Horrible Halloween Candy

[bethbuchall]

I like candy corn.

I bought crap candy to give out (dum dum lolipops, cow tails, and bubblegum). One reason is because we eat the good candy if I buy it (DH especially and then I run out). And another reason is that my kids are all off to college and I am not all that into Halloween right now and don't want to encourage kids to love Trick or Treating at my house. Another reason is that when I used to give out good stuff I would have to count, something like, three pieces out per kid. Now with little crap candy I will just reach in bowl and give a small handful.

Oh, and my mom gives out little packs of pretzels every year. Boo!

The pretzels were among the favorites for my kids, especially if they were the Halloween shaped ones. I love cow tails!

 

[jrmasm]

Root Beer barrels.

 

[luvsJack]

I loved all Halloween candy but I especially loved anything chocolate. Razor blades in apples were just staring to appear, but I disliked even before then apples and homemade crap like popcorn balls.

I am just the opposite! I miss the kids getting good old homemade popcorn balls, caramel apples, candied apples, etc. My sister is having a Halloween party this Saturday for all the kids and she will have all these plus some. I plan to go just to indulge in the homemade treats she makes.

 

[luvsJack]

Idk, my friends and I really liked the wax lips, fangs, mustaches, etc. I don't think you were supposed to eat it, just chew it like gum and then spit it out when the sweetness was gone. The best were the wax orange harmonicas--anyone remember them?

I do!! I always liked the wax stuff as a kid. Had fun playing with it and then chewing it. I also liked the was "soda" bottles with the little bit of liquid stuff in them.

 

[sksjasams]

When I was a kid, we gave out sweet tarts and those orange/black mary janes (my mom called them peanut butter kisses). I still hate both of them. Getting chocolate was somewhat rare trick or treating in my neighborhood growing up.

When DS was little, chocolate was the primary treat. He did get some other stuff, too, but a lot of chocolate. We lived in the country though, and always took him out to a nice neighborhood to trick or treat. He would give me his banana laffy taffy and whoppers - still two of my favorite. And he would give his dad any hard candy.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Siggghhhhh..I love all the fruity chewy stuff (even the circus peanuts), and my kids will fight you for some dum-dums. Mystery flavor RULES!

Thanks to my youngest DS, I have completely lost my taste for chocolate. The mere sight of it made my so sick while I was pregnant. Coffee too, but thankfully that didn't last.

No trick or treaters for us, we live in the boonies and our city has a huge downtown trick or treat plus all the churches have trunk or treats usually the weekend before. I miss handing out candy. We used to get swamped in our old house.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Does anybody remember getting the orange UNICEF boxes in school to collect pennies while you trick or treated?

Aaaand speaking of old lady candy that I like, anyone here like Sesame Crunch by Joyva? They're the same people who make Halvah, which I also love. It's honey, sugar and sesame seeds:

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'm sure this thread comes up every year, but I'm starting it again.

Anybody who gives these out as treats deserves to get their house egged.

Necco Wafers

Candy Corn

Dum Dums Lollipops

And the absolute worst, Mary Janes

What say you?

Those necco wafers are so rank. I love candy corn. But not to get trick or treating because we have to throw it out. I remember when dum dums first hit the scene. Their incredibly small size relative to every other lolly just marked someone as cheap. Of course now there are several smaller lollies. But Dum dums led the charge. And they are lousy. Mary janle. Is that that peanut butter and molasses chew? It's a very old candy but Necco makes it now. Meh. It's ok.

 

[bookgirl]

Ok. Necco Wafers aren't a liquid, they're hard little round wafer candies that are, like, pure sugar, practically. They do have flavors but the flavors are mild. (See below.) They melt in your mouth (unless you chew them) and that's when you get a lot of flavor. Not bad.

Necco also makes the Valentine's conversation candy hearts, so the taste is similar to those if you know what those are.

The wintergreen (pink) ones can sometimes be found in a thicker version. Those are pretty flavorful and softer than the wafers. And ironically enough, called Canada Mints.

.

As for Mary Janes - I sometimes put them in the same category as BitOHoney, but I think I like the Mary Janes a little bit better, probably because my mother loved them and introduced me to them. (Yes, a lot of these candies we're talking about were around even in the 1930s or before!) Just figured out these are made in Boston, too (now by the Necco factory), that explains a lot. Basically a local candy. Anyway, they are molasses flavor taffy with a little bit of peanut butter on the inside. You have to watch your fillings, but they're so good.

Another interesting history: http://mentalfloss.com/article/70505/revolutionary-story-behind-mary-jane-candies

I think there are a lot of places you can buy some of these candies that would ship to Canada.
https://www.oldtimecandy.com/

So my favorite holiday candy are the Conversation Hearts (but only the ones made by the Necco Company)

Every Valentines I buy about 4 bags (on clearance) and hoard them for the next few months to enjoy.

 

[bookgirl]

WORST

These are my moms fav candy of all time! Me.....blecch!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My least favorite halloween candies. Please note. Anything loose like Candy Corn or those pumpkin things like em or the like did not make my list because I assume you're not going to be giving that stuff out.


1. Necco wafers. Sorry. But Cloves isn't a good candy flavor. Cloves flavored chalk (a necco wafer) is even worse. Blech. Couple that with Crest toothpaste flavor. Crest toothpaste mint flavor. Blech and blech, and Licorice (blech) and well what do you get. Blech. Give these out if your house looks good in yolk.
2. cheap bubble gum. This stuff is rank. The flavor, which is like toothpaste to begin with, runs out after 10 chews. That's before the piece of garbage gum even gets soft. Good gum. Yeah love it. iAnd beware of those cheap kiddie mixes with three awesome things and cheap gum. It will be 2/3 cheap gum.
3. Circus Peanuts. These are candy only in the academic sense. They were once marshmallows. They once might have had flavor. They need to go the way of the big top. Flop.
4. Good and Plenty. One of the worst candies to give out. First the kids have to like licorice. Most don't. Secondly, this is about the crummiest cheap licorice on the market. And they look they're coated in pepto Bismol.
5. Generic taffy things wrapped in Orange and Black. Get with the times Granny. Nobody likes those any more. They didn't back then either. You're just too old to remember you threw them out as a kid.
6. Smarties. MMMM Mini Tums.
7. Candy buttons. All that work for.... Not surprisingly, they're made by Necco. If your trees look good covered in toilet paper, by all means.
8. Mary Janes or bit o'honey or all those old things. Uh gramps when I told you to get something other than the orange and black taffey, I didn't mean these. But they are good for one thing. If you have a grandkid with a loose tooth that stubbornly won't come out have him Chomp down on a couple of these babies, open your mouth and if it's truly ready to come out, out it comes. Also good for removing your dentures if the adhesive is sticky.
9. Butterfinger. Oh god yuck. Although their new commercial is funny.
10. Almond Joy or Mounds. Sorry. Cheap and nasty coconut surrounded by cheap chocolate. Not interested.



But all these are infinitely preferable to some of the new fad gifts people are giving out.
1. Kale chips. Huh? You just wasted your money. These are going into the garbage.
2. Religious pamphlets. Just what every 6 year old needs. Scare pamphlets.
3. Halloween themed tooth brushes and tooth paste. Huh. Who do you think you are? Willy Wonka's dad? Can't even spring for Neccos?
4. Pencils, Erasers, notebooks. What in the heck? School supplies? You're giving out the absolute last thing a kid wants. School supplies? This is some gift lame adults like. The kids hate them. Oh but my kid loves them. Yeah sure they do.
5. Political literature. What? You gave my kid a vote for x button? You think a 7 year old is going to like that? My word.

 

[adelaster]

My least favorite halloween candies. Please note. Anything loose like Candy Corn or those pumpkin things like em or the like did not make my list because I assume you're not going to be giving that stuff out.


1. Necco wafers. Sorry. But Cloves isn't a good candy flavor. Cloves flavored chalk (a necco wafer) is even worse. Blech. Couple that with Crest toothpaste flavor. Crest toothpaste mint flavor. Blech and blech, and Licorice (blech) and well what do you get. Blech. Give these out if your house looks good in yolk.
2. cheap bubble gum. This stuff is rank. The flavor, which is like toothpaste to begin with, runs out after 10 chews. That's before the piece of garbage gum even gets soft. Good gum. Yeah love it. iAnd beware of those cheap kiddie mixes with three awesome things and cheap gum. It will be 2/3 cheap gum.
3. Circus Peanuts. These are candy only in the academic sense. They were once marshmallows. They once might have had flavor. They need to go the way of the big top. Flop.
4. Good and Plenty. One of the worst candies to give out. First the kids have to like licorice. Most don't. Secondly, this is about the crummiest cheap licorice on the market. And they look they're coated in pepto Bismol.
5. Generic taffy things wrapped in Orange and Black. Get with the times Granny. Nobody likes those any more. They didn't back then either. You're just too old to remember you threw them out as a kid.
6. Smarties. MMMM Mini Tums.
7. Candy buttons. All that work for.... Not surprisingly, they're made by Necco. If your trees look good covered in toilet paper, by all means.
8. Mary Janes or bit o'honey or all those old things. Uh gramps when I told you to get something other than the orange and black taffey, I didn't mean these. But they are good for one thing. If you have a grandkid with a loose tooth that stubbornly won't come out have him Chomp down on a couple of these babies, open your mouth and if it's truly ready to come out, out it comes. Also good for removing your dentures if the adhesive is sticky.
9. Butterfinger. Oh god yuck. Although their new commercial is funny.
10. Almond Joy or Mounds. Sorry. Cheap and nasty coconut surrounded by cheap chocolate. Not interested.



But all these are infinitely preferable to some of the new fad gifts people are giving out.
1. Kale chips. Huh? You just wasted your money. These are going into the garbage.
2. Religious pamphlets. Just what every 6 year old needs. Scare pamphlets.
3. Halloween themed tooth brushes and tooth paste. Huh. Who do you think you are? Willy Wonka's dad? Can't even spring for Neccos?
4. Pencils, Erasers, notebooks. What in the heck? School supplies? You're giving out the absolute last thing a kid wants. School supplies? This is some gift lame adults like. The kids hate them. Oh but my kid loves them. Yeah sure they do.
5. Political literature. What? You gave my kid a vote for x button? You think a 7 year old is going to like that? My word.

Yeah...all these posts are making me feel so much better about not trick or treating growing up. My mom just bought us our favorite candies and took us out to dinner/somewhere fun. I think I went trick or treating like twice, if that. I think #3 on your huh? list is actually clever....but I am not a candy seeking child! Wonder what the universal "best" candy to give out is?

Here's a 2017 best seller list by state:

http://people.com/food/favorite-halloween-candy-2017-by-state/

Also a 2015 favorite map:

 

[TipsyTraveler]

A sign I saw at a convenience store in Japan.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

A sign I saw at a convenience store in Japan.
View attachment 279179

Some of those Kit Kats are amazeballs. Same with the Hi-Chews

 

[RedAngie]

Thanks everybody for your replies.

Surprising (or maybe not) that almost every candy made by New England Confectionery (Necco) is on somebody's horrible list.

I remember as a kid in Catholic school, we sometimes "played Mass" and used Neccos as Communion wafers.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks everybody for your replies.

Surprising (or maybe not) that almost every candy made by New England Confectionery (Necco) is on somebody's horrible list.

I remember as a kid in Catholic school, we sometimes "played Mass" and used Neccos as Communion wafers.

Funny. NECCO (New England Candy Company) is the oldest continuously operating candy company in the U.S. Apparently someone likes their products! (Maybe it's regional! )


Banana Split chews.

• Banana Split chews
• Canada Mints
• Candy Cupboard & Masterpieces
• Candy House Candy Buttons
• Clark Bar candy bars
• Kettle Fresh
• Mary Janes and Mary Jane peanut butter kisses
• Mint Julep chews
• Mighty Malts Malted Milk Balls
• Necco Wafers
• Peach Blossoms
• Sky Bar candy bars
• Slap Stix
• Squirrel Nut Caramels
• Squirrel Nut Zippers
• Stark Candy Raisins
• Sweethearts Conversation Hearts

The Haviland division of Necco produces many candies such as Haviland Thin Mints, Bridge Mix, and others.
Anyway, to each his own. Happy Halloween everyone!

 

[disneychrista]

don't want to encourage kids to love Trick or Treating at my house.

You don't have to participate. I stopped handing out candy a few years ago. I am debating whether to buy candy this year or not. Most likely won't, unless I can get my friend to come over and have a little party while we do it.

 

[katie01]

I prefer chocolate candy, I can't think of any type of chocolate candy or candy bar that I don't like. I will eat chewy candy, but don't like candy that is basically flavored or colored sugar, like Necco wafers, Smarties, or Pixie sticks

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Yeah...all these posts are making me feel so much better about not trick or treating growing up. My mom just bought us our favorite candies and took us out to dinner/somewhere fun. I think I went trick or treating like twice, if that. I think #3 on your huh? list is actually clever....but I am not a candy seeking child! Wonder what the universal "best" candy to give out is?

Here's a 2017 best seller list by state:

http://people.com/food/favorite-halloween-candy-2017-by-state/

Also a 2015 favorite map:

View attachment 279166

Every state should give themselves a pat on the back because nothing from Necco is number one in any state.

Michigan uses candy corn to fix pot holes. That's why it's number one there. Yeah. It does a terrible job of that too.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Funny. NECCO (New England Candy Company) is the oldest continuously operating candy company in the U.S. Apparently someone likes their products! (Maybe it's regional! )


Banana Split chews.

• Banana Split chews
• Canada Mints
• Candy Cupboard & Masterpieces
• Candy House Candy Buttons
• Clark Bar candy bars
• Kettle Fresh
• Mary Janes and Mary Jane peanut butter kisses
• Mint Julep chews
• Mighty Malts Malted Milk Balls
• Necco Wafers
• Peach Blossoms
• Sky Bar candy bars
• Slap Stix
• Squirrel Nut Caramels
• Squirrel Nut Zippers
• Stark Candy Raisins
• Sweethearts Conversation Hearts

The Haviland division of Necco produces many candies such as Haviland Thin Mints, Bridge Mix, and others.
Anyway, to each his own. Happy Halloween everyone!

Necco is the oldest only if you count all the way back to the origins of the companies that merged to create it.