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- Discontinued 1970s Candy That People Still Miss (cheapism.com)
Gone But Not Forgotten: ’70s Candies We Still Crave
The 1970s was a golden age of strange and wonderful sweets. Some were blatant knock-offs, others vanished before gaining a foothold, but all hold a special place in the hearts of those who grew up with them. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some discontinued delights that left us wanting more.
Summit: A Meltdown of Good Intentions
Mars introduced Summit in 1977 as a “super Twix,” featuring two chocolate-covered wafer bars with peanuts. Initially popular, its fatal flaw was its meltability.
Store shelves became a sticky mess, and freezing turned the bars into inedible bricks. Despite recipe tweaks, Summit was discontinued by the mid-1980s.
Cristy: The Mysterious Blonde
The Cristy bar, a nougat-and-nut confection coated in a creamy shell, was a regular treat for many in the early ’70s. Its distinctive packaging featured a smiling blonde girl, but details about its history are scarce. Despite its once-common presence, the Cristy bar faded into obscurity.
Marathon: An Eight-Inch Wonder
This ridiculously long, eight-inch braided caramel bar came with a ruler printed on the wrapper – just in case you didn’t believe it! Launched in 1973, the chewy Marathon bar enjoyed a decade of popularity before being discontinued in 1981. Fans seeking a similar experience might find solace in the UK’s Cadbury Curly Wurly, a six-inch twisted caramel-chocolate treat.
Space Dust: A Cosmic Controversy
Space Dust, essentially powdered Pop Rocks, offered an intense popping sensation. However, its name sparked parental concern during the “drug panic” era. A rebranding to “Cosmic Candy” failed to save it, and Space Dust vanished by the early ’80s.
The Reggie! Bar: A Home Run That Struck Out
Named after baseball star Reggie Jackson, this caramel, peanut, and chocolate patty was launched at the peak of his fame in 1978. Fans even tossed free Reggie!
bars onto the field during his Yankee Stadium debut. Despite the hype, the candy bar was discontinued by the mid-’80s, with a brief revival in the 1990s.
Choco’Lite: Airy Chocolate Dreams
Nestlé’s Choco’Lite, introduced in 1972, capitalized on the “light” food trend. Its unique texture, created by tiny air pockets and crisped chocolate bits, provided a lighter, crunchier experience. While the concept persists in candies like Aero, Choco’Lite itself was discontinued in 1982.
Snik Snak Stiks: A Not-So-Subtle Knock-off
Mars’ Snik Snak Stiks were six chocolate-covered wafer sticks with a tagline clearly mimicking Kit Kat. This blatant imitation failed to gain traction, disappearing within six years.
Super Skrunch: A Peanut Powerhouse
Riding the peanut butter craze of the early ’70s, Mars’ Super Skrunch was a chocolate bar packed with peanuts – more nuts than chocolate in every bite. Despite this, it never achieved widespread popularity and was discontinued by the early ’80s.
Dynamints: Explosively Forgettable
Nabisco’s Dynamints, breath mints in a flip-top box, promised “explosive freshness” but failed to compete with Tic Tacs. Discontinued in the early ’80s, they are mostly remembered through retro advertisements.
Jolly Rancher Stix: Flattened Flavor
Jolly Rancher Stix transformed the classic hard candies into flat, snappable planks. Discontinued by the 1980s, a smaller version was later reintroduced, but fans maintain it doesn’t compare to the original.
PowerHouse: A Forgotten Favorite
Peter Paul’s PowerHouse, a dense block of fudge, caramel, and peanuts coated in chocolate, was a popular ’70s candy. While some considered it superior to Snickers, it faded into obscurity by the mid-’80s.
Charleston Chew: A Freezer Staple (Honorable Mention)
While originating in the 1920s, the Charleston Chew enjoyed renewed popularity in the ’70s as the frozen treat of choice. The nougat-and-chocolate bar, especially enjoyable when smashed and eaten in shards, remains available today but is more of a nostalgic novelty than a common candy.
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