7 Old-School Candies From The '60s Worth Hunting Down

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Candies that came out of the 1960s were big and bold in taste. Bright, colorful shells revealed ultra vibrant flavor, whether that was sweet, fruity, or especially sour (as lots of tang and tart were introduced during the decade). Several of these pucker-inducing sweets made our list of seven candies created in the '60s that are still available today, and definitely worth seeking out. You may or may not find them at the supermarket. But if not, check out old-timey candy stores, mom-and-pop shops, or online candy purveyors.

You'll only find one chocolate bar on our list, but it's gooey, crunchy, and delicious. We also included a dreamy coffee-flavored hard caramel that fools us into thinking we're tasting the most luxurious cup of Joe. All of our other choices are fruity, tangy, or both. If you remember these from days past, grab a package and head down memory lane. If you're seeing these for the first time, keep them in mind the next time you're perusing a candy aisle. We think you'll see why they've stood the test of time.

One of the most intriguing movements of the 1960s was the Space Race, the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union on their advancements in space exploration. Things like Tang and Space Food Sticks became household stars, as did Astro Pops, which were introduced in 1963. These rainbow-hued lollipops had a unique cone shape (reminiscent of a rocket ship) and included three stacked flavors: cherry, passionfruit, and pineapple. Different flavors were eventually introduced, but you can still find them in their original fruity trio.

Buy a four-pack of Astro Pops for $16.32 at Walmart.

Lemonheads broke into the candy world in 1962. Yellow, round, and shiny, they resemble (and taste like) the very fruit that they're named after. The hard candy shell is intensely tart, but when you get past it, you're treated to a sweeter inside. The candy is wonderfully zesty, like a great glass of sweet and simple lemonade. Over time, the company introduced other similar treats that tasted of cherry, grape, and apple, but Lemonheads are the flavor we keep an eye out for.

Buy a box of Lemonheads for $1.36 at Walmart.

Razzles made waves in the candy community when they came out in 1966. It was the first of its kind, featuring a sweet that started off as a candy and then became a gum. The hard candy shell melted away as you sucked on it, revealing a knob of gum in the middle. The concept was so unique that creator Robert C. Bucher won a patent for the idea and creation. Razzles were originally released in one flavor — raspberry — but eventually included lemon, grape, orange, and blueberry flavors.

Buy a six-pack of Razzles for $16.49 at Walmart.

In 1964, confectioner Nestle released $100,000 Bars, which would eventually be renamed to the 100 Grand Bar. The moniker was most likely inspired by the decade's new fascination with game shows that promised winners huge amounts of money. The treat contains a chewy caramel filling that is surrounded by a thick layer of milk chocolate mixed with crispy rice.

Buy a package of 100 Grand Bars for $6.99 at Kroger.

Spree is a good example of a simple, fruity candy without a lot of bells and whistles. The small, tablet-shaped sweets are made of flavored-pressed dextrose, which gives candy a chalky texture (similar to Smarties and SweeTARTS). Spree took one more step and coated each tablet with a hard, fruit-flavored candy shell. They come in cherry, orange, lemon, green apple, and grape flavors — and are perfect for mindless munching.

Buy a roll of Spree candies for $1.47 at Walmart.

ZotZ isn't a mere candy, but an experience. Originally created in Italy, the fruity sweets came to the United States in 1968. Available in a variety of fruit flavors, ZotZ consisted of a candy shell; but once you reached the center, you were treated to a fizzy, sour flavor burst. You could either suck on the shell and eventually get to the exciting center, or bite into it for swift gratification.

Buy a 100-count bag of ZotZ candies for $9.68 on Amazon.

If you love coffee, you'll adore Coffee Nips. These hard caramels taste unmistakably like a cup of rich, sweetened java. They were introduced in the early 1960s, partially as a candy to substitute the coffee break at the office, if you weren't able to take a real one. In reality, there wasn't enough coffee in the candy to perk anyone up, but they tasted fantastic. Today, candy giant Brach's owns Coffee Nips and has marketed them as "Coffee Hard Caramels."

Buy a bag of Brach's Coffee-Flavored Hard Caramels for $5.90 on Amazon.