8 Iconic New England Candies You Grew Up Eating
Believe it or not, those odd red-coated peanut candies known as Boston Baked Beans are actually manufactured in Illinois by the Ferrara Candy Company.
The following eight candies, however, are created right here in New England and are sure to give you a taste of nostalgia.
1. NECCO WAFERS
Necco Wafers have been made in Revere, MA by the classic New England Candy Company (otherwise known as NECCO!) since 1847. Every kid who grew up in New England will remember tearing away the powdery paper and snapping into these pastel discs!
2. NECCO SWEETHEARTS
Another Necco confection, the multi-colored candy Sweethearts “conversation hearts” bear messages of love and friendship. They are the most popular non-chocolate Valentine’s Day candy in America!
3. RIBBON CANDY
Colorful, folded ribbon candy is a holiday tradition in my family and millions of others across New England. Sevigny’s Thin Ribbon Candy has been made in Brockton, MA for more than 150 years, and comes in festive flavors like cinnamon, peppermint, wintergreen, and orange.
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4. MARY JANES
Yet another Necco classic, the older generation may remember these chewy peanut butter and molasses taffy treats from the days of penny candy. Delighting New England children since 1914, the Mary Jane was named for the creator’s favorite aunt.
5. CAPE COD SALTWATER TAFFY
Although saltwater taffy was first popularized in 1883 at Fralinger’s, a shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk, Cape Cod has definitely made this treat its own! Fun fact: saltwater taffy does not actually call for saltwater as an ingredient and was likely named for Fralinger’s proximity to the beach.
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6. SKY BAR
My personal favorite of the New England candies is the classic Sky Bar! With four separate milk chocolate chambers filled with caramel, vanilla, fudge, and peanut flavor, you never have to choose just one treat!
7. NEEDHAMS
Residents of Maine and beyond still delight in creating their own homemade versions of these dark chocolate–coconut-cream snacks made with – of all things – mashed potatoes!
8. VERMONT MAPLE CANDY
No candy screams New England quite so much as the crumbly textured maple candies churned out of Vermont each fall. These delicious molded treats – traditionally shaped like maple leaves – are created when the sap of the maple tree is heated beyond the syrup stage to the crystalline stage.
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9. PEZ
First marketed as a peppermint over 90 years ago in Vienna, Austria, Pez got its name from the German word for peppermint… PfeffErminZ. Pez company headquarters have been located in Orange, Connecticut since 1971. The massive, fun-filled Pez factory and package plant is available for tours.
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Featured Image via Flickr/Doug Kerr