Abba Zaba: History, Flavors & Packaging
Quick answer: Abba Zaba was first sold in 1922 by Colby and McDermott as a chewy taffy bar with a peanut butter center. Annabelle Candy Company has made it since 1978, and it is still sold, mainly west of the Rockies and online.
Abba Zaba candy bar is one of the most memorable candy bars on the market. Not only is the name zany and memorable, but the taste profile and design of the candy bar are also totally unique. This is a candy bar that is also sold with a really memorable and silly wrapper which adds to its mystique.
There are not many candy bars that are made like this one and if you have never tried something that is soft and chewy as well as peanut buttery, you will want to try this bar. Abba Zaba has been around for a long time and you will want to make sure that you try this bar out if you want a really unique taste experience.
| Abba Zaba | Facts |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1922 |
| Manufacturer | Annabelle Candy Company (since 1978) |
| Candy Type | Chewy taffy bar with peanut butter center |
| Original Flavors | Taffy with peanut butter filling |
| Still Available | Yes, primarily West of the Rockies and online |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Parent Company | Annabelle Candy Company |
| Kosher | Yes |
History
Abba Zaba bars have a unique history. They were first sold in 1922 by Colby and McDermott. This candy bar was later acquired by the company of Sam Altshuler, a Russian immigrant . He wanted to make a candy bar that was memorable and different and Abba Zaba was his muse.
This was a resurrection of the candy bar since it had been sold by the other company under a banner that included questionable racial imagery. Annabelle Candy Company does not speak on the former life of the candy bar anymore and they just refer back to the 1950s when the bar ‘s checkerboard wrapper was introduced.
Altshuler named his business the Annabelle Candy Company after his daughter’s name. They first sold a bar called Rocky Road in San Francisco as their first product. The item was so popular that the company launched to security and prominence. This candy bar is still sold on the West Coast and performs very well there.
Annabelle Candy Company did not pick up the Abba Zaba Bar until 1978. At this time, the candy bar was being made by Cardinet Candy Co, alongside the U-No bar. At this time, Annabelle Candy Company was selling Rocky Road, Big Hunk candy bars, and Look Bars. The Abba Zaba Bar was a natural fit alongside these products. The texture and flavors of these bars were all similar and Abba Zaba fit right in.
Today, Annabelle Candy Company is still a family-run business based in Hayward, California, now led by the third generation of the Altshuler family.
Abba Zaba bars are chewy taffy with a soft peanut butter center and they are totally unique to anything else that is on the market today. The candy has been sold with the taxi-checkered wrapper for many years and the zany writing, as well as the unique wrappers, are a big part of the charm of this candy bar. This is a classic candy bar that has been popular for so many years that many people cannot imagine anything about it changing.
This is a kosher candy bar which is a really nice benefit and the company added an apple-flavored taffy version to their Abba Zaba lineup in 2005. They have also recently made a new bar that contains chocolate in the middle instead of the traditional peanut butter filling.
This candy bar is sold mostly West of the Rockies where the market for it is the strongest. This means that anyone who lives on the other side of the country may never have even heard of this candy bar. This candy bar can be purchased online, however, and this is a great way for someone who wants to try this candy bar outside of its normal sales area to try it out. The online sales reality today has made it possible for some of these more traditional candies to get a new life and find a new market.
Abba Zaba Timeline
- 1922 — Abba Zaba bar first sold by Colby and McDermott
- 1950s — Checkerboard wrapper design introduced
- 1960s — Rock musician Don Van Vliet names Abba Zaba his favorite
- 1978 — Annabelle Candy Company acquires the Abba Zaba bar
- 2000s — Chocolate-filled variety introduced
Abba Zaba vs Laffy Taffy
| Feature | Abba Zaba | Laffy Taffy |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Chewy taffy exterior with soft peanut butter center | Soft and chewy taffy throughout |
| Introduced | 1922 | 1970s |
| Manufacturer | Annabelle Candy Company | Ferrara Candy Company |
| Flavors | Peanut butter, chocolate, and apple (2005) | Multiple fruit flavors |
| Price Range | Budget-friendly single bar | Budget-friendly single piece or multi-pack |
| Availability | Primarily West of the Rockies and online | Nationwide |
| Unique Feature | Iconic checkerboard wrapper and peanut butter filling | Jokes printed on every wrapper |
Abba Zaba in Popular Culture
This candy bar has actually gotten some attention in popular culture that many candy bars do not get. The bar was the state favorite of rock musician Don Van Vliet in the 1960s. He actually used the checkerboard pattern from the wrapper in some of his album artwork. There are some other songs that mentioned this candy bar like the song, “Chocolate Jesus’ ‘ by Tom Waits.
Abba Zaba bars were mentioned on Gilmore Girls, and the bar even showed up in Boardwalk Empire.
This candy bar has turned up on screen more often than most regional candy bars. This might be in part due to the bright and colorful wrapper and the really memorable name. Plus, not every candy bar wants to be used in this way and some companies will not allow mention of their products in this way.
This is a rare candy bar that has not been marketed heavily and yet has occupied a really popular position in many different ways. There are not many candies that have been featured so frequently on TV without having a huge popular following like M&Ms. This is one of the many reasons that this candy is totally unique to others and the fact that it is one of the less well-known candies out there, it has a huge popular following who would be horrified if it was taken off the market.
Packaging
This candy bar uses one of the most unique wrappers of any bar on the market today. The original wrappers with their problematic heritage were replaced in the 1950s with a checkerboard black and yellow “taxi” wrapper. The original block of text that says the brand name is still yellow and still uses the same logo lettering that was used in the original ads. This has been the livery of the candy for many years and its distinctive look makes it stand out.
This is one of the most unique candy bars on the market and it has an equally unique taste profile. There is nothing else on the market that is like this bar. Keeping the bright and colorful wrapper was a really good choice for such a unique and special product. This is a big part of why the candy bar is still so recognizable.
Problematic Beginnings
Abba Zaba when it was first sold in the 20s used the same central logo and text but the yellow center logo was framed by racist symbolism and representations. This candy has the name that it does in part due to this rough past but it does seem that the candy has survived connection with this racist imagery rather well.
While it can be argued that times have changed a lot since the 1920s and the original representation of the bar was not problematic in its day, this was a bold decision on the part of the current owner to stick with the old name. It does not take much digging to find images and references to the original marketing and this might have led to the downfall of the candy bar.
Thankfully, all of the candy companies that have been involved with the bar since this early stage of its production have managed to shake off the old and bring in the new. The taxi-style wrapper is totally different from the original representations for the bar and if you did not know that this part of the candy’s history existed prior to the 1950s, you would not be able to find a sign of it today.
Abba Zaba was likely popular in part due to this edgy representation when it was first sold, but it has moved past this troubled beginning to stand on its own two feet today as a popular candy bar that is made alongside many other popular chewy candy bars. Careful rebranding has been at the center of this success and Abba Zaba was salvaged from a potentially really fraught situation by a big change to its message.
Logo
Ingredients
- Corn Syrup
- Sugar
- Peanut Butter
- Dextrose
- Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Coconut, Palm Kernel
- Palm
- Soybean
- Cottonseed
- Soy Lecithin
- Salt
- Mono and Diglycerides.
Nutrition
| Serving Size: | 1 bar (12g) | % Daily Value* |
| Amount Per Serving | ||
| Calories from Fat | 9 | |
| Calories | 50 | |
| Total Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 20mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugars | 5g | |
| Protein | 0g | |
| Vitamin A | 0% | |
| Vitamin C | 0% | |
| Calcium | 0% | |
| Iron | 0% |
- Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Pictures
Commercials:
This candy bar has often relied on the chewy and long-lasting nature of its design for use in ads. Many of the ads offer this as a great way to enjoy a candy bar that does not get gobbled up in a moment. This is a unique way of marketing a candy bar but it has been successful for this brand overall for many years.
Annabelle candy company vintage ads:
an Abba Zaba ad from the 80s:
Abba Zaba in the movies:
Frequently Asked Questions about Abba Zaba
Who invented the Abba Zaba candy bar?
Abba Zaba was first sold in 1922 by Colby and McDermott. It was eventually acquired in 1978 by the Annabelle Candy Company, founded in 1950 by Sam Altshuler, a Russian immigrant . Altshuler's company had previously made its name selling Rocky Road and Big Hunk candy bars.
What does an Abba Zaba candy bar taste like?
Abba Zaba bars are chewy taffy on the outside with a soft peanut butter filling in the center. The combination of chewy taffy and creamy peanut butter makes it a totally unique product compared to most candy bars on the market. More recently, a chocolate-filled version has also been introduced as an alternative to the classic peanut butter center.
Where can I buy Abba Zaba candy bars?
Abba Zaba bars are sold primarily West of the Rockies, where the market for them is strongest, meaning many people on the East Coast may never have encountered them in stores. However, they can also be purchased online, which has opened up the candy to a much wider national audience and given the classic bar a new life in markets where it was previously unavailable.
What flavors does Abba Zaba come in?
The classic Abba Zaba bar features a chewy taffy exterior with a soft peanut butter center. The company has also introduced a chocolate-filled version . Annabelle Candy Company also introduced an apple-flavored taffy version in 2005.
Has Abba Zaba appeared in movies or TV shows?
Abba Zaba has an unusually rich pop culture history for a regional candy bar. It has appeared or been referenced in shows including Gilmore Girls and Boardwalk Empire. Rock musician Don Van Vliet was also famously a fan in the 1960s and reportedly incorporated the bar's checkerboard wrapper design into his album artwork.
When did Abba Zaba come out?
Abba Zaba came out in 1922, first sold by Colby and McDermott. Its checkerboard wrapper design was introduced in the 1950s.
Who makes Abba Zaba?
Abba Zaba is made by the Annabelle Candy Company, which acquired the bar in 1978. Annabelle also makes the Big Hunk bar, and Abba Zaba is certified kosher.
As a native Californiaian I grew up loving Abba Zabba bars and remember the “original logo” and also they used to be split into two strips by the clever way the wrapper folded. In my mid twenties I moved to NY and was so bummed when I couldnt find them anywhere.My sister in Law used to ship me a case once a year for quite some time.. and God help anyone who pilfered my stash without permission!! Eventually, they poped up occasionally in the novelty “old fashioned” candy stores.Now at 78 I decided to go online n see what I could fine. YAAAY here is lots of ABBA ZABBA info. I will be ordering some soon. Regards Margie
It’s the best candy bar ever made as a child from the 60s brings back great memories when my parents bought it for me still eating them today thanks.