There are dancers in every family, and I’m sure that someone out there has a Granny who can still do a mean Charleston, but I think it’s fairly safe to say at this point that the Charleston Chew candy bar has long outlasted the dance craze which inspired its name.
While the Charleston was replaced by swing dancing, The Twist, The Hustle, that pointy thing that people do during disco songs, and other dances with candy inspired names (think Laffy Taffy and Tootsie Roll), the Charleston Chew has held its ground, refusing to be knocked off the dance floor by the upstarts that followed it into the candy world.
There are many things to love about the Charleston Chew. Aesthetically, it’s fantastic: the retro wrapper, a bright, unmistakable yellow with bold royal blue lettering, sticks out right away on the candy bar shelf. It also doesn’t hurt that the bar is longer than any other bar around, a unique proportion that instantly draws the eye’s attention. It even comes with directions: TRY FROZEN! the wrapper screams, and you should, for as any Charleston Chew fan knows, they’re much better that way. The thin layer of chocolate melts as it hits your mouth, and the vanilla nougat melds with the chocolate in a perfect mix of melt and chew. The candy dissolves and remains, at the same time, which is a lovely feeling and well worth experiencing in all three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
I’m not sure what it is, exactly, but something about Charleston Chews makes me very happy. They are survivors! The world has changed and candy has too, but it’s nice to know that however we’ll be dancing in the future, (and I’m sure, in my case, it will be badly, regardless of the craze), we’ll always be able to stop, take a second to slow down, and have a Charleston Chew.
Buy Charleston Chew online:
- at Old Time Candy
- at Candy Crate
- at Amazon.com
- in bulk at CandyDirect
More candy articles about: retro, nostalgia, chocolate, nougat
Mmmm, Charleston Chew! One of my favorites for a few reasons, taste being one (it’s unique, but not, yet special…you know what I mean!), and then there’s the time factor: it takes a very, very long time to eat and therefore is not only a good deal, money-wise, but a good deal in the pleasure department. Lingering with chewy, sweet, chocolate-covered taffy is right up MY alley, frozen or not! (And yes, frozen IS the best!)
August 16th, 2007 at 3:08 pmI used to be a Twix addict, but on Halloween, I discovered Charleston Chews. My mom remembered them, and convinced me to try one (they looked old to me). Now I’m hooked! They’re the best candy ever created (at least in my opinion)!
November 10th, 2007 at 6:37 pmnow maybe its just because i was really young.. buti seem to remember a commercial for Charleston Chew advetising ” Now in SIX delicious flavors” anyone help me out on this??
February 8th, 2008 at 9:14 am