80’s folks, I’m sure you have awesome memories of your childhood. From school, to summerbreak, to the music of the 80’s (Spandau Ballet, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, The Cure, The Go-Go’s), to the fashion trends (baston pants, long-back shirts, Sperry topsiders, tsunami hair), the very limited television shows (That’s Entertainment, Champoy, Iskul Bukol, Batibot), Betamax, The Walkman and so much more.
As a child of the 80’s these memories live on but none quite as fascinating as the local candies that used to dominate the market. Those days were simple and so were the candies. Some of them are still around but are quite hard to find. Here are a few
Butterball – Who can forget the half-inch mustard yellow balls that were oh so delicious that popping one in your mouth is hardly enough. You would not be able to wait for the candy to melt in your mouth as your teeth could not resist smashing into the balls to further bring the flavor out…
Tarzan, Texas & Bazooka – the go-to chewing gum of choice, each with that distinct flavor that didn’t last too long. Tarzan & Texas had various flavors but Bazooka was pink and had the Bazooka Joe & Gang comic strips inside them. The school nerds kept those for reasons I’ll never know.
White Rabbit – The thrill was not the milky white cream soft candy – it was the transparent melting paper that came with it that was a source of fun for everyone.
Pop rocks – Coming in strawberry, cotton candy & bubble gum flavors, these were all the rage in the 80’s for the noisy popping sensation when your tongue presses the rocks to your gums. Watusi in your mouth!
Haw flakes – Kids would get a laugh when they pretended to offer the round Haw flake as the body of Christ during communion (Blasphemy!) but this candy made from the Hawthorn fruit in China was so addicting kids were skipping meals to buy the flakes for lunch!
Cow Label & Chivalry Pusit – Although not candies, the mere mention of these 2 snacks brings smiles to faces & active saliva glands. Cow Label was awesome for the sticky sweet sauce that kids would lick off the packaging & their fingers until the very last drop. It was bought by a box of a dozen packs because one was never enough. Chivalry posit was probably the 1st candied and mildly spicy dried pusit that you couldn’t put down.
Lipps – The hard candy was known for the “Colourburst Strawberry” flavor that also colored your lips red making it an alternative to lipstick for the young girls. Honestly nothing great taste-wise but for kids with red lips, it was the bomb.
I’m sure there’s a lot more but this writer got a kick out of finding the above candies still available in the Greenhills commercial center. Now go get your 80’s fix.
