Your favorite childhood cough drops are back!
We all know how comforting it can be to soothe a sore throat with a cough drop. But, did you know the history of everyone’s favorite sick day remedy?
A Humble Beginning
Legend has it that the first cough drop in America came from a small-batch, family-owned candy store in 1847 and continued to comfort sore throats and coughs with a classic, soothing relief, for generations to come. As you probably guessed, the family name was Smith and the store was owned by two brothers hence how Smith Brothers Cough Drops got their name and came into being!
Created from a traveling peddler’s formula for cough abatement, Smith Brothers cough drops birthed more than a delicious remedy; they changed how people would care for sore throats and colds for more than a century. Without the candy-making expertise of James Smith and his sons, Sly Hawkins’ secret recipe could have been lost forever.
A Commitment to Tradition
In 2016, Lanes Brands—another family business—acquired The Smith Brothers. Today, the company is proud to continue its legacy of quality and historical significance with America’s first cough drop!
Now, the cough drops you know and love are back with three amazing flavors: Warm Apple Pie, Wild Cherry, and Honey Lemon! So whether you grew up on The Smith Brothers or are just discovering this American classic, you won’t want to miss out.
Tell Us Your Story
We know that part of what makes a timeless candy so delicious are the memories you create while enjoying them with friends and family. Share your best memories with us and you’ll be entered to win a free case of Smith Brothers Cough Drops!
You may not look forward to a sick day, but at least you’ll know you can always rely on Smith Brothers.
41 Comments
I’m still looking for the honey licorice cough drops…any chance they’ll reprise this flavor?
All these flavors seem amazing! I can’t wait to try these when I have a sore throat!
Bring back your great black licorice or let me have the recipe I would make them
Interested in buying warm apple pie smith brothers cough drops.
If you do not produce the licorice and pectin version, please provide the recipe!
Even if not produced, the recipe is not available as the manufacturer has the license for all of the Smith Brothers products.
Licorice yes please!
Licorice yes please!
The best of any flavour by far!
I love the warm apple pie throat drops. They’re my go to when my throat is sore and/or scratchy. I make sure I am stocked up for cold and flu season.
I’m 73 going to be 74 and the only cough drop i would take science i was three was black licorice please let me know if I are ever going to market them again they were wonderful
I want the Black Licorice back, Best cough drop I ever had and I am 55 yrs old. Please…..Bring them back.
Black Licorice needs to be brought back. The most recognizable flavor!
My favorite was Root Beer. Please let me know if you will be selling this flavor in the future. Thank you!
Please bring back Black licorice the best cough drops ever
I’m looking for the black ones:
Smith Brothers Black Cough Drops.
Do you have those??
Bo Harwood
Where can I find those pressed raisin cookies?
What stores are carrying Smith Brothers products? I have been unable to find them? I had to buy Ludens, my second choice. Wild cherry is my favorite but I also really like the black licorice.
I was born in 1950 and started school in the fall of 1954. I remember kids having Smith Brother’s Cough Drops in those familiar boxes. Sometimes we had them when we didn’t actually have a cough but because they tasted good. We couldn’t bring candy to school but we could have Smith Brother’s Cough Drops! But when we did have a cough, we were sure glad for Smith Brother’s!
Growing up in the fifties and early sixties, my mom always stuffed a box of Smith Brothers cough drops in my pocket when I left for school with sniffles. Strange how early childhood tastes and smells remain in our memories.
While my grandfather was still alive, he absolutely loved the Black Licorice flavored cough drops. I think that it was one of the last times that I talked to him that I saw them on his shelf and mentioned them. He was surprised that I liked licorice too, since neither of my parents like it and my brother isn’t really fond of it. I think a box of those cough drops was the last gift he gave me. I would certainly love to be able to buy a box and enjoy them in these depressing times.
Oh How I miss Smith Brother’s Black Licorice cough drops.
I’m 78 and as a student in elementary school, we could go to the main office and buy a box of Smith Brother’s Black Licorice cough drops , rarely needing them for any cough, but rather just a special treat, quite often using lunch money to buy them.
I miss them so very much!!!!
where can i get the black licorice i am 80 and like other ones have said we could have no candy in school but we could have cough drops so i carried a box of the blacks about every day sure would go for some now are they available
Black licorice please. They were the best!
I am so happy that you’re back I remember having those when I was growing up. I have missed them for a while but I won’t anymore because you’re back thank you so much!
I would like to get some smith brothers cherry flavored cough drops
Oh for the black licorice! Longing for them!
I am 76 and i loved the Smith Bros. Licorice cough drops, I think I had the longest sore throat in history. Please bring them back
Please bring Back your Black licorice,
I am 67 yrs old and I remember the Smith Bros. making my throat better as I was laying in my bed just last night . I had a sore throat and that’s what made me think of my oldest friends
Please bring black licorice back.
The black licorice is back!!!
Please go to smithbrothers.co
All your favorites are now available.
Would like to have the old time favorite Smith brothers black licorice flavored cough drops. If you bring him back a favorite, do it right and bring back the original please. My dad and I are looking for these in black licorice like when I was a kid and he was younger. Thanks
I thought it was just me, but it looks like EVERYBODY’S favorite was the BLACK LICORICE , it’s amazing the manufacturer can not see, and understand this fact.
The cough drops that helped me the most and also taste the best were the old black licorice and honey cough drops.. Why did you stop providing them in stores.. This world is missing out on a great thing.. Please bring them back.. and if you won’t.. Give us the recipe to make them ourselves.. Please….
I always loved the licorice it always made me feel better love the taste yummy
The licorice was always my favorite. Such a shame not to produce it!☹️
So it looks like I’m not the only one wanting to see the original Smith Brothers licorice flavored cough drop put back into production. Will this ever happen?
why won’t you bring back the licorice cough drop back , .it has been a favorite of so many people. Seems corporate doesn’t give a hoot what loyal customers want,
I’m 53 and grew up in a poor, mostly minority part of the suburbs in NJ. I used to buy Smith Bros cherry cough drops at the many candy stores in my area. I used to wonder why they were considered them cough drops because they were so mild and tasted like candy, but they were everybody’s favorite.
Recently, my mom gave me some for an upper respiratory infection cough and they didn’t cure it, but they really worked!!! Now I hope they bring them back to EVERY store! I loved the packaging and old-time picture. It made me feel like I was in the olden days with a real cure. I feel sorry for kids nowadays who don’t know about real Candy Stores.
Please bring back the licorice ones since everyone is requesting them. I don’t remember trying those or seeing other flavors than Black Cherry. I hope this brand lasts forever!!!
As a Massachusetts resident, I have not been able to locate any Smith Brothers cough drops in grocery stores or pharmacy type stores. Disappointing. Cape Cod tesident
I like everyone else is looking for the Black Licorice cough drops. I don’t understand why they aren’t available when there appears to be a big demand for them. I was able to purchase some about a year ago and then they disappeared again