NECCO WAFERS ARE OLD-SCHOOL COOL
It’s hard to believe these delicious pastel wafers will soon be celebrating their 167th birthday. (They look pretty good for their age, don’t they?) Their longevity places them among the pantheon of great American candies.
A Burst of Energy Right Out of the Gate
One of the most interesting things about Necco Wafers is that these candies sided with the Union during the Civil War. They were invented by Oliver Chase who used them as a way to give troops an energy boost, making them the oldest energy candy that we know of. It would be another 54 years until New England Candy Company was formed, and it took 11 more years until Necco Wafers became common currency.
Delicious…and Durable!
The beauty of Necco Wafers is that they are virtually indestructible. Legend has it that Admiral Byrd took 2 tons of this nostalgic candy with him when he made his expedition to the Antarctic in the 1930s.
They might not be a great cure for scurvy or other exotic illnesses, but it’s a fair bet that his crew wasn’t wanting for sweets.
A Taste of Home
In the 1940s, Necco Wafers saw a huge rise in popularity as the government ordered them to be included in ration kits for soldiers fighting in the second world war. They were especially important to those fighting in tropical environments where heat was an issue. Not exactly a substitute for mom’s home cooking, but you’ve got to start somewhere.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Things in Necco-Wafer Land remained basically the same until 2009 when the formula was changed to an All Natural version. The idea didn’t come from the same folks who changed the long-beloved original CocaCola formula, but the change made candy lovers livid. The company changed back to the old-school formula two years later.
8 Comments
why fix a clock that works?.
The original will wins every time. Nostagalia is edible!
Necco Wafers are the perfect candy. They need no improvement. Keep up the excellent work.
Necco wafers are my all time favorite!
Been that way since I tasted them in childhood in the good ole days!
They are the best!!!
My family knows me as the Necco kid!
There isn’t anything better than Necco Wafers to make shake shingles on our gingerbread houses!
Start at the bottom corner edge of roof working across, move up to next row, and work your way up to roof ridge line. Do same on other side of roof. Be sure to stagger the wafer joints so it looks like real shingles, just as you would when laying brick..
In WW2, we used to say, “We can’t go, without NECCO!”. So our captain would throw us each a roll and we would eat a few and get back to fighting! Not sure if NECCO wafers helped us win the war, but they did win our hearts!
When will the necco wafers become available?
We have them in right now! But hurry since supplies are VERY limited.
Along with Jujubes, these things were the worst candy in my Halloween bag back in the 60s. And just about every kid in my class agreed.