Our childhood memories include a sweet treat that brings a smile to our faces. In childhood, did you ever imagine yourself walking around and lots of wax bottles filled with sweet and sugary syrup?
If not, then just get ready to embark on a nostalgic journey with me, as I am about to take you on a trip through the world of wax candy, which will be as sweet as the wax candy.
Wax candy is not just a candy, it is an experience, as you put a candy in your mouth and once you have sucked the syrup out, and just wonder where it even comes from?
I am going to dive into a sugary history of wax candies and answer the question of why we love wax candy so much.
So, let’s dive into the wax candies.
What is wax candies?
Wax candy is basically made with a food-grade wax, which is either paraffin or beeswax, that gets shaped into molds like small bottles, lips, and fangs.
And the inside contains fruit-flavored syrups, cherry, lemon, blueberry, or grape flavor syrups. You bite the top, then drink the juice inside, and then chew the wax like gum.
Wax is not actually meant to be eaten, but still, it is safe to chew, as it does not melt in the mouth like chocolate or hard candy. Instead, it is for a springy and fun time until you spit out your mouth.
Where does wax candy come from?
Wax candy came alive in the early 20th century. At that time, the candy makers were trying some creative, affordable ways to offer a delightful treat to kids.
Wax candy was the perfect interactive toy for kids at that time, and also perfectly fit the bill.
Why did they use wax?
- Paraffin wax is an affordable material and also it is also safe for food use.
- It is easy to shape this wax into bottles, lips, teeth, or just any object.
- Kids can chew the wax long time even after the liquid is fully sucked.
The rise:
The most iconic wax candy bottle was Nik-L-Nip, was introduced in 1920. The name originates from Nik-L, which is nickel, meaning the cost of the pack, and Nip means the action of biting off the top.
These bottles look like mini soda pops, which makes them more attractive at that time.
Wax candies and their iconic shapes
Wax bottles were the most loved candies that time, but still, candy makers have a wide range of fun shapes waxed into different forms, like:
1, Wax candy bottle shape
A wax candy bottle is a small, colorful bottle made of wax filled with fruity liquid. This candy includes flavours like orange, cherry, lemon lime, grape, and cola.
2. Wax lip shape candy
This candy is made with oversized red lips made from chewable wax. This was the Halloween classic in the ’50s and ’60s.
3. Wax Fangs and Mustaches
This shape of candy is perfect for spooky season, which is half candy and half costume prop. Kids would walk around pretending to be Dracula or a mustachioed villain.
4. Wax sticks and tubes
Wax sticks and tubes are long, straw-shaped shapes filled with liquid syrup. These sticks are easier to sip from than bottles.
5. Occasional shapes
The wax candies also come in seasonal shapes like hearts for Valentine’s Day, bunny shapes around easter. Teeth or Pumpkins for Halloween.
Every wax candy has to same rule that wax outside, sweet inside, and lots of fun in between.
Why is the Wax candy is worldwide obsession?
To be honest, the wax candy was not about the flavors. The syrup inside was sweet but simple, and the wax itself don’t taste like much sweet. But still, why did kids love it so much? The reasons:
Its play factor: Wax candy is also mostly liked as a toy. You can wear lips, chew wax like gum, or pretend to use bottles like soda bottles.
It’s a ritual: The wax candy is not like other candies; you have to bite, drink the flavoured juice, chew, and repeat. This ritual made the candy special.
Cheap and accessible: Wax candy was most affordable and available anywhere, and pocket change was fun.
Were wax candies safe?: This is one of the most asked questions about candy lovers and parents, but it is safe as it contains:
- It was made from food-grade paraffin, which is not toxic and safe to chew.
- The liquid inside it is mostly made of sugar water with different flavors and food coloring.
- The wax is not digestible, so swallowing it can cause stomach upset. It was to chew and spit it out like gum.
Do they still make wax candy?
Yes, they still make wax candy. You can still find them in the following locations:
- You can find wax candies online on Amazon, retro candy retailers, as well as novelty sweet shops.
- It is available in the specialty candy stores that focus on retro and nostalgic sweets shops, which almost have include the lips and wax candy bottles.
- Some stores include the seasonal collections like wax lips and fangs around Halloween.
The Nostalgia: Why kids as well as adults still love them
For so many adults, the wax candy is not only a candy anymore, but it is a memory that makes them nostalgic.
- These candies recreate the memories of childhood, remembering the corner store with the pocket money.
- Remembering the treding bottles showing to the friends on the playground.
- Laughting at each other, wearing oversized wax candy lips.
- Remembering that freedom when candies were not calories, it was just about fun.
- Wax candy acts like a time machine and gets people back to childhood memories in a more playful era.
Conclusion
So, do you understand what wax candy is? The wax candy captured the confection because of its flavor as well as the experience it offers.
Right from wax candy bottles filled with syrup to playful wax lips at Halloween, it blurred the line between candy and toy.
These candies taught us that sometimes the joy of sweets is not just about sugar but is about fun and shared memories. After all, some candies are not just snacks; it is a time machine.
