The Most Popular Candies of Summer

While many of us increase our candy consumption at Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day, summer is another time of year when we seem to enjoy a sweet treat. It probably goes back to when we were kids and had the time and freedom to make regular visits to the neighborhood candy or convenience store. There are a number of popular candy products that are the perfect complement to those hot summer days and nights.

Salt Water Taffy

It’s hard to think of a candy that is as synonymous with summer as sweet, chewy salt water taffy. This perennially popular candy has been a big hit with beachgoers ever since it made its first appearance in Atlantic City in the late 19th century. Who hasn’t brought a box or two home with them from the shore at some point?

Gummy Bears

Like salt water taffy, gummy bears are sweet and chewy, although they offer more of a fruity flavor. Gummy bears have become such a popular candy over the years that they are now available in a variety of shapes and forms – examples include gummy worms, rings, snakes, hamburgers, sharks and octopuses, to name a few.

Tootsie Rolls

Perhaps the reason that Tootsie Rolls are such a great summer candy is that they are so versatile. You can put the bite-size version on snow cones or ice cream. In addition to traditional chocolate, you can now buy Tootsie Rolls in a wide range of flavors such as lemon, cherry, vanilla, orange and lime.

Licorice Ropes

Licorice ropes have been a popular summer candy since the days of the penny candy store. You could buy long strands of sweet, chewy rope in either red or black and take them with you to the swimming pool or park, or as you pedaled through the neighborhood on your bike.

Lemonheads

Lemonheads are a great summer candy if you prefer your treats a little more on the sour side. Lemonheads consist of a hard candy core, soft sour shell and a sweet candy coating. The popularity of Lemonheads has spawned a variety of spinoffs such as Lemonhead Gummies, Appleheads, Cherryheads and Grapeheads.

Jolly Ranchers

Jolly Rancher is a bite-size hard candy featuring an interesting combination of sweet, sour, juicy and tangy. There have been a number of Jolly Rancher flavors over the years, and the current lineup includes watermelon, blue raspberry, grape, cherry and sour apple.

Lollipops

Although the first references to the lollipop term only date back to the 1920s, lollipops have been a summertime tradition as far back as the mid-19th century and perhaps even longer. This ever-popular hard candy on a stick has undergone a number of transformations over the years. You can even purchase them with filled centers consisting of bubblegum or soft candy.

Don’t forget to stock up on your favorite summer candy when the warm weather finally arrives. If you are a candy manufacturer or distributor, be sure to check out the wide selection of popular candy products available from Warrell Corp.