When it comes to Necco Wafers, the classic assorted roll of spicy and fruit flavors is the most iconic, but over the decades other varieties of the roll have come and gone. Since the early days of the 1900s, Necco also offered all-chocolate, all-wintergreen, all-peppermint, all-licorice, and all-cinnamon candy rolls, but all those flavors were also in the assorted roll.
And that’s the way things stayed almost until the end of the 20th century. In 1997 Necco dared to venture into the latest craze for sour candy by releasing Necco Tart Candy Wafers. Unfortunately, I don’t have a wrapper for these, but Necco also jumped on the “fat free” diet fad by including “FAT FREE!” on the wrapper. Necco also tugged on the heartstrings by pointing out that this was Necco’s 150th Anniversary on the wrapper. Necco Tarts were sold up until 2002, but they completely eluded me!
In 2006 Necco tried again by capitalizing on the smoothie juice trend with their own Necco Smoothies, which came in assorted rolls of blueberry, banana caramel, tropical, peach, and strawberry crème. Not expecting anything new in the Necco Wafers world, I was surprised to find them on a road trip when I stopped to eat a fiery burrito at the fabulous Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari, NM. The Smoothies were in their candy display at the cash register. It’s a great feeling when you find unexpected candy while on the road!
Since then, Necco continuously grasped at trends to keep Necco Wafers thriving. In 2009 they came out with their All Natural Wafers, including their Chocolate Wafers roll with four chocolate flavors---milk, dark, white, and mocha. The All Natural assorted wafers were revamped with natural colorings and flavors, a decision that was notoriously rejected by the public in no uncertain terms. In 2011 they continued to experiment with “healthy” wafers with their All Natural Necco Wafers SmartFruits with “Real Fruit Antioxidants”. These seem to have been a complete flash in the pan.
In 2014 they introduced Tropical Fruit Necco Wafers with coconut, passion fruit, strawberry, lime, banana, and mango (tying in with the release of their Tropical Sky Bar with orange, banana, coconut, and strawberry flavor fillings). In Necco’s death throes of 2018 they released Sours (watermelon, wildberry grape, sour apple, lemon, extreme tangerine, and blue raspberry) and Limited Edition Candy Cane Necco Wafers.
Now, Spangler is selling only the original assorted flavors. The Necco Wafers history is an object lesson of the concept that although something might be all the rage (e.g. smoothies), this doesn’t necessarily mean the public wants their smoothies in a candy lozenge.
