The 90s were a decade of bright colors, bold flavors, and iconic snacks that defined childhoods for millions of people. From the classic chocolate bars to the sour candies that made your mouth pucker, there was no shortage of delicious treats to satisfy any sweet tooth.
For many, the mere mention of 90s candy conjures up memories of trips to the corner store, trading candy with friends at school, and digging through Halloween loot. In this article, we’ll take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to explore the most popular and memorable 90s candies, the cultural significance of these sweets, and why they continue to hold a special place in our hearts and taste buds today.
Popular 90s Candies You Can Still Enjoy Today
The 90s saw the introduction of many iconic candies and snacks that are still enjoyed today. Many 90s kids can still remember the jingles from their favorite candy commercials. So, whether you’re stocking up on treats for a 90s-themed party or you’re just looking to enjoy some flavors of your youth, here’s a list of 90s candies that you can still buy today.
Some of the most popular 90s candies that you can purchase today include:
- Baby Bottle Pops: Lollipops that came in the shape of a baby bottle. The nipple of the bottle was dipped in flavored powder, which could be licked off. Get them here.
- Candy “Cigarettes”: Aw, yes. The 90s was a time when we kids could pretend to smoke our candy and it was perfectly acceptable. I don’t even remember them tasting very good, but I sure felt cool when I had them. Get them here.
- Fruit Stripe Juicy Bubble Gum:Â Chewing this zebra-stripped gum was the best 5 seconds of my childhood. The tongue tattoo they came with was the cherry on top. I’m so glad they’re still making these. Get them here.
- Ooze Tubes: Looking through this list of 90s candy makes me realize how much my palette has grown. I was perfectly happy squeezing questionable goo into my mouth back then. Not sure if I’d enjoy it very much now. Get them here.
- Juicy Drop Pops: The 90s were a time filled with interactive candy. The candy makers thought, I know what this sucker needs, more goo. I loved it though. Get them here.
- Cream Savers: You’ll be happy to know that these delicious hard candies are finally making a comeback after being discontinued for over a decade. Get them here.
- Sour Sneaky Stardust Powdered Chewing Gum: This stuff was so much fun. I loved the magic involved in turning powder into gum. Get it here.
- Fruit-shaped Powdered Filled Candy: A fruit-shaped container full of sugar dust. Doesn’t make sense, but these candies might be the closest I ever got to eating fruit throughout my entire childhood. Get them here.
- Nik-L-Nip Mini Drinks Candy: You can thank the prohibition for making drink candies popular, and kid me sure did. Get them here.
- Razzles: These candies have been around for a long time, and yet it’s a treat every time you get your hands on them. They are one of the first candies that come to my mind when I’m thinking of something nostalgic. Get it here.
- Sugar Daddies: These milk caramel pops are delicious. Don’t forget about the counterpart sugar babies too. The same great taste without the sucker form. Get it here.
- Cry Baby: These sour gums still make my mouth water. Get them here. Don’t forget about Cry Baby Tears, which is the smaller version.
- Toxic Waste: You know the 90s were a bold time when candy manufacturers had no qualms about labeling their treats toxic waste. Get it here.
- Cotton Candy Bubble Gum: There was no such thing as boring bubble gum in the 90s. This cotton candy bubble gum was a colorful and delicious treat. Get it here.
- Candy Necklaces: There’s nothing quite like wearing a sticky necklace around your neck as you slowly bite off the pieces. Get them here.
- Warheads: These sour candies were first introduced in the late 90s and quickly became a favorite among kids and adults alike. Is it just me, or were they way more sour in the 90s? Get them here.
- Warheads Super Sour Spray Candy: A sour candy spray that comes in flavors like apple, watermelon, and blue raspberry. Get it here.
- Airheads: These chewy, fruity candies were a staple of the 90s and came in a variety of flavors, including blue raspberry, watermelon, and cherry. Get them here.
- Nerds: These tiny, crunchy candies were introduced in the 80s but gained popularity throughout the 90s. They came in a variety of flavors and were often eaten by the handful. Get them here.
- Nerds Rope: Don’t forget the favorite companion to nerds, the incredible Nerds rope. Get it here.
- Atomic Fireball: These firey jawbreakers were incredible. Get them here.
- Now and Later: Look, I’m going to be honest. I didn’t understand the hype around these guys. There were so many other similar candies, like mambas, that I enjoyed more, so I didn’t ever really give these guys a chance. Get them here.
- Fruit by the Foot: This colorful snack consisted of a long strip of fruit-flavored candy that could be rolled up and eaten like a mini fruit roll-up. Get it here.
- Gushers: These fruit-flavored snacks have a gooey surprise inside. Get them here.
- Bubble Tape: This long roll of bubble gum was a popular choice among kids in the 90s and came in a variety of flavors. Get them here.
- Pop Rocks: This fizzy candy was introduced in the 70s but gained popularity in the 90s. They came in a variety of flavors and provided a unique sensory experience. Get them here.
- Pop Rocks Dips: This version of pop rocks allowed you to dip a sucker into your pop rocks for an even more fun experience. Get it here.
- Push Pops: A lollipop that was pushed up from the bottom of a plastic tube. It came in various flavors and was a favorite among children. Get it here.
- Ring Pops: A hard candy shaped like a ring that was worn on the finger. It came in a variety of flavors and was often used as a fashion accessory. Get them here.
- Candy Lipsticks: Sure, push pops were an excellent lipstick for all of our creative minds, but if you wanted something even more literal, these were a fun treat to have. Get it here.
- Zotz: Hard candies with a fizzy center that came in a variety of flavors such as grape, apple, and watermelon. Fizzy candies were a thing in the 90s. Get it here.
- Chick-O-Stick: These have been around a lot longer than the 90s, but they were still going strong during them. They never looked the most appetizing, but they remind me of the inside of a Butter’s Finger. Get them here.
- Jaw Busters: These jawbreakers ruled because they let you break and rot your teeth at the same time. Get them here.
- Too Tarts Sour Candy Spray: I half think we wanted to torture ourselves in the 90s because why else would you spray something sour directly into your mouth? Get it here.
- Sixlets: These tiny candies created big memories. Get them here.
- Chiclets Gum: These itty bitty gums allow you to mix multiple fruity flavors into one delicious glob of gum. And while you could’ve just eaten just a few at a time, if you weren’t fitting as many as you could into your mouth you were doing it wrong. Get them here.
- Bottle Caps: These soda pop-themed candies came in a variety of flavors including cherry, grape, root beer, and orange soda flavors. Get them here.
- Lemonhead: These lemony candies seem to be something you either love or hate. Get them here.
- Fun Dip: These fun, dipping treats were a favorite when I was younger. The amount of other Halloween candy I was willing to trade for one was astronomical. Get them here.
- Pixy Stix: These tubes full of sugar were amazing. If you didn’t shoot the whole thing in one go, you weren’t living life to the fullest. Plus, the sugar high afterward was amazing. Get them here.
- Pez: These are another one of those candies that had very little flavor, but because they were fun to eat you kept buying them. I mean, everyone had a favorite Pez dispenser, didn’t they? Get them here.
- Dunkaroos: Okay, while not technically a candy, they have enough sugar in them that they get an honorary spot on this list. Especially since these were one of my favorite snacks as a kid. Get them here.
- Skittles: Bite-sized candies with a hard shell and chewy center that came in a variety of fruity flavors. Get it here.
- Sour Patch Kids:Â Â Chewy candies that were coated in sour sugar and came in various fruit flavors. Get them here.
- Chupa Chups: This three-in-one bubble gum-filled lollipop candy did it all. They came in a variety of fruity flavors and each is delicious. Get them here.
- Blow Pops: There were suckers, then there were blow pops. These suckers with their gummy centers were the king of all suckers. Get them here.
- Jolly Ranchers. These hard candies are a classic now and were a classic in the 90s as well. Get them here.
- Mamba: These fruit chews were all the rage in my school. Get them here.
- Sour Patch Straws: These delicious candy straws have a light sour taste to them that is just delightful. Get them here.
- Laffy Taffy: A classic candy known for its funny jokes on the wrapper. Banna is by far the best flavor according to the experts aka me. Get it here.
Popular 90s Candies That Are No Longer Being Made
- Surge Soda Gum: A gum that tasted like the popular soda drink, Surge.
- Wonder Balls: A hollow chocolate ball with a surprise toy or candy inside.
- Hubba Bubba Bubble Jug: A container of powdered gum that you pour into your mouth like candy.
- Squeezits: A fruit-flavored juice drink that came in a plastic bottle with a twist-off cap shaped like a character’s head. They have similar drinks, but not the original.
- PB Max: A candy bar that consisted of a peanut butter cookie topped with peanut butter and covered in milk chocolate.
- Nestle Magic Balls: A chocolate ball filled with sprinkles that would explode in your mouth.
- Shock Tarts: small, round candies that come in a variety of bright colors, and they are coated with a sour sugar that gives them a tart and tangy flavor.
- Giggles Cookies: These were small, round cookies that were filled with a fruit-flavored filling. The cookies were covered in a layer of frosting and had a face printed on them that would “giggle” when you bit into them.
- Bonkers: These were chewy fruit-flavored candies that had a soft, fruit-flavored filling inside. They were available in a variety of flavors, and were advertised with the slogan “Bonkers! Bonkers! Bonkers!”
What were some of the most popular 90s candies?
You might be surprised to learn that many popular candies have stood the test of time. Therefore, many of the most popular candies of the 90s are candies that you probably still see regularly.
Some of the most popular 90s candies include:
- Pop Rocks
- Ring Pops
- Nerds
- Gushers
- Bubble Tape
- Warheads
- Airheads
- Skittles
- Sour Patch Kids
- Push Pops
- Pixy Stix
- Fun Dip
- Jolly Ranchers
- Shock Tarts
- Fruit Roll-Ups.
These candies were iconic and beloved by many during the 90s, which is why many of them are still around today.
Are any 90s candies still being made and sold today?
Yes, many iconic 90s candies are still being made and sold today. Some examples include Nerds, Warheads, Pop Rocks, Airheads, and Sour Patch Kids.
In addition, some candies that were popular in the 90s, such as Ring Pops, Push Pops, and Bubble Tape, have been re-released in recent years due to their nostalgic appeal.
However, some 90s candies, such as Wonder Balls and Nestle Magic Balls, have been discontinued due to changes in food safety regulations and other factors.
Why do people have nostalgia for 90s candy?
Nostalgia for 90s candy is common among people who grew up during that time and have fond memories of their childhood. Many people associate 90s candy with happy memories of childhood parties, trick-or-treating, and other special occasions.
Additionally, the 90s were a time of innovation in the candy industry, with the introduction of new flavors and formats that were exciting and novel to consumers. As a result, 90s candy is often seen as a symbol of a simpler, more carefree time, and can evoke feelings of comfort and nostalgia.
How did 90s candy differ from candy of other decades?
90s candy had some distinct differences from candy of other decades. In the 90s, there was a focus on bright and bold flavors, as well as unique textures and shapes. Many 90s candies were also marketed toward younger generations with fun packaging and advertising campaigns.
In terms of candy trends, the 90s saw an increase in sour and tangy candies, as well as candies with novel concepts such as squeeze tubes and liquid-filled centers. Overall, the 90s candy scene was a reflection of the playful and experimental attitude of the era.
What was the cultural significance of 90s candy?
90s candy played a significant role in the childhood memories of many people who grew up during that decade. Candy was often associated with positive experiences such as birthday parties, holidays, and going to the movies.
Additionally, the marketing and packaging of 90s candy often featured popular TV shows, movies, and celebrities of the time, which helped to cement their place in popular culture. For many people, 90s candy is a reminder of a simpler time and a cherished part of their childhood.
Did 90s candy have any controversies or scandals associated with it?
There were a few controversies associated with 90s candy. One of the most notable was the Surge Soda Craze. The bright green citrus soda was marketed to teenagers and young adults with extreme sports imagery, and some critics accused the company of encouraging risky behavior.
Another controversy involved the candy Warheads, which were known for their extremely sour flavor. Some parents and health experts were concerned that the candy could be harmful to children’s teeth and overall health.
Additionally, there were concerns about the marketing of sugary snacks to children and the potential impact on their health.
Can I still find and buy 90s candy today, and where can I find it?
Yes, many popular 90s candies are still available for purchase today. Some have never stopped being made including Airheads, Nerds, Warheads, Skittles, and Sour Patch Kids. Others are experiencing a revival after being discontinued for years.
Many of these common candies can be found at grocery stores, drugstores, convenience stores, and online retailers as we’ve shown above. Some specialty candy stores may also carry a wider variety of harder-to-find nostalgic candies from the 90s. Additionally, some online retailers specialize in selling nostalgic candy from past decades, including the 90s.
How have 90s candies influenced contemporary candy and snack trends?
The 90s candies were popular for their unique and fun flavors, packaging, and marketing. Many of these candies were marketed towards children and teenagers, which helped to establish brand loyalty and nostalgia.
Today, candy companies continue to innovate and create new products, but they also recognize the importance of nostalgia and have reintroduced some popular 90s candies, such as Warheads, Nerds, and Pop Rocks. Some companies have even created modern versions of 90s candies with new twists, such as sour or spicy flavors.
The popularity of 90s nostalgia in popular culture has also led to an increase in demand for 90s candies, with some specialty candy stores and online retailers offering 90s candy assortments and gift boxes.
What were some lesser-known 90s candies that people might not remember?
There were a lot of different types of candies that were popular in the 90s, and some of them may have been forgotten over time. Some examples of these are Surge Soda Gum, Wonder Balls, Hubba Bubba Bubble Jug, Sqeeze-its, PB Max, Nestle Magic Balls, Shock Tarts, Giggles Cookies, and many more.
How did the packaging and marketing of 90s candy contribute to its popularity?
The packaging and marketing of 90s candy played a significant role in its popularity. Candy companies used bright, eye-catching packaging designs, often featuring cartoon characters or celebrities that appealed to children and young adults. The packaging and marketing were designed to stand out on store shelves and attract customers.
Companies also used various promotional tactics such as offering collectible toys or other prizes inside the candy packaging. These marketing strategies helped to create a sense of excitement and anticipation among consumers, and many people developed a strong emotional connection to their favorite 90s candies.
Final Thoughts on 90s Candy
90s candy was a cultural phenomenon that still holds a special place in the hearts of many today. It was a time when sweet treats could be found in every corner store, and the bright colors and bold flavors of 90s candy brought joy and excitement to countless kids and adults alike.
While some 90s candies have disappeared from store shelves, others have managed to stick around and continue to satisfy our sweet cravings. Whether you were a fan of the classics like Ring Pops and Pop Rocks or preferred the lesser-known treats, 90s candy remains a sweet reminder of a simpler time.
What was your favorite 90s candy? Is it still around or has it been long forgotten? Share with us in the comments below!
