The Oldest Candy in America

There are hundreds of candies in American stores sitting there as if they have always existed. It’s hard to imagine the US candy industry without Hershey’s bars, Tootsie Rolls, candy corn, Good & Plenty, and many more. These candy legends have been around for generations. Still, none of them can claim to be the first American candy still sold today.

The history of American candy making goes back to the colonial period. Specifically, in the beginning of the 19th century, sweets were only prepared for rich families because sugar was considered a luxury. 

In this article, we’ll reveal which candy is considered the oldest in America, explain how it was invented, and find out why Good & Plenty may also have a claim to the title.

What Is the Oldest Candy in America?

Now it’s time to reveal the answer: Necco Wafers are considered the oldest mass-produced. 

American candy that is still sold today. These candies look like pastel discs, wrapped in colorful paper rolls. Their shape almost resembles game tokens used in Sweepstake games, but each color actually represents a different flavor.

Necco Wafers first appeared on the market in 1847, when pharmacist Oliver Chase invented a machine that could cut sugar lozenges into small, uniform discs. Because of this, the first and original version of this candy was known as Chase Lozenges. And that was a revolutionary moment because before that, sweets were made by hand and available only to a few families, as they required plenty of time and resources. Thanks to the machine that Chase created, large-scale production of lozenges started. As a result, it was possible to sell candy for the first time at an affordable price in regular stores. 

Soon Oliver established a company with his brother, which was called Chase and Company. In 1901, their business merged with two other candy manufacturers to form the New England Confectionery Company. That’s how we got the famous name NECCO, which is actually an acronym for the candy company. 

Necco Wafers Almost Disappeared in 2018

Necco Wafers became so popular so quickly that it was almost unimaginable that the company would discontinue this candy ever. However, the New England Confectionery Company experienced serious financial problems and went bankrupt in 2018. Naturally, the factory had to close, and unfortunately for the candy lovers, production of the wafers suddenly stopped.

Once this was announced, fans hysterically started buying as many rolls as they could find immediately. After all, no one was sure whether the candy would ever return. Only this fact would be enough for the Necco Wafer brand to return to the markets at some point. Luckily, Spangler Candy Company purchased the brand with its production equipment.

After spending around two years before the relaunch, Spangler returned Necco Wafers to stores in 2020. The company kept the familiar eight flavors and unchanged recipe, which is rare in modern candy-making, where almost everybody tries to adjust ingredients, introduce new variations, or redesign classic products.

Is Good & Plenty Actually America’s Oldest Candy?

Even though Necco Wafers is generally considered the oldest candy in America, sometimes you can find information on the internet that Good & Plenty has that title. Considering that this candy was introduced in 1893, almost half a century after the first Necco Wafers, this is pretty much surprising. Still, there is a simple explanation.

The thing is that Good & Plenty is the oldest continuously produced branded candy in the United States. Just because of the fact that Necco Wafers were discontinued, some people think that these pink and white candy-coated licorice pieces should have this title. 

Its pink and white candy-coated licorice pieces have been sold under the same recognizable name since their introduction by the Quaker City Confectionery Company.

Therefore, Necco Wafers are older as a candy, while Good & Plenty has the stronger claim when it comes to uninterrupted candy production. Either way, both candy brands are beloved by millions of people in America and worldwide. 

Bottom Line

Ask people to name the oldest candy in America, and chances are that many of them will think of popular chocolate bars or lollipops. But now you already know that one particular candy that started appearing almost two centuries ago still has the title of the oldest candy in America: Necco Wafers. So, next time you notice this candy on the shelves, even if you don’t buy it, try to appreciate its long history and everything it has survived for centuries to keep your sweet cravings satisfied and American candy-making traditions alive.