L[et's throwback to the 80s. It was a sweet time and so was 80s candy. This was the decade of MTV and Pac-Man. A colorful time when the latest Swatch watch was biggest fashion craze and The Simpsons ruled on television. Retro candy was equally as fun and memorable as all the retro pop culture memories we smile at now. The most popular candies were clever, sugary and fun to eat. It was like Halloween all year round.
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Our favorite candies at the candy store, like tootsie rolls and Hershey bars, were now displayed alongside packets of Fun-Dip and Sour Patch Kids. We watched Miami Vice while puffing on candy cigarettes along with Sonny Crockett. We crunched on Smarties watching Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. We tried not to choke on our watermelon Jolly Ranchers while we watched Married With Children.
So while you may have forgotten daring your little sister to stuff Atomic Fireballs in her mouth, she hasn't. And none of us could forget any of this nostalgic candy.
Our Favorite 80s Candy
1. Airheads
This package of fruit-flavored taffy could be stretched and snapped for hours. Airheads came in sour flavors along with regular strawberry, grape, orange, blue raspberry, watermelon, and a mystery flavor for the most daring kids with a sweet tooth.
2. Big League Chew Bubble Gum
Every little league kid had a pouch of this gum in their backpack. Pretend you're pinching off some chewing chewing tobacco just like the major league players. That was okay in the 80s.
3. Goetze's Cow Tales
This caramel candy was odd, no doubt about it, but this chewy caramel candy bar was a midwestern 1980s candy favorite.
4. Chupa Chups Lollipops
Another 80s candy classic. They're unique for their cremosa flavors of ice cream flavored lollipops in addition to the more usual flavors.
5. Cry Baby Tears Sour Candy
Tear-shaped intensely sour candy intended to bring tears to your eyes. The 80s were filled with dares of eating these sour goodies until you couldn't take it anymore.
6. Nerds
Nerds were invented by Nestle's Willy Wonka Division in 1983, and Nerds candy has stuck around ever since. Crunchy on the outside with sour chewy candy on the inside, Nerds make the world go round.
7. Push Pop
Push Pops were more a godsend to moms than kids. There were fewer sticky hands to deal with and the kids were still happy with this lollipop. Unlike regular lollipops, Push Pops could be stored away for a later date, making them great for road trips. Genius.
8. Runts
This crunchy hard candy had a sweet, powdery center that came in fruit-flavored shapes like yellow bananas, oranges, strawberry hearts, grapes, and green apples.
9. Skittles
The slogan of "Taste The Rainbow" is one of the catchiest of the all 80s candy. Still common now, these candies have fruity and chewy centers in a colored candy shell.
10. Pop Rocks
In 1975, the candy world lost its mind. Pop Rocks were invented and kids everywhere had delicious fizzy flavors dancing on their tongues. Pop Rocks were the most innovative new candy in the crazy 1970s. But then in 1983, there was a rumor of a Pop Rock disaster. It went like this: Mikey from the Life cereal commercials ate Pop Rocks and drank soda simultaneously and his little 1970s stomach exploded. A company hotline was set up by Pop Rocks to respond to all the terrified parents (mine included), saying that the incident was not true.
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