Once again it’s time for the game show craze that’s sweeping the nation: Name That Candy! Readers email about long-lost candy and we try to figure out what candy they are talking about. If you know what these candies are, leave a comment and let them know!
Here’s one from a reader named David:
There is a particular candy I had several time as a kid that no one else has ever heard of. I need to prove I am not insane, so please help me figure out the name of it. Google has not been kind so far.
It was bought Cleveland, Ohio in the late 1980s. Each item was sold individually. It was a soft candy that had a jelly-like consistency. It was soft enough to ooze into a puddle if you squeezed it out. The taste was exceedingly sweet, like a liquefied Pixie Stik, but without any sourness. The memorable part is that it came in a package that simulated vomiting. It was arranged in the manner of a Pez dispenser, with a toy child’s head at the top and a reservoir for the goo underneath, where the body would be. The reservoir was translucent and had an accordion-style ridging to it for easy squeezing. When squeezed, the goo would come out of the mouth of the dispenser head, thus imitating vomit. The entire package was about the length of a disposable lighter, maybe slightly smaller, and was about as wide as a quarter.
Sounds gross. Never heard of it. Anyone? UPDATE: A reader named Lael actually still has one of these and sent us an image (click fof full-size view)!
Next we have one from a reader named Kia:
I am looking for a mint that I bought 5-7 years ago at a Kmart in Concord, NC. It was a light as air, puffed mint, but not the powdery kind. It would melt in your mouth instantly. I was sold in a bag of about 100, not individually wrapped, and came in mint, strawberry, and lemon flavors. It was about the size of a large gumball and they don’t sell these anymore. Haven’t been able to find them in years. Please help!
Sounds tasty, but it’s ringing no bells for me.
Here’s one I actually knew from a reader named Jan:
1974 corner candy store in Mt Lebanon Pennsylvania sold kinda like a sweet tart [but only sweet] lollipop on a plastic hollow stick – any idea the name???
That’s an easy one – they’re called double lollies and are delicious!
So any help with the other one? Anyone?
I found a link to the puff candy Kia was asking about, they are wrapped now but the same candy. Here is the link:
November 9th, 2007 at 9:12 amhttp://www.hometownfavorites.com/products.asp?dept=1090&number=HFCA086
I hope this helps :-)
Pam
David…the only thing that I can even think of are Garbage Pail Kids, but I don’t know if they ever had anything like this! I tried to look as well, and didn’t find anything…I’ll keep looking to help you out!
November 10th, 2007 at 4:39 amThe Dollar Tree is currently selling the puffed candy of different flavors. If you want the plain peppermint kind, Walgreen’s sells them.
November 10th, 2007 at 12:44 pmthe ‘mints’ may be the ones i have found at hobby lobby in the wedding isle…mints for guests, very, very soft and yes, melt in the mouth instantly…
November 11th, 2007 at 12:55 amHey David, about the vomit head ooze candy…i own a dispenser so i can helpyou prove that you are not crazy they exist, i bought them when i was in my early 20s thinkin they were bizare, they were..the packaging around the dispenser was crappy and called the vomit family or something very similar to that, seems all the $$$ went to makimg the cool/creepy/weird ?plastic dispenser….i will take a pic in the next couple days and post it ..i guess..or tell me how to send u the pic..i own the mom, its her pearl necklace that gives her away guess
November 14th, 2007 at 4:33 amOkay, I am also looking for the puffed candy but I don’t believe it’s the one that Pamela posted a link for. My husband and I both remember this candy as being in only three flavors: cherry, wintergreen and butterscotch. It came in bags and was NOT individually wrapped nor did it come in packages of mixed flavors. Each piece of candy was about the size of a large marshmallow but ROUND and hard. As soon as you put it in your mouth, it would crunch and then melt and get kind of chewy. These candies were so addictive and delicious .. does anyone else remember these??
Thanks!
November 16th, 2007 at 9:45 pmBethany
BETHANY
IF YOU EVER FIND OUT WHAT THE NAME OF CANDYS ARE
WOULD YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME AT ICANNIE@YAHOO,COM
THX
December 11th, 2007 at 6:48 amI asked my mom about these candies or “puffs” this year. I loved the spearmint ones…a little smaller than a ping pong ball. They came in a can and we always got them at Christmas time. The spearmint puffs were light green with a dark green stripe. From what I’ve uncovered, they were made (unfortunately past tense) by Russell Stover & possibly called Air Mints. The have been discontinued…but if anyone finds something similar, please let us know!
January 4th, 2008 at 10:45 pmThe Red Bird mints are good but they are not the same ones I was referring to…It sounds like Beth has the right one but I couldn’t find any info on the Russell Stover site…they were great and they came in a can….mostly sold in drug stores….if they are available anywhere I would love to find out where…I would like to surprise my wife and sister in law since they mention them when reminiscing…it would be a great surprise..
Thanks,
January 28th, 2008 at 12:57 amMy coworkers thought I was crazy when I mentioned these mints today! The spearmint was the best. Please keep me posted if someone finds them!! Yum….
January 30th, 2008 at 8:00 pmI liked the spearmint the best as well. I ordered what I thought would be the peppermint ones from yummies.com in Kittery Maine but just got them today and they are not them. I would love to find out if anyone else is making them again.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:22 pmcvs.com has a soft lemon candy that looks like ones I remember – my fave was butterscotch.
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:00 pmI also remember the Air puff mints. They came in Mint strawberry and lemon. They were the size of a marshmallow and came in a bags or big tubs. They were NOT individally wrapped. When you bit into them kinda riminded me of syrofoam, but as it melted it was awesome. My mother said she though Brach’s made them, but i am not so sure. All the brands like Red Brand and King Leo are not the same candy. Those are more pillow shaped…The puff mints i remember were more like balls. Let me know if anyone finds them.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:06 amI am looking for a candy I had bought in Michigan in the late 90′s. It came in a test tube and was a powdered candy. It was usually layered (ex black and blue) and were sometimes sour or fruity. It is not viper vials but looked simular. Thanks
May 31st, 2008 at 3:31 pmHi all, I Googled my favorite flavor Spearmint, hoping to find a link but nothing yet. We bought them here in No. Louisiana at the old K & B drug stores. They always had them. They were sold in big bags and in medium size tins. I recall Peppermint, Spearmint or Wintergreen and maybe butterscotch or lemon. I have heard that they were made by the Elmer candy company in Louisiana but that company only makes seasonal holiday candies now. How could something so good not be produced? Two things I remember about them, was you had to keep the bag airtight or the balls would go stale, and secondly every time you burped you had the freshest breath around. Happy Huntin, Nolan
July 11th, 2008 at 9:27 pmI need to know that someone else remembers this candy…had to be the 80′s and I remember buying them in my uncles deli….they looked like t.v. dinners but the food in them were candies. Please someone remember!!!!! Even if I cannot find thm I would like to know I am not crazy afterall!!!
Thank you
August 5th, 2008 at 11:28 pmVanessa
I have been trying to find the puff candy, and I have had no luck. This is the closet that I have gotten. I remember buying the candy at Walgreen’s. Please let me know if anyone finds it. My favorite was the strawberry. Even though it stuck to your teeth.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:50 pmI’m so glad to hear other people searching for that puff candy that game in mint, stawberry and lemon!!! All my coworkers think I’m crazy and my mom can’t remember who made them. They usually came out around the holidays. They aren’t the soft mints, they are more airy and not chalky. They were so good if anyone ever does find them email me please it’s driving me nuts. candyland_81@yahoo.com
November 26th, 2008 at 9:47 pmI, too, have searched high and low to no avail to find those wonderful puffs of peppermint air that melted in your mouth. Oh what I wouldn’t give for just one!!! You’d think that SOMEONE would still make them. Happy Holidays to all!
December 14th, 2008 at 8:54 amI also have the barf lady mom. She doesn’t look too hot anymore. She stayed fresh for about 10 years, but now the candy is black and gross-looking. I remember seeing other members of the barf family, but only have the mom.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pmWhen I was a kid (in the late 50s/early 60s) I used to buy this candy that looked like a small lipstick tube. The “lipstick” inside was this pinky-red candy that had the neatest texture. It broke off with a soft snap. Anyone remember them? If I remember right, they were bought individually.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:36 amhi i know what this person is saying on these air puff candy, my mom would buy bags of wintergreen, butterscots, spearmint, these were sold here in missouri around christmas i believe, my sis& i are trying to find these too, they were so good, theyd melt in your mouth, they were hollow just melted as soon as you put them in your mouth, so good. hope someone can find them, if you do email here, or if i do ill email anyone. thanks
September 19th, 2011 at 9:24 pmI’ve been looking for the vomit head candy for a LONG time.
I just wanted to see the box art. but the problem is finding out the actual name of the product and who made it.
March 3rd, 2012 at 5:21 amThanks to a forum user at thatguywiththeglasses I finnaly found out the name of the Vomit candy: it’s “The Barfo Family” by Topps (not surprising)
Here is a link to a blog by the man who made the box art: http://drewfriedman.blogspot.com/2011/06/barfo-family-its-more-than-just-gag-2.html#
March 16th, 2012 at 12:41 am