These fruity little candies burst onto the scene in the 1950’s. They still bear the original wrapper which is both whimsical and nostalgic. They are retro, without even knowing it. The Charms Company was bought by Tootsie Roll Industries in 1983, but they still make the Charms Candy Roll the same way they did so many years ago and I for one, am glad of that.  

I remember buying these when I was a kid. They were like a more exotic version of LifeSavers (they look British) and were appealing because each candy was not only square, but individually wrapped…and when you are a kid, unwrapping things is half the fun. There are seven flavors in a pack: cherry, strawberry, lemon, lime, orange, raspberry and grape and you get a mix of twelve candy squares total. Each one is a little jewel of fruit flavor that you can joyously suck on for as long as it holds out – they are crunchy when and if you decide to chew them and the flavor is not obnoxiously sweet – some even have tartness to them. Plus, you can share them with your friends, which always made them a hit in the school yard.

 They fit neatly in your pocket and were as easy to conceal then as they are now. I used to slip them in the front pocket of my shorts and pass out the coveted candy squares to my fellow playmates. We’d slide onto the swings and suck on our little hard candies while complaining about the lessons of the day. And today is no different. I sit at my desk, arranging and re-arranging all of the flavors from most to least liked, contemplating life’s great mysteries as I suck…should I get ahead on my work, or continue to dawdle? Why is the sky blue? Is global warming really happening? Did Britney Spears have plastic surgery? While some of life’s great mysteries may never be answered, this much is true – Charms Candy Roll will forever be a sweet treat that will have a special, fruity place in my grown-up heart.