Buying Candy Online, Candy History, Hannah Brelsford's Sweet Thoughts

Nips Hard Candy is Back!

March 6, 2023 by
We were thrilled that Brachs revitalized Nips Hard Candy – a classic since 1961

 Within 96 years in our rearview mirror, at CandyFavorites.com, we believe that “the future of candy is rooted in the past,” 

With this belief, we like to make old-school candy accessible to our customers. Nowadays, it can be hard to find your old favorite candies; that is a problem we are trying to solve!

Nips, a classic old-school candy, are back in stock, and we couldn’t be happier to bring them back to our customers. We suspect dentists are thrilled too.

We offer Brach’s Nips Hard Candy in three original flavors!

We are currently offering Butter Rum, Caramel, and Coffee flavors. This classic candy has been around since the 60s, 1961 to be exact, and was invented by Barney Pearson. 

Pearson started a company with candies that he made all by hand; as with many family businesses, Barney’s sons, Ed, and Daniel Pearson, also worked at the Pearson Candy Company and decided to add new candies to the company’s lineup, one of those new candies being Nips Hard Candy

With the help of food chemist Claude Barnett, Daniel Pearson worked on the creation of Nips. They were invented based on the idea of the break that treats can provide you in the middle of the work day, similar to Kit Kat’s slogan “Have a Break. Have a Kit Kat.” 

Brach’s Coffee Nips was the first flavor, with coffee breaks being the inspiration for a candy that can be enjoyed during work.

During the middle of the day, people often take a coffee break, but some people only sometimes have time to sit down and drink a cup of Coffee. 

Nips, specifically the coffee-flavored ones, provide a little break to people’s days even when they can’t find time, and it is no irony that Coffee was the first flavor and remains our most requested!

The Pearson Candy Company initially didn’t do any tests on the candies, so they were all made in small batches. Finally, however, they were popular enough to justify their production costs. 

Nips have gone over many transfers in ownership. For example, in 1968, the Pearson Candy Company was sold to the W.R. Grace Company, then to Nabisco in 1982. Nestle then bought Nips in 1989.    Don’t worry, we know this is a lot to absorb, and there won’t be a quiz.

If you have a sweet memory of this fabled hard candy with a chewy center, please share it below.

The brand is now owned by the Ferrara Candy Company, which owns Brach’s, the company that now produces Nips. 

Being the oldest Brach’s candy distributor in the nation, we have always had a soft spot for this brand, and we’re thrilled to Brachs adding –as opposed to subtracting – something to their lineup!

Just like us, The Ferrara Candy Company values classic candies, so they are well known for producing candies that no longer exist, and we are committed to making these accessible to candy lovers, young and old. 

Nips Hard Candy is a classic that has been providing customers with a sweet little break in their days since the 60s. 

So if you need a delicious break or want to try a classic candy, Nips are for you.

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27 Comments

  • Reply R Frable March 7, 2023 at 11:49 pm

    I’ve be even looking for Brach’s Nips caramel candy for almost a year as and not One store in a 50 miles radius of home home have them. I looked on ebay and found people selling a box for 7 to 10 dollars. A box use to cost 1.39 a box .Why can’t I find nips in a store anymore?

  • Reply Kim April 9, 2023 at 6:24 pm

    Why no peanut butter nips?

  • Reply Eric Louden April 24, 2023 at 11:37 pm

    Boxes of various Nips flavors were still being sold in 2022. I bought them at different stores until they were hone, then purchased some online via Amazon in August of last year. When I spoke to them, the candy company hinted that they would return and there might be new flavors, too.

  • Reply Wood April 26, 2023 at 2:19 pm

    Very disappointingly, I was excited to see nips back so I purchased a box only to discover that they do not taste the same. The Brachs caramel nips taste different than Nestles. I will be returning the box…

  • Reply Anna May 7, 2023 at 1:28 am

    I have looked everywhere for these Nips Caramel hard candies to no avail. None anywhere. Finally ran across an article about who bought them & they would be out soon. Found them finally made by Brachs at Amazon! Smaller bag. Higher price. But bought them in a 12 bag lot! Beware! These are not the same! Shame on Brachs! Product of Mexico but SAYS same ingredients! Absolutely taste awful! Have a peculiar taste like spray or something. Do not buy! I will return!

  • Reply Lauren June 9, 2023 at 11:23 pm

    Imposter! Brach’s Coffee Nips are NOT the same recipe from before. They taste like burned coffee. Please bring back the original recipe! We stand in solidarity as Pro Coffee Nips “Classic!!” We stand in solidarity against “new Nips” resembling the historical blunder by Coca Cola when it created “New Coke.” This warrants a strike! And a poem!
    Farewell to nips of old?
    Farewell to grandma’s candy bowl?
    To savoring memories told?
    So long to sweet tooth urgings sold?
    So long to midnight gold?
    Oh dear Brachs,
    Don’t be so cold.

  • Reply Margaret June 10, 2023 at 8:22 pm

    I agree with Wood. The new coffee nips do not taste the same as the ones made by Nestle. Much less flavorful! So disappointing – I’ve been enjoying them for years!

  • Reply Gail June 16, 2023 at 1:52 pm

    Seems they are not the same. Why did they not bring the chocolate ones back. They are the ones that I always purchased. I really never cared for the others since I am a chocolate lover. Seems all good things go by the wayside – very sad.

  • Reply Kristin Stoebig June 29, 2023 at 12:25 am

    I, too, am very disappointed! The Brach’s caramel nips in bags do not taste like the original recipe. I will not be purchasing them in the future.

  • Reply MJW August 2, 2023 at 11:24 pm

    PLEASE BRING BACK THE CHOCOLATE NIPS, PLEASE!!!!

  • Reply Angie August 4, 2023 at 8:26 am

    Why aren’t there chocolate ones yet?!

  • Reply Joy Mcmann August 28, 2023 at 1:27 am

    Where can I buy Nips hard coffee candy?
    Thank you

  • Reply Rosemarie Shue September 11, 2023 at 8:27 pm

    Please bring back the original chocolate Nips

  • Reply Cheryl D September 13, 2023 at 6:04 pm

    I was thrilled to finally find the return of “Nips”! I was missing this wonderful gluten free candy which was a favorite of my grandmother’s before gluten was a thing!

  • Reply Sharon October 17, 2023 at 10:43 am

    I picked up a bag of Brach’s branded Coffee Nips. They really don’t taste anywhere near as good as Pearson’s Coffee Nips did – and I didn’t notice a change when Nestle acquired Pearson’s. But now they really taste bad. I won’t buy them again.

  • Reply Barbara October 21, 2023 at 12:31 am

    Why have the chocolate nips been discontinued. There must be a reason since you brought back all the flavors but that one. So disappointed

  • Reply Susan Hoyt October 22, 2023 at 4:19 pm

    Bring back the chocolate parfait nips! They are the best ones! The other ones are terrible. They don’t even taste the same as the old nips.
    I don’t understand the reasoning for not bringing back the chocolate parfait nips! I think it’s a no-brainer… I am sure others in this chain of requests feel the same way.

  • Reply Susan Hoyt October 22, 2023 at 4:21 pm

    Bring back the chocolate parfait nips! They are the best ones! The other ones are terrible. They don’t even taste the same as the old nips.
    I don’t understand the reasoning. I think it’s a no-brainer… I am sure others in this chain of requests feel the same way.

  • Reply Christine Van Slambrook November 11, 2023 at 8:45 am

    Please tell me where I can purchase the nips chocolate parfait hard candy. My mom is 84 years young and is asking for these for Christmas. THESE ARE HER FAVORITE!!!! I want more than anything to grant her her one Christmas wish. PLEASE!!!!!!

    • Reply Jonah Half November 20, 2023 at 3:26 pm

      Candyfavorites.com offers all the flavors of Nips and they can be shipped directly to your home.

  • Reply Rima Intregila November 14, 2023 at 3:59 pm

    Where can I buy them in Florida. I used to get them at Walgreens. I had been buying them since the 1970s.

    • Reply Jonah Half November 20, 2023 at 3:25 pm

      We can’t asvise you as to where to find them in Florida but they can always be purchased on Candyfavorites.com

  • Reply Kris Chan January 1, 2024 at 2:02 pm

    Please bring back the original hard coffee candy reciepe !! I was my childhood!

  • Reply Caroline January 13, 2024 at 5:10 pm

    Please bring back chocolate parfait! They are my mom’s favorite!

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