Bubble Gum

Chewing gum has been around for a very long time, dating back almost 9,000 years ago! There is some evidence that North Europeans were chewing birch bark tar for enjoyment and possibly to relieve toothaches. The Ancient Mayan and Aztec chewed on chicle which comes from sapodilla trees while in North America Indians chewed on spruce tree resin which continued with European settlers.

In 1840 John Curtis developed the first commercial spruce tree gum and in the 1850's he made the first chewing gum factory. But, spruce tree gum did not do well because it didn't taste that good and would become brittle when chewing which lead to the switch to paraffin wax. Soon after that Thomas Addams got his hands on chicle which helped him form a chewing gum company around 1880 but in the mid 1900's all gum manufactures had switched to synthetic materials.

Competition soared in the gum industry and every gum manufacturer was trying to develop new gum or ways to sell their gum to beat out their competition. Frank Fleer who had been in the gum industry since around 1885 wanted his product to stand out so he worked long and hard on trying to make a product that could blow bubbles. In 1906 he developed a chewing gum called Blibber-Bubbler but it was too sticky to blow into bubbles. It wasn't until 1928 that a Fleer employee named Walter Diemer accidentally made the right concoction to create the perfect bubble with chewing gum! It was named Dubble-Bubble

Walter Diemer wanted to test his new recipe so he took some gum over to a local store and it sold out by the end of the first day! To help sell the new gum Diemer taught store salesmen how to blow the perfect bubble so they could show people coming in who were interested.

Today gum is sold in many different flavors and shapes but Bubble Gum is usually pink, just like it was when Diemer first invited Dubble-Bubble.

Source: http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/chew-on-this-the-history-of-gum

-SugarPop's Candy & Soda
248 N. Main Street
Historic Downtown
Mooresville, NC
(704)799-0959

Chupa Chups

Chupa chups have been around for quite some time! These lollipops come in a very wide variety from their classic flavors to filled lollipops and ice cream flavors! With their brightly colored fun wrapping and diverse flavors, no wonder they have been around for 50+ years!

Chupa chups came out in 1958 and were created by a man named Enric Bernat. During the 50's candies of different colors, shapes, and sizes were widely popular but they were all missing something- a stick. Kids would often take the candy out of their mouth to observe the changing colors , show their friends, or save for later in their pockets. You can imagine the mess it would make. Enric came up with the idea of putting a stick in his Chupa Chups to keep the mess to a minimal and make it more appealing to consumers.

Enric didn't come up with the quirky name Chupa chups. Originally he wanted the candy to be football shaped and name it "GOL" because of the shape and when you put it in your mouth it would be like scoring a goal. When he didn't like the name he hired an advertising team to come up with the name and create a jingle to go with it.

The Chupa Chups logo went through a couple changes before Salvador Dali had a creative revelation in 1988 and changed the logo to the bright a cheery daisy shape it is today. In 2008 Chupa Chups celebrated their 50th anniversary and held special events throughout the year in different countries world wide like Germany, France, the Philippines and finished with an MTV concert in Barcelona.

-SugarPop's Candy and Soda shop
248 N. Main Street
Mooresville, NC
704-799-0959

Red Hots or Cinnamon Imperials?

Red Hots or Cinnamon Imperials are a candy that everyone is familiar with. With their bright red color and spicy cinnamon smell and taste its hard to overlook this delicious candy! 

This spicy candy has been around for ages! Ferrara Pan Candy company was the first to manufacture these candies under the name of Cinnamon Imperials in 1932. Ferrara Pan Candy company is still the one and only company to manufacture the now Red Hots, once Cinnamon Imperials. Cinnamon Imperials are now sold as a general brand by many candy distributers.

Since Red Hots have been around since 1932 they have a large fan base! Not only can you eat these candies in their natural form but people are now using them to spice up their Jell-O or apple sauce to give it a nice spicy cinnamon flavor! Do you have any special Red Hot recipes?

-SugarPop's Candy&Soda shop
248 N Main St 
Mooresville, NC 28115 (704) 799-0959

Candy facts you probably didn't know!

1.) Dum Dum's mystery flavor is always a combination of two different flavors. Instead of cleaning out the flavoring from the machine before switching to the next flavor they just let it run and sell the mixture as the mystery flavor. That means it will always be different!

2.) There was a hotline set up for parents that were concerned about their children exploding because of eating a combination of Pop Rocks and soda. You can check it on the Pop Rocks FAQ.

3.) Tootsie Rolls were once marketed as a health food.

4.) Sugar isn't what rots your teeth! The streptococcus bacteria in your mouth like to munch on the sugar but the acid they secrete is what rots your teeth. Luckily saliva cuts down the acid so if you have five candy bars its better to eat them all at once instead of throughout the week because you will produce more saliva to cut the acid down. Moral of the story, eat all your candy at once!

5.) Nestle originally sold baby formula

6.) Candy is a health scape goat. 100 years ago doctors blamed candy for the spread of Polio.

7.) In 1943 Tootsie Roll created an advertisement featuring two super heroes: Captain Tootsie and his sidekick Rollo.

8.) The candy forest and chocolate river in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was actually edible! The producer wanted the kids and parents to have a genuine reaction! The only thing that wasn't edible was the tea cup Gene Wilder bit into. Later it was made with real sugar for the scene. 

9.) The PB max bar was discontinued because the executive and Mars family member Alfred Poe had a distaste for peanut butter. 

-SugarPop's Candy and Soda

Chocolate Turtles

There is nothing better than the classic combination of chocolate, caramel, and nuts. This combination is used in a variety of candies and chocolate bars.


Peanuts tend to be the choice nut for candies but in 1916 George Demet created the classic Turtle by adding pecans instead of peanuts in the city of Chicago. Just pecans dipped in chocolate was popular in the 1900's but Demet was the first to trademark this candy combination. It wasn't until 1918 that Turtles got their "turtle" name. A salesman went into the dipping room and pointed out to the dippers that the candy looked just like a turtle.

Today, Turtles are owned by Yildiz Holding and to keep up with demand they use 7,000 tons of chocolate and 13,000 tons of nuts! Not only do they come in their classic form, but they also come with cashews, sea salt caramel, dark almond, and hazelnut varieties!

-SugarPop's Candy

Popular 90's Candy!

The 90's seems to be trying to make a comeback and it's bringing everything good and bad (jelly sandals) along with it! While fads come and go candy from the 90's stuck around for good for the most part. If you were a 90's kid or just enjoy candy, what was your favorite 90's candy?

1.) Ring Pops

Ring Pop's are the best, even now! You can't beat the combination of their fruity taste and stylish jewelry. Ring Pop's might as well have been real jewels for how popular they were. 

2.) Fruit Stripe Gum 

Fruit Stripe gum brings back fond memories. Vibrant colors, cool packaging, and a temporary tattoo with every stick?! When you had a pack of this gum you were suddenly the coolest kid on the block. 

3.) Nerds

Nerds are still popular to this day but I'm pretty sure kids used to live off these little delicious candies around Valentines day. 

4.) Airheads 

Airheads are still widely popular and still as delicious! What was your favorite flavor?

5.) Wonder Ball

Wonder Balls were probably one of the greatest candies of the 90's! Sadly they were first discontinued in 1997 and then brought back in 2000 to later be discontinued again in 2007. 

6.) Push Pop 

Just like Ring Pop's, Push Pop's were wildly popular and might as well have been made from gold from the way kids loved them! 

7.)Bubble Yum 

Bubble Yum was the best bubble gum ever. Cotton Candy was my favorite, what was yours? 

Leonardo DiCaprio in a Bubble Yum commercial! 

8.) Pixy Stix

-SugarPop's Candy 

248 N Main St
Mooresville, North Carolina

Whoppers

Whoppers are a classic and unique candy that can be found almost anywhere and is a great movie
theater candy!

These classic treats have a long history dating all the way back to 1887. In 1887, William Horlock created the very first malted milk powder in England which he had planned on marketing as a health food. Malted milk powder quickly became a staple sweetener for everything! The first chocolate covered malted milk ball came about in 1936 when Forrest Malt created Malteasers.

It wasn't until 1939 that Whoppers was introduced to the U.S under the name Giants by Overland Candies company. 10 years later Giants became Whoppers for seemingly no reason but the name stuck! When Whoppers first became available they were sold individually unwrapped until cellophane came along and then they were sold in sleeves. In 1950 the milk carton packaging came through and have stuck with Whoppers ever since. Today Whoppers not only come in the classic chocolate flavor but also Strawberry Milkshake and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!

Easter candy facts!

Easter is right around the corner! Do you have your easter baskets ready?

1.) Chocolate bunnies are a must have for any easter basket! Or maybe you prefer Peeps? More than 700 million Peeps, marshmallow bunnies, and marshmallow eggs are bought each easter season! This makes these tasty marshmallow treats the most popular non-chocolate item.

2.) 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced every year! Do you prefer milk or dark chocolate?

3.) Chocolate bunnies should be eaten ears first, according to 76% of Americans. Five percent said bunnies should be eaten feet first, while 4% favored eating the tail first.

4.) In 1953, it took 27 hours to create a marshmallow Peep. Now it takes about six minutes and about 5 million assorted Peeps are made each day in preparation for Easter.

5.) If we took all the Jellybeans that American's consume on Easter and lined them up end to end it would circle the earth nearly three times!

6.) What is your favorite Jellybean to eat on Easter? Children voted for their favorite jellybeans and the votes were: cherry (20%), strawberry (12%), grape (10%), lime (7%), and blueberry (6%).

7.) 70% of Easter candy bought is chocolate. 

8.) Easter is the second most popular candy holiday right after Halloween, beating out Valentines day by almost more than a billion dollars!


Candy isn't just for eating anymore! Try dyeing your easter eggs with some candy this year!

Now&Later's
-12 Now&Later candies (separate colors)
-2 cups of water
-1 tbsp of vinegar
Boil 2 cups of water with 1 tbsp of vinegar, add the Now&Laters and let simmer for 15 minutes. Strain into a mug or dish for dyeing.

Red Hots
-7 ounces of Red Hots (3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons)
-2 cups of water
-1 tbsp of vinegar
Boil 2 cups of water with 1 tbsp of vinegar, add the Red Hots and let simmer for 15 minutes. Strain into a mug or dish for dyeing

-SugarPop's Candy & Soda shop

248 N Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115
(704) 799-0959

Strange candy from around the world

We have some pretty strange candy here at SugarPop's, like our bug candy or bacon soda but here are a few strange candies from around the world! Would you want to try any of these?



1.) Salsaghetti
Origin: Mexico
Salsaghetti is spicy watermelon straws that you top with a packet of tamarind sauce. Yum?

2.) High Concentrated Milk candy 

Origin: Japan 

This candy doesn't really need an explanation. It's simply candy that taste like milk. 

3.) Black and Gold Musk flavored sticks 

Origin: Australia 

Australia is home to a lot of different things, but what exactly does musk taste like? 

4.) Lemon Salt and Lemon pop rocks 

Origin: Spain 

If you like sour things this is probably the best thing for you! 

5.)Orion Kočiči Jazyčky

Origin: Czech Republic 

This one goes out to all you crazy cat ladies (and gentlemen)! Chocolate molded into the shape of kitten tongues. 

6.) Victory Creamy corn candy 

Origin: Malaysia

7.) Echizen Kurage candy

Origin: Japan 

This candy is made from the Echizen Kurage, a 6 foot 440 pound jelly fish! It comes in a combination flavor of jelly-fish and carmel. Savory and sweet? This candy was made to help fight the swarms of Echizen Kurage that were taking over the sea population. 

8.) Ika 

Origin: Japan 

The japanese seem to like infusing aquatic life into their candies. Ika is chocolate covered squid! 

9.) Grilled Lamb Caramels 

Origin: Japan 

Yes, we know you probably just re-read the title of this candy. And yes, you did read it right. 

10.) Deviled egg candy

Origin: Japan 

I wonder if these taste like deviled eggs! 

-SugarPop's Candy and Soda Shop 

248 N. Main Street 

Mooresville, NC 

SugarPop's Easter event, & Summer Camp

Join us for our free Easter event and Summer Camp! 

Easter "Hop"penings!

Sunday, March 29th 

12:00pm-4:00pm 

Join us for face painting, treats, and free pictures with the Easter Bunny while he visits us in store! 

Located at SugarPop's Candy and Soda Shop

248 North Main Street

Downtown Mooresville, NC 

SugarPop's Summer Camp! 

SugarPop's summer camp is fun for everyone! Enjoy our fun activities such as making your candy sculpture and competing in candy competitions and games! Each day is filled with a new candy fact, craft, and project. Kids will have a chance to learn about candy as well as interact with new friends! 

Ages 5-8 

July 6th-10th 

July 27th-31st 

Ages 9-12

July 13th-17th 

August 3rd-7th 

Register today by emailing, visiting, or calling the store today! 

(704)799-0959

Located at SugarPop's Candy and Soda Shop

248 North Main Street

Downtown Mooresville, NC 

Awesome Candies you will probably never eat again!

Sometimes the best things get discontinued for no reason. Have you ever tried any of these now discontinued or hard to find candies?

1.) Garbage Can-dy
These Garbage Can-dies were quirky and delicious! The package was shaped like little garbage cans and filled with Pez like candies shaped like things you would find in the trashcan; fish bones, shoes, dog toys, and a discarded soda bottle. Garbage Can-dy may be discontinued but we have something just as quirky for you: Sour Flush! Candy powder for dipping comes in a toilet shaped container with a plunger shaped sucker!

2.) BarNone
In 1986 Hershey tried to produce a gourmet chocolate bar before there were any gourmet chocolate bars! They tried combining aspects of all their best selling chocolate bars into one; peanuts, carmel, wafers and of course an over load of chocolate. In 1997 it was discontinued although some hope it will some day make a comeback.

3.) Chicken Dinner Bar 

Fortunately this candy didn't taste anything like chicken and was only a reference to Herbert Hoover's presidential campaign- "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage." This candy was a chocolate covered nut roll that remained on shelves for almost 40 years before its original manufacturer was taken over by another. 

4.) Gator Gum 

This gum was introduced in the 1980's and was popular for only a short time and still has a whole legion of fans behind it. Gator gum was tart, to the point that some consumer's complained about it hurting their mouths. Unfortunately its shelf life was short lived, along with other drink companies trying to make gum flavors.  

5.) Tart n' Tiny 

In 1980 Tart n' Tiny by Wonka was hugely popular and their best selling candy. But by 1990 they became discontinued all together. With some luck you can still find a box or two floating around on the internet for sale, but if you happen to get your hands on a box we don't suggest eating the candy. 

How to make your snow day sweeter!

The snow is upon us again! Maybe you're snowed in and maybe you aren't but nothing makes a snow day better than something sweet both you and your kids can enjoy. We gathered up a few fun and simple candy treats and activities to help you curb your sweet tooth while we are closed today.

1.) Melted candy bar hot chocolate
Okay, so nothing really gets any better then this. After a long day of playing in the snow everyone wants something warm to snuggle up with and Momtastic has the perfect recipe!

Heres what you need: A chocolate bar of your choice, milk, whipped cream for garnish, and other candies for garnish.

Serving size: 2

- 1/2 cup chopped up chocolate bar
- 1 3/4 cup of milk
- 1/4 cup of candy to garnish

Combine the milk and chopped up chocolate bar together in a pot over medium heat and whisk until chocolate is melted and everything is mixed together.
Remove from heat, pour into your favorite mug, and garnish as you please!

2.) Reese's S'mores

We love s'mores here at SugarPop's, we have s'more buffets, in house s'more toasting, and we can even make you s'mores to give as gifts and favors! We know you love s'mores, so as a small gift from us to you, we are going to teach you how to step up your s'more game in a very very easy way. 

Here's what you need: Marshmallows, graham crackers, and reese's peanut butter cups. 

Toast your marshmallows how you like them, you can either do this by fire or by wrapping marshmallows in tin foil and toasting them in the oven. Next, carefully assemble your S'more: graham cracker, reese's peanut butter cup, marshmallow, and then graham cracker! 

Candy activities! 

Maybe the snow isn't for you or you want to keep the fun going after you've come inside from the cold! 

1.) Glossy skittles paint 

Here's what you need: craft paint brushes, skittles, small plastic jars or cups, corn syrup. 

First divide skittles up into different jars according to their color. Add corn syrup over the skittles until they are completely covered. Next, you wait. Some colors may start to divide their pigment before others, so wait a few hours for everything to completely divide. 

Now, paint what ever you please! These paints smell delicious and look beautiful and glossy! You can paint these on regular paper but card stock works best. Set them aside to dry, depending on how thick the paint is it could take a day or two to completely dry.  

2.) Candy chromatography from Mama Miss 

Here's what you need: Nerds, water, and coffee filters. 

In this activity you will be separating the dye from the nerds onto the coffee filter to create colorful sheets of paper! 

For the best results you should use two coffee filters and less water. 

Lay nerds out onto your coffee filter and carefully drop water over the nerds. Wait 30 seconds to a minute in between drops. Keep adding nerds little by little, dropping water over them, and repeat until your whole coffee filter is covered with beautiful color! 

After the nerds dye is mostly washed off the nerds, remove them from the filter and throw them away. Hang your coffee filters to dry and enjoy the color pointillism! 

  

Make sure to stay safe and warm on this snow day!! 

-SugarPop's Candy 

248 North Main St.

Mooresville, NC 28115

(704) 799-0959  

Swedish Fish!

It's rare that a bag of candy leaves SugarPop's without at least one Swedish Fish nestled between various other candies! Swedish fish are hugely popular in the candy scene and for a good reason. Their delicious cherry-esque flavor and sweet aroma has captured many hearts throughout the years, dating back to the late 1950's.

Swedish Fish first arrived in the states around the late 1950's as an import from the Swedish confectionery company Malaco. While Swedish Fish is considered a gummy candy, it is very different from the usual gummies one is used to eating. Swedish Fish contains no gelatin and is actually a wine gum candy (it doesn't actually contain wine), that is where its denseness comes from and it makes it a wholly vegetarian candy! After its debut in the states it became fully accepted into the candy scene between the 1960-1970's.

There has been much debate over what a Swedish Fish "Original red" flavor actually is. It has a very aromatic cherry smell upon first opening up a jar or bag filled with these treats and the tastes can go from cherry to raspberry, fruit punch or even lingonberry! Not even the candy company who produces Swedish Fish can tell consumers what the actual flavor is because it is a special flavor specifically crafted for Swedish Fish. Cadbury currently owns and distributes Swedish Fish in the U.S and produce the original red flavor, green, yellow, orange, and purple. 7,000 metric tons of Swedish Fish are produced each year, that could approximate to 1,929 orca whales!

In Sweden you can find a Swedish Fish called salmaik which is a salty black licorice flavor that is hugely popular and can be found almost anywhere in Sweden. In 2009 Rita's Italian Ice company released a Swedish Fish flavor that was hugely popular in the United States!

-SugarPop's Candy

248 North Main St.

Mooresville, NC 28115(704) 799-0959