Candy History, Candy News, Retro Candy

Remember Licorice Snaps?

January 16, 2014 by

Snap From The Past

retro-candy-covered-licorice-snapsBlack licorice. Some people love it. Some people hate it. But no matter where you stand on the licorice spectrum, wouldn’t licorice be better if it was coated in something sweet?  Like candy? We think so, and apparently we’re not alone. You see, the good people at the American Licorice Company are one step ahead of you, and have been for quite a few decades.

An Instant Classic

The American Licorice Company started in 1914 in Chicago, Illinois. Back then, their very first candy was licorice twists. Next came licorice cigarettes and cigars, during the Great Depression. As it turns out, when times were tough, people seemed to need a candy fix even more than when the living was easy. It wasn’t until the 1930s that The Original Snaps Classic Chewy Candy appeared on the main stage.

Snaps, with their licorice center and pastel candy coating, became an instant classic. Originally, they were sold in distinctive red boxes for only 2 cents each. That’s a bargain you won’t see anymore! Even the packaging boasted of the Snaps success, deeming them the “Classic Chewy Candy.” There’s no doubt that these were a fantastic hit.

Original Licorice Snaps PictureLong Live the Snappy Memories

Over the years, Snaps have had a somewhat turbulent history culminating in their recently being discontinued. But they’ve had a long run, developing a cult-like following in the process.

Until very recently, Snaps enjoyed a beloved treat by baby boomers and many more. For those who enjoy the bite of black licorice mixed with a sweet sheen of candy, this has been the treat of choice since its debut in the 30s. It will go down as one of the most iconic late candies of our era. But when you need a candy-coated-licorice fix, former Snaps lovers will have to resort to Licorice Pastilles and Good ‘N Plenty like everyone else.

Sources: Text and Images

  • http://www.americanlicorice.com/about/companyhistory/
  • https://www.candyfavorites.com/blog/licorice-snaps-the-new-formula/
  • https://www.candyfavorites.com/blog/claps-for-licorice-snaps/

You Might Also Like

33 Comments

  • Reply Mike Staeven April 20, 2016 at 1:01 pm

    Why have the Original Licorice Snaps been discontinued? They have always been my favorite and I have searched the internet to to avail for them.

  • Reply Leeann Lara May 17, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    American Licorice Company forced them out of favor and out of stock, in my opinion. They switched from the tasty licorice granules to nasty licorice extract. They received several complaints from what I saw, but for whatever reason refused to go back to their original recipe.
    Growing up, I loved Snaps, the only non-extract licorice around. This is the closest I’ve found. And unlike ALC, this company has excellent customer service!

    https://nuts.com/chocolatessweets/licorice/candy-coated/snaps.html

  • Reply Jeanne Thalman January 25, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    They are no where to be found in Utah. And I am in Florida..No where here…Am traveling up to Wisconsin..Maybe they will have some…Or can I get them on line..Have been eating them since I was a kid 30 plus years..Let me know when available again

    • Reply Jonah Half January 26, 2017 at 1:51 pm

      Hard to say but the good news is that they can be ordered on CandyFavorites.com and shipped directly to your door!

  • Reply James Russo June 20, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    I knew 2 years ago when formula was changed for some reason or other, that they would soon be forced to discontinue.
    You guys screwed up a great candy treat by your mismanagement or greed!

  • Reply Carol vanderwall August 23, 2017 at 7:43 am

    I was told at a candy store in Chicago they had lead in them. Could that be true? I too searched everywhere. The new fake ones are awful.

    • Reply Jonah Half August 25, 2017 at 2:07 pm

      Sadly, they would be very old as Snaps haven’t been made for several years….

  • Reply Mary Zuke September 22, 2017 at 11:23 am

    WE MISS THE ORIGINAL SNAPS!!!!

  • Reply Gil walton November 7, 2017 at 1:51 pm

    Stop being so cheap and go back to making the original licorice snap there are millions of people that will thank you.

    • Reply Jonah Half November 10, 2017 at 3:04 pm

      Did you see that they made a very limited batch of the Original Recipe Licorice Snaps? And the best part is you can buy them from CandyFavorites.com! (Hurry, because our supply is almost out!)

  • Reply Kathleen Gabbert February 27, 2018 at 8:18 pm

    My whole family lives Snaps.I used to walk to confectionery on the corner at grammars house in St Louis .Boxes were 3 cent s

  • Reply James Bankowski March 14, 2018 at 9:08 pm

    I remember stopping at the store on the way home from school to buy red and white boxes of SNAPS for 2 cents a box! To me, they tasted like soap, but I loved them! I miss them and went to a candy store today looking to see of them carried them! Sad!😭

  • Reply Kathy June 26, 2018 at 9:46 pm

    For the love of God please bring back licorice snaps!!!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

  • Reply Carolyn August 18, 2018 at 10:20 pm

    I live in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota. We have a candy store downtown Saint Paul called Candyland. For many years I would go there to buy my Snaps. They were always so fresh and so glad! I loved watching them scoop them out of the big glass jar into a bag for me. I do not recall liking them as a kid. But in my adult life I have always craved them! So disappointed at their discounts to New so disappointed at their discontinuation! Licorice Nips have also been discontinued. I love candy and these were two of my most favorite! I love candy and these were two of my most favorite! I guess I will just have to keep eating candy………and find some more favorites!

  • Reply Hk August 30, 2018 at 7:53 pm

    I to miss snaps! Anybody have luck finding original flavor snaps please post. New fake ones don’t taste anything like original.
    How about bringing them back for Halloween. ..

  • Reply Diana Wright December 28, 2019 at 7:53 am

    I don’t understand, of all the nasty candies on the market, and they just had to get rid of the original Snaps. All that licorice that is out there, what a shame.

    • Reply Jonah Half January 13, 2020 at 2:39 pm

      We were lucky to get a small inventory and there is still a few bags left. They are the original formula and truly delicious!

    • Reply Jonah Half October 26, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      Original Snaps are due back on CandyFavorites.com and are in very short supply! Here is a link to the product – https://www.candyfavorites.com/nsearch/?q=snaps

  • Reply Mary Ann Johnson January 20, 2021 at 7:07 pm

    I have only 1 bag left and am freaking out. If so many people love them what is the problem with making them?

  • Reply Kat February 11, 2021 at 4:38 pm

    They were discontinued because they had to high of a lead content in the formula. Black licorice took a hit. They came up with new formula that was unpopular. Hollow tubes I think they were called. If they are producing again I dont understand why they are so expensive and hard to find. Something isn’t right.

  • Reply Steve Risinger March 14, 2021 at 10:17 pm

    Do you have any original snaps left you can sell me?

  • Reply Miss Dee March 19, 2021 at 5:32 pm

    Yes I’m also a lover of the orig Snaps.What’s with the factory?-you say ‘lead’ was in them?why can’t you just remove it in the recipe? Good & Plenty’s are not the same/in fact, don’t like them at all…never will. Thank you

  • Reply Deborah k peterson March 25, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    Bring back original snaps!! My whole family loves them too. I’m also from Minneapolis Minnesota and remember buying the cute little red boxes as a treat. So yummy and I love the unique tasty coating on outside. It’s addicting!
    Retro candy is a big comeback now and these these are an obvious hit and surely missed by thousands.

  • Reply Derek P June 27, 2021 at 7:44 pm

    I’d doubt lead is in the recipe per se, but present in a feedstock. Licorice root maybe?

  • Reply Kim R Pruett October 11, 2021 at 9:15 pm

    I keep getting told to try licorice hollows. They are not the same the candy coating is way to thick. I liked the thin licorice with the powder coating.

  • Reply Earl February 10, 2024 at 4:30 pm

    I have looked high and low for snaps that I used to enjoy as a child for two cents a package, and have not been able to find anything as enjoyable as the old snaps. I have found a few licorice items from Holland, which are fair but overly chewy. At the time I prefer licorice hollow, which are very similar to the old snaps, but having a little heavier candy coating on them than I prefer, but are readily available at my Cal Ranch store.

    • Reply Jonah Half February 12, 2024 at 4:11 pm

      Sadly, we are totally sold out of Snaps and not sure when , or if, we will be getting them again. Stay tuned and check back on CandyFavorites.com for more details.

    Leave a Reply