Time-Travel with Candy: 10 Retro Sweets That Still Rule!

Ever since H.G. Wells published The Time Machine in 1895, humans have had a long-standing fascination with the concept of time travel. From movies and books to video games and TV shows that explore the infinite possibilities of time travel, we've been inspired by ideas of revisiting the past or jumping ahead to the future for well over a century. But what if we told you that time travel was entirely possible, and that you could visit your fondest childhood memories through a simple taste of your favorite retro sweets?

Old fashioned candy never really goes out of style, and the appeal of reliving that feeling of nostalgia keeps growing within the pantheon of pop culture. Eating some favorite candies from your childhood is just like stepping into a time machine and going back to a time where you biggest worries were choosing between an Everlasting Gobstopper, or a handful of colorful gumballs. Ahh… Those were the good ol’ days!

So, forget DeLoreans and flux capacitors – your real ticket to the past is a handful of old-fashioned candy! One bite of a classic candy bar or a fizzy retro sweet, and suddenly you’re 8 years old again, trading candy favorites on the school bus or sneaking treats from your grandma’s secret stash.

Science confirms it: taste and smell are your memory’s internal time machines! That’s because these senses are closely linked to the brain’s limbic system – specifically the insular cortex’s relationship to the amygdala, which processes emotion, and the hippocampus, which handles memory.

When you eat something that evokes a feeling of nostalga, your brain lights up in ways that make emotional memories feel more vivid and immediate. That’s why retro candy may make you feel sentimental, even more than you might get from hearing a pop song from your high school prom on the radio, or from looking at an old photograph. Memories that are connected by smell and taste can often be perceptibly more vivid, even palpable.

That whiff of a Satellite Wafer? It’s an instant flashback to summer vacations. The crunch of a Sixlets shell? Boom! You’re suddenly back at your best friend’s birthday party in 1982. These sweets aren’t just treats, they’re Proustian madeleines in neon wrappers, sparking that feeling of nostalgia faster than Doc Brown can say “Great Scott!”

And just like poodle skirts, bell-bottoms, and vinyl records, the best retro sweets never truly die. They might vanish for a decade or two, but then, poof! They’re resurrected, delighting new generations while giving OG fans a sweet trip down memory lane. So, grab your hoverboard (or just a comfy chair), and let’s blast through candy history with 10 vintage treats that are still flying off of candy store shelves. Where we’re going, we don’t need roads… just a sweet tooth and a sense of adventure!

10 Classic Retro Candies That Will Never Go Out of Style

1. Satellite Wafers – The Space-Age Sweet That Defied Gravity

Born in 1950s Belgium when a communion wafer manufacturer needed to boost sales, these "flying saucers" sandwiched candy beads between corn syrup wafers. The result? A crunchy, fizzy UFO of joy that’s been delighting Europeans (and nostalgic Americans) for decades. A product of the Cold War, these always evoke fond memories of the space age and the excitement we all felt about the future, all that time ago!

2. Sixlets – The Comeback Candy That Can’t Count

These chocolatey spheres are back and better than ever! Now, they are finally sold in peg bags after years of teasing us with sleeves of 7 or 8 (but oddly never 6). Does Sixlets chocolate actually taste better than M&Ms? We’ll never tell… but their retro charm and candy-coated crunch have made them a staple in movie theater concession stands and Halloween trick-or-treat bags for generations!

3. BarNone – The ’90s Legend That Refused to Stay Dead

This cult-classic candy bar vanished for 20 years before fans (and Iconic Candy) resurrected it. BarNone features a chocolate wafer pillow, stuffed with chocolate cream, smothered in peanuts, and wrapped in milk chocolate. It’s the candy equivalent of your favorite band reuniting for one epic tour, except this delicious reunion (hopefully) never ends!

4. Werther’s Original – The Candy That Enhanced a Thousand Grandmas

No childhood visit to Grandma’s was complete without sneaking a few of these buttery caramels from her crystal dish. Since 1909, Werther’s has been the unofficial currency of your grandma’s affection, passed across generations with a wink and a whisper of "Don’t tell your mother.”

Every time I indulge in one of these hard caramel candies, I get to relive the past through vivid memories of everything at my grandmother’s home – the couch cushions, the shag carpet, the way her smile lit up the room… everything comes flooding back into memory!

5. Slo Poke - The Caramel That Outlasted the Depression (and Your Patience)

Created in 1926, this chewy caramel bar was the original “take your time” sweet treat. Designed to last, it’s been testing our collective jaw strength for nearly a century! Now, Atkinson Candy Co. has resurrected the classic candy, because good things come to those who chew!

6. Reed’s Butterscotch Hard Candies – The Victorian Candy That Refuses to Retire

Since 1893, these golden gems have been the butterscotch benchmark. Individually wrapped like tiny treasures, they’ve survived two world wars, disco, and the internet, which has got to be proof that some flavors are simply timeless. Plus, they’re another staple at grandma’s house! Pro tip: Unwrap your butterscotch candy slowly. The crinkle of the wrapper is an integral part of the experience!

7. Brach’s Soft Peppermint Candy Sticks – A Gentle Twist on the Classic Candy Cane

Long before TikTok made peppermint hot again, Brach’s was perfecting this holiday classic. These soft peppermint sticks melt into hot cocoa or your mouth with equal finesse, giving us candy cane vibes all year round. Whether you’re cozying up in winter or chasing a cool breeze in July, these minty marvels deliver a dose of emotional wellbeing in every bite. For candy connoisseurs, they’re not just seasonal sweets, they’re a nostalgic reminder of simpler times, Christmas mornings, and Grandma’s signature hot chocolate!

8. Zotz Fizzy Candy – The Prehistoric Pop of Popping Candy

Before Pop Rocks started crackling across tongues in the late ‘70s, Zotz were already zapping tastebuds with their fizzy, sour core. These unassuming hard candies, available in cherry, apple, and watermelon, hid an explosive surprise that made them a staple of playground trades and candy store hauls. Part challenge, part penny candy classic, Zotz prove that science experiments are way more fun when they’re edible! Each bite fizzes with the joy of childhood curiosity and playfulness of a great schoolyard prank.

9. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans – 20 Ways to Time Travel at Once

There’s no better example of new retro sweets than a handful of Jelly Belly jelly beans. This iconic brand transformed the humble bean into an art form, with flavors so accurate, they’re borderline magic! Buttered popcorn? Juicy pear? Toasted marshmallow? Each bean is a mini time capsule, and together, they’re a full-blown flavor mixtape from your youth! Whether you preferred bubble gum or dared to try sizzling cinnamon, Jelly Belly gave American consumers the power to explore taste and memory, one colorful bite at a time.

10. Candy Buttons – The Strip That Launched a Thousand Smiles

Tiny, bright, and glued to a paper strip like edible braille, Candy Buttons are a pure retro delight! These cherry, lemon, and lime dots were the unofficial currency from penny candy stores, traded between sticky fingers and creating smiling faces. Tearing off a strip and picking off the sugary buttons (paper bits and all) is an experience that no digital download can ever replicate. They might be low-tech, but they hit all the high notes of nostalgia. They’re certainly proof that happiness can come in small, dot-sized packages.

At Redstone Foods, we know that candy is more than just a sweet treat – it’s a little time machine in a shiny wrapper! Those retro sweets you loved as a kid? They’re not just surviving – they’re thriving! Because nothing beats the joy of reminiscence and rediscovery. Whether it’s the snap of Sixlets, the buttery comfort of a Werther’s Original, or the space-age fizz of Satellite Wafers, these treats bridge generations, bringing us all together in moments of pure, unadulterated joy.

As America’s favorite candy distributor, we’ve made it our mission to keep nostalgia deliciously within reach. With an unmatched selection of retro sweets and a team that lives for candy lore, we help retailers stock the flavors that spark smiles, while creating new memories along the way.

So why wait? Let us help you bring the past back to your shelves. Sign up for an account online or give us a call today. After all, the future of candy is rooted in the past and we’ve got the sweetest time machine around!

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