Chew was named after Charleston, a craze for dancing that originated in the 1920s and was characterized by freedom, extravagance, liberty, and joy. 

The salty and sweet taste combinations that are currently most in vogue are very different from the chocolate bar itself. Instead, the bar has a sweeter filling that will satisfy your appetite for candy.

Despite only being available in vanilla flavor at first, this brand grew in the 1970s by including two more flavors, giving rise to the trio of Charleston’s: vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. The fact that they are still on store shelves today is the nicest part.

Here’s a tip to make this incredible chocolate experience even more delectable: many Charleston Chew devotees enjoy freezing their bar to break off tiny, crispy bits one at a time. This is an experience that any real chew lover must have. On a steamy summer day, nothing beats a cool Charleston Chew.

7. Hershey Bar

Hershey’s bar is one of the first treats that comes to mind when thinking of the oldest American candy still in production. By 1900, the first Hershey’s Chocolate Bar was created by Milton Hershey. Hershey’s Kisses did not appear in stores until 1906, and it took another ten years for them to get their iconic silver coat and tie.

This chocolate bar’s connection to the American people is among its most intriguing facts. It is undoubtedly one of the oldest American candy still in production. Despite frequently being referred to as Americans’ favorite chocolate, Hershey’s has remained significantly less well-liked in the international market. 

Evidently, the Canadian Hershey bar has a richer flavor profile and is creamier than its somewhat blander and less flavorful American equivalent. Everyone appears unconcerned because every country may enjoy its own unique kind of delectable Hershey’s milk chocolate.

8. Oh Henry

The Oh Henry is one of the oldest American candy still in production and is over 100 years old. While the initial manufacture, naming, and distribution of many chocolate bars are extremely well documented, the history of the Oh Henry bar is less clear. There are numerous different origin stories for the brand name. 

While some claim that it was the name of the first candy bar manufacturer, others claim that it was the name of a young kid named Henry who was smitten with the female workers on the confectionery production line. Candy was created in the 1920s.

Regardless, it was obvious from the start of Oh Henry’s existence that this chocolate bar was destined for fame. The Williamson confectionery firm felt it had purchased a ticket to success when it mastered the Oh Henry recipe.

One little-known truth is the substantial variation between some of the identical chocolate bars in Canada and the United States. Depending on the nation, several chocolate bars have slightly different ingredient lists. 

The physical differences between the Oh Henry bar and other bars are maybe the most evident feature. The Canadian version puts the nuts around the bar, giving it a more distinctive and organic appearance than the American version, which has the nuts and caramel combined for a uniform chocolate-covered rectangle shape.

9. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Reese’s peanut butter cups are loved and cherished sweets that have managed to stay popular through several generations. They can be considered the oldest American candy still in production.  Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have the ideal ratio of sweet to salty flavors. 

It was H.B. Reese who produced the first batch of delectable peanut butter cups in 1922. After six years, the formula was refined and sold, and Reeses didn’t appear on shop shelves until 1928.  H.B Reeses had worked for Milton Hershey, the man who started the Hershey Chocolate Company. In terms of household candy, Reese’s would later become a family name.

In fact, Reese’s chocolate sales account for about half of all seasonal chocolate sales in the US, and they are over 60% greater than the next largest chocolate brand. That proves how much Americans adore the flavor combo of peanut butter and chocolate. 

Reese’s cups have grown to include a wide range of sizes and flavors that are sure to please any chocolate fan. In addition to offering various sizes, such as minis, huge cups, and world record cups, Reese’s has released numerous experimental flavors and tastes. For example, Reese’s Pieces filled with caramel, hazelnut, crunch, marshmallow, and dark chocolate cups are now available for Reese’s enthusiasts to enjoy. 

Bottom Line – Oldest American Candy Still In Production

Who doesn’t love candy? Sweet treats have been an inseparable part of our lives for as long as we can remember. They create memories and are often associated with happiness and joy.  

If you’ve ever wondered what candies your grandparents or parents enjoyed in childhood? Well, you have a chance to taste them because, above, we discussed a list of the oldest American candy still in production.