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The oldest candy in America

By Original Candy House editors · Updated · How we check our facts

The oldest candy still sold in the US is older than the Civil War. Here are the 15 oldest candies on our list that you can still buy, oldest first.

Candy First made Made by now
Necco Wafers 1847 Spangler Candy Company, Bryan, Ohio
Circus Peanuts 1800s several makers, including Spangler Candy Company and Brach's
Black Jack gum 1884 Gerrit J. Verburg Co.
Candy corn 1888 Brach's (Ferrara), which makes most of it, and Jelly Belly
Beemans gum 1890 Gerrit J. Verburg Co. (made in Morocco)
Candy cigarettes late 1800s several makers; the largest is World Confections, Inc. of New Jersey
Good & Plenty 1893 The Hershey Company, under license
Clark's Teaberry gum 1900 Iconic Candy, LLC of New Jersey
Sweethearts 1901 Spangler Candy Company
Nik-L-Nip wax bottles early 1900s Tootsie Roll Industries
Tootsie Roll 1907 Tootsie Roll Industries, Chicago
Bonomo Turkish Taffy 1912 Bonomo's Turkish Taffy
Goo Goo Cluster 1912 Standard Candy Company
Mary Jane 1914 Atkinson Candy Company
Clark Bar 1917 Boyer Candy Company, Altoona, Pennsylvania

The oldest of all

Thin, chalky sugar disks sold in rolls, in flavors like lemon, orange, clove, cinnamon, wintergreen, licorice and chocolate. First called "hub wafers" in 1847. Union soldiers carried them in the Civil War. Sold as "Necco Wafers" since 1912.

The oldest brand never to stop

Good & Plenty (1893) is called the oldest continuously made American candy brand, because Necco Wafers took a break from 2018 to 2020.

Frequently asked questions

What is the oldest candy in America?

Necco Wafers, first made in 1847. Good & Plenty (1893) is the oldest brand made without a break.

What is the oldest candy bar?

Of the bars we cover, the Goo Goo Cluster (1912) and the Clark Bar (1917) are the oldest; the Goo Goo Cluster is often called the first combination candy bar.

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