Year Invented: 1927
Manufacturer: PEZ
Although PEZ was invented in Vienna and is popular in countries around the world, we consider PEZ to be an American candy now. After all, a plant in Orange, Connecticut produces billions of itty-bitty PEZ candies each year. Typical flavors for the American market include cherry, lemon, orange, strawberry and raspberry.
Ironically, the original Austrian PEZ flavor wasn’t a fruit. It was actually pfefferminz (i.e. peppermint). The peppermint flavor was so prominent in PEZ’s original recipe that the candy’s creator named the candy PEZ, a play on the word pfefferminz.
While PEZ has passed the test of time, much of its sweet success isn’t related to the candy’s fruity flavor. Instead, collectors go crazy for PEZ dispensers.
Originally shaped like cigarette lighters, PEZ dispensers have since featured all sorts of animals (both real and cartoon) and movie characters. The 2006 movie PEZheads digs deep into the PEZ collection mania.
Fun Fact
The PEZ visitor center, just a 15-minute drive from New Haven, offers an interactive candy experience for PEZ fans who enter its doors.
