The history of traditional sweets and chocolates in the 1960s in UK and USA including a list of 14 iconic chocolates and sweets first introduced during the 1960s, such as Twix, Topic, Aztec, Cadbury Cream Egg, Starburst or Chocolate Mini Eggs.
Living in the UK during the 1960s was marked by significant social, cultural, and political changes, with the era often characterized as a time of optimism, innovation, and transformation.
The 1960s saw significant political developments in the UK, including the rise of the Labour Party under Harold Wilson, who became Prime Minister in 1964. The era was marked by debates over social issues such as civil rights, the Vietnam War, and women’s liberation.
The 1960s was a golden age for British popular culture with iconic bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. The era saw the explosion of the “Swinging Sixties” scene in London, with fashion, music, and art flourishing.
Television became increasingly popular in the 1960s, with programs like “Doctor Who,” “The Avengers,” and “Coronation Street” capturing the imagination of audiences. The era also saw the launch of iconic magazines such as “The Beatles Monthly” and “Twiggy Magazine,” reflecting the influence of pop culture on the media.
TRADITIONAL SWEETS & CHOCOLATE HISTORY
- Victorian Traditional Sweets History >>
- History of Traditional Sweets in 1920s >>
- History of Chocolates & Sweets in 1930s >>
1. Twix (1967 – UK)
Are you be-twixted? It’s not actually, (to my knowledge) a tag line for advertising Twix chocolate bar, but perhaps it should be! With a biscuit base coated with caramel and typically milk chocolate, Twix first appeared in the UK in 1967 and it’s one of my favourite chocolate bars. In many European countries it went under the name Raider for many years. It was launched in the USA in the late 1970’s.
Twix is now sold in over 70 countries worldwide and is one of the most popular chocolate bars in the world.
The name “Twix” comes from the combination of “twin” and “sticks,” reflecting the bar’s twin-fingered shape.
In a playful marketing campaign, Mars launched an advertising campaign that humorously pitted “Left Twix” against “Right Twix,” suggesting subtle differences between the two sides of the bar.
Twix was one of the first chocolate bars to be sold in a multi-pack format, featuring two individually wrapped bars in a single package.
Over the years, Mars has introduced various variants of Twix bars, including Twix Xtra (large size Twix bar), Twix White (with white chocolate), Twix Dark (with dark chocolate), Twix Peanut Butter, Twix Cookies & Cream, Twix Salted Caramel and limited edition flavors like Twix Java.
2. Topic bar (1962 – UK)
‘A hazelnut in every bite.’ Did you find one in your bar of Topic? I can remember a tv advert with an ant like creature in showbiz dress dancing with top hat and cane. I can’t remember if there really was a hazelnut in every bit of the nougat and caramel bar or if it was a topic of conversation in our family. It was a good chunky chocolate bar that was very filling and we’ve always used it as part of our fun chocolate trivia quiz when I was running my chocolate making parties.
The Topic bar was first introduced in the UK in 1962 by Mars Chocolate Company, but has been sadly discontinued in 2022.
MORE CHOCOLATE HISTORY
- History of Traditional Sweets in 1940s >>
- Wartime Sweets & Chocolates History >>
- History of Sweets & Chocolates in the 1950s >>
3. Aztec Snack Bar (1976 – UK)
What else did my decimal currency childhood pocket money go on? While we’re still in the Americas, is anyone up for an Aztec? This Cadbury’s bar was a mix of chocolate, nougat and caramel and although it was first introduced in 1967 it become more popular in 1970s. It didn’t survive intact once I’d finished with a bar – but the public’s taste must have been altogether more discerning because as a brand Atzec didn’t make it to the end of the decade.
4. Cadbury Creme Eggs (1963 – UK)
Cadbury Creme Eggs were first introduced by Cadbury in the UK in 1963. They were originally launched as a seasonal treat for Easter but because they become so popular, you can buy them most of the year. They are often sold individually or in multi-packs and people often use them to decorate Easter baskets or use the for egg hunts for children.
Cadbury Creme Eggs is basically milk chocolate egg shell filled with a sweet and creamy fondant filling that resembles the egg white and yolk of a real egg. The fondant filling is made from sugar, glucose syrup, invert sugar syrup, dried egg white, flavorings, and colorings, it’s super sweet and easily my least favourite chocolate sweets.
A standard Cadbury Creme Egg contains approximately 150 calories, making it a relatively indulgent treat.
Cadbury Creme Eggs are heavily marketed and advertised around Easter time, with television commercials, print ads, and social media campaigns. One time this included the “How Do You Eat Yours?” campaign, encouraging consumers to share creative ways of enjoying their Creme Eggs.
MORE CHOCOLATE HISTORY
- Traditional Sweets in 1970s >>
- History of chocolates in 1980s >
- The story behind traditional Spanish churros >>
5. Opal Fruits (Starburtst) (1960 – UK, 1967 – USA)
Opal Fruits were invented by the Mars company in the United Kingdom in 1960. They were initially introduced as a chewy and fruity alternative to hard candies and quickly gained popularity. The main flavours are strawberry, lemon, orange, and lime.
In 1967, Opal Fruits were rebranded as Starburst in the United States because they wanted to make the name more exciting and associate it with the space exploration at the time. The name change helped to create a more unified global brand.
Interestingly, despite the name change in the USA, Opal Fruits kept their original name in the UK until 1998 when they were officially rebranded as Starburst.
6. Cadbury Eclairs (1965 – UK)
Cadbury Eclairs were first introduced by Cadbury in the United Kingdom in 1965. They were originally launched as a luxurious and indulgent caramel-filled sweets, individually wrapped and sold separatelly. Each Cadbury Eclair contains approximately 40 calories, making it a relatively low-calorie treat if you can resist eating just a one or two.
In addition to the classic Cadbury Eclairs, Cadbury has introduced various spin-off products over the years, including Eclairs Creamy Toffee, Eclairs Velvets (with a soft toffee filling), and Eclairs Fudge (with a fudge filling).
MORE CHOCOLATE HISTORY
- Traditional Boiled Sweets History >>
- The history of a traditional toffee sweets >>
- The story of traditional candy cane >>
7. Cadbury Mini Eggs (1967 – UK)
Cadbury Mini Eggs were first introduced by Cadbury in the United Kingdom in 1967. They were originally launched as a seasonal treat for Easter, but due to their popularity, they have become available year-round in many countries.
Cadbury Mini Eggs are made of firm milk chocolate center surrounded by a crisp sugar shell.
Cadbury Mini Eggs are typically sold in small bags or tubes, making them convenient for snacking and sharing. They are great for decorating cakes, using for Easter egg hunts and making seasonal Easter decorations.
8. Caramilk (1968 – Canada, USA)
Caramilk is a popular chocolate bar produced by Cadbury, but it’s primarily known and sold in Canada, not the USA. However, it’s worth noting that Cadbury also has a presence in the USA, where it sells various chocolate products under the Cadbury brand.
Caramilk chocolate bars are famous for their creamy milk chocolate exterior and smooth caramel filling. The bar’s name is a combination of “caramel” and “milk,” reflecting its key ingredients.
One of the unique aspects of Caramilk is its advertising campaign, which famously posed the question, “How do they get the caramel inside the Caramilk bar?” This mystery has intrigued consumers for decades, although the exact method of filling the chocolate with caramel remains a closely guarded secret by Cadbury.
Caramilk bars are often enjoyed as a sweet treat or snack, and they have become a beloved Canadian confectionery staple since their introduction in the 1960s. While Caramilk is not as widely available in the USA as it is in Canada, Cadbury offers a range of other chocolate products in the American market, catering to chocolate lovers’ tastes across North America.
9. 100 Grand (1966 – USA)
The 100 Grand chocolate bar was first introduced in 1966 by Nestle, which is now owned by the Ferrero Group. The bar was originally called the $100,000 Candy Bar and was marketed as a premium candy bar that was worth a fortune and later, when the name changed to 100 Grand Bar, as a candy bar that was “rich, chewy, and crunchy.” The original bar had a chocolate-covered nougat center that was mixed with crisped rice and you can still buy it in the shops today (including specialist confectionery shops in the UK).
10. Now & Later (1962- USA)
Now and Later is a brand of taffy-like candy that was first introduced in 1962 by the Phoenix Candy Company. The candy is known for its individually wrapped square pieces that start out hard but soften as you chew them, allowing you to enjoy the flavor over time.
11. Razzles (1966 – USA)
Razzles are a candy that starts as a hard tablet but transforms into chewing gum as you chew it. They were first introduced in 1966 by the Concord Confections company. Razzles come in various fruit flavors and are known for their unique texture and flavor-changing experience.
12. Astro Pop (1963 – USA)
Astro Pop is a rocket-shaped lollipop that was invented in 1963 by two former rocket scientists, Nell and Danny Dee. The candy features three layers of different flavors stacked on top of each other to resemble a rocket ship. It has a distinctive cone shape and is available in a variety of flavors.
13. Lemon-Head (1962 – USA)
Lemon Head is a brand of lemon-flavored candy introduced by the Ferrara Candy Company in 1962. The candy is known for its bright yellow color, tart lemon flavor, and hard candy shell. Lemon Heads are often enjoyed as a nostalgic treat and are available in various sizes and packaging.
14. Sweetarts (1963 – USA)
Sweetarts are a type of sweet and tangy candy made by the Willy Wonka Candy Company, now owned by Nestlé. They were introduced in 1963 and are known for their distinctive shape and tart flavor. Sweetarts come in various forms, including small tablets, ropes, and chewy candies, and are available in a variety of flavors.
This blog post was originally written on 22 February 2024 and last updated on 22 February 2024
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