Let's Learn About Candy, we are going to learn about one of the most beloved taffies of all time - Bonomo's Turkish Taffy!
First, let's dispel a myth.
Bonomo's Turkish Chewing Taffy isn't of Turkish origin, and it may not even be classic taffy; and it certainly wasn't beneficial to one's teeth to chew it. Nevertheless, it has been around, on and off, for over 85 years.
Invented by Victor Bonomo, these flat candies created quite a stir because they were actually designed to be eaten in pieces, and the only way to accomplish this was by smacking the flat candy bar on a hard surface - or maybe hitting it gently with a hammer.
An Original Box of Bonomo's Turkish Chewing Taffy circa 1950's
Bonomo's Turkish Chewing Taffy wasn't exactly a novelty candy, but the method of enjoying it was certainly different from anything else in the 1940s.
As the popularity grew and shards of taffy flew in all directions, the brand expanded its flavor base to include Banana, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry.
While the candy was certainly unique, it was also hard to find, which added to its appeal as it was initially only sold at Woolworth's Department Stores.
So popular was this candy that it was among the first candies to be advertised on television through its sponsorship of The Magic Clown, which premiered on NBC in 1949.
Smack it, crack it ; there seemed to be no stopping the popularity of this beloved candy until production ceased in the late 1980s.
Tastes changed and the lure of nostalgia waned, or so the candy pundits thought....
When we launched CandyFavorites.com in the early 2000s, Bonomo's Turkish Taffy had achieved a "holy grail" status among candy lovers.
We received countless calls and emails asking if it would ever return, and vintage boxes showed up on eBay commanding high prices!
In 2003, a rumor circulated that Bonomo's was back when Bonomo's Turkish Taffy LLC announced that the taffy would soon be back and encouraged desperate candy lovers to preorder their favorite flavor.
A Rare Vintage Bonomo's Magic Club Membership Badge Circa 1950s
As to whether this was wishful thinking or a candy lover's dream come true wouldn't be proven until seven years later, when The Warrell Corporation "hinted" that this oh so sought after candy was soon to be in stores, and tightly guarded samples showed up at the Sweets and Snacks Expo, held in Chicago, in May 2010.
Editor's Note - The staff at CandyFavorites was at the 2010 Expo, and we still recall just how momentous this moment was.
It may not have been "one of the great moments of candy history," but few candies were in as high demand as Bonomo's Taffy.
We placed an order, and CandyFavorites.com was among the first online candy stores to offer it! When we turned the product online, it actually crashed our website!
The formula and flavor held to the original, with the only difference being that "Chewing" was removed from the name.
Not only was this good branding, but it probably was a sigh of relief to parents and dentists!
In July 2010, seven years after the rumor circulated about its rebirth, Bonomo's Turkish Taffy became a permanent fixture, yet again, in well-stocked candy shelves.
Fifteen years later, it is still one of the best-selling retro candies of all time!
As the old saying goes, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it," and this certainly applies to a delicious piece of taffy that tastes as good broken as it does intact!
