Mad hunt for vintage candy

[Phil_A_Mignon]

My wife, for years, has raved about a holiday candy she enjoyed when she was a young girl back in the late seventies, early eighties. She calls them "mint puffs" which she's sure is not the technical name for them. She describes them as round or oval shaped candies, maybe slightly smaller than a golf ball, that has the familiar candy cane striping. She says they are mint flavored, but these are not to be confused with the very hard, glossy, holiday mint candy of the same size and appearance that I think most of us are familiar with. These have a much softer texture. The best way I can describe them, based upon how she's described them to me, is that when biting into them, they have a little less "give" than a malt ball, and she says they just disintegrate and melt in your mouth instantaneously.

I would love to find these damn things and surprise her for Christmas. She hunts for them every year and never is able to find them. Any help out there???

[tobycat]

Sees candy sells a mint like that. They are fun to crunch then they melt in your mouth. White with red stripes, I believe.

They are called peppermint twists.

http://www.sees.com/Prod.cfm?CatGroup...

[johnb]

If it is/was a packaged item sold in stores, you might find it here. But it's best to know a brand name.

http://www.hometownfavorites.com/

In perusing the site, I found something called King Leo Soft Peppermint Puffs. Could that be it?

Good luck. Great idea for a Xmas present BTW.

[Cheese Boy]

Sounds like the consistency you're speaking of is similar to that of mints with a jellied center -- the kind you get on your way out of a diner for instance. The mint shell resembles white porous chalk. It dissolves almost immediately in your mouth. Maybe this will help others in identifying what you want.

Johnb might be right on target with the Peppermint puffs ...
Look ---> http://www.hometownfavorites.com/prod...

[Quine]

Also try The Vermont Country Store :
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/sh...

[MakingSense]

That's probably Bob's peppermints. They're inexpensive and you may be able to find a huge tub of them at a local Walgreen's store or http://www.candywarehouse.com/sweetst... or other websites. They are an oldtime favorite and they do melt in your mouth.
Don't even think of going upscale if this is what she remembers from her childhood. My father adored these and I used to give him an enormous wholesale tub of them several times a year. Then I got hooked on them too...

[anniemax]

WalMart also carries them, both in the regular candy isle and in a larger container in the holiday candy isle, along with peppermint sticks that are also from Bob's for Christmas. I always stock up on them after Christmas at 50% off, since they are one of the few commercial candies made with sugar, since I'm allergic to corn. I also recently found cinnamon ones made by Bob's at Big Lots and Strawberry Cream, Key Lime & Pepermint ones made by King Leo- needless to say, I was in heaven.

Cracker Barrel also carries some of the Bob's 100% sugar peppermints Soft Candy, as they call it, but it may only be the peppermint sticks- I can't remember off the top of my head.

[javaandjazz]

I believe Hammonds Candy makes them.
http://www.hammondscandies.com/christ...

[MeffaBabe]

Vermont Country Store has a ton of the old fashioned candies, foods and other items... I love this place.
www.vermontcountrystore.com

[spellweaver16]

I <3 VCS, too. Last year I ordered some smoked gouda for my family for Christmas. It never got there and they sent three-year cheddar (they were out of gouda) to replace it, no additional charge.

[dadiva1908]

Hi....this might be a helpful sight as well:

https://ssl2.chi.us.securedata.net/qc...

I agree, this is a great idea!

[Anne]

What you're looking for are called "Soft Peppermint Puffs". I've got a bag of them right here in front of me. They are Red Bird Brand---says "Since 1890" and "The ORIGINAL Soft Mint Candy" on the front of the bag. The mints are individually wrapped. The 5.05 oz. bag is $1 at Dollar Tree Stores (known as "Everything's a Dollar" in some locations). You can't miss them---red/white/blue stripes on the bag (Made in the U.S.A.). Made by the Piedmont Candy Co. www.piedmontcandy.com

[coconuts34]

Hi there-

Walgreens carries Bob's Sweet Stripes Soft Peppermints. They are like the melt in your mouth malt ball texture your wife is describing. CVS also carries a similiar mint but they are less melt away. Bob's are delish! Hope you find them.......Cheers

[gheartoms06]

I realize this reply is late, however, I search for these each year, also. This year I was a bit off as my mother died and now this mission is even more intense! These were my grandfather's favorite candies and I remember eating them as a kid (I'm 36). I checked each of these replies and they are all WRONG. The ones you are looking for are still a mystery to me, too. Since I was a kid, I don't remember the brand name, but I do remember these things: they were hard, almost like a ping pong ball, but totally dissolved once in the mouth, they came in a wide cylindrical canister - shape and dimension of a toilet paper roll, and you bought them at - I believe - Walgreens pharmacy. They are NOT, I repeat a Bob's mints product or that Leo Lion thing. If you find out/found out more, would you let ME know?! Thanks a million!
gheartoms

[maggiedaisy]

The person above is absolutely correct! These candies ONLY CAME IN PEPPERMINT AND SPEARMINT AND WERE ROUND ONLY! Not pillow-shaped OR Oval! They were not individually wrapped, they came in a tin and we always had them at Christmas in the 1960's. (I'm 46) As most agree the spearmint ones were the best! I too have searched the internet for the past two years looking for these. Sadly, they are no longer made. They will always be a sweet memory for me and my sister and 2 brothers. The four of us would compete to see how fast we could make it dissolve in our mouths!Which was seconds. Then we'd stick out our tongues to prove who won! Maybe some candy company will make them again one day! If so, I'll be one of their best customers!

[amarks007]

You probably already know due to other responses but just incase... They were called Air Bons and Whitman's made them. They are not available any longer. I along with others havew contacted Whitman's about them and they currently have no plans to bring them back. I think everyone who's looking for them should email Whitmans and ask them to start making them again. If enought people do this they may eventually reconsider.

[gheartoms06]

okay I am not a stalker... I think I solved the problem. If you are from the South, then the candy you are looking for WAS made by Elmer's candy company out of New Orleans. The company exists, however, they discontinued the product. I have written a most persuasive letter, though, encouraging them to make them at least one more Christmas etc. Hope this helps, and you don't think I am crazy.

[Phil_A_Mignon]

You are awesome, gheart ... and the rest of you. What a supportive forum! My condolences for your loss, and please let me know if Elmer's Candy responds to your letter. Thanks so much!

[bamakerry]

I know exactly what your wife is looking for and it isn't the Red Bird brand or Bob's. My grandmother use to get them and I have been searching for them. They were put out by Brach's and they were wonderful. They came in Peppermint, Spearmint and even Cinnamon. I was buying them every christmas until about 3 or 4 years ago and for some reason I wasn't able to find them any more. Walmart had them for a while and then I found them at Kmart. If you find them let me know and if I find them I will post for you. Those things would melt almost as soon as you got them in your mouth and no need for chewing. You could mash them with your tongue even. They melted almost like cotton candy just not quite as fast as that.

[amarks007]

They were called Air Bons and Whitman's made them. They are no longer available however, they took them off the market.

[yayadave]

I’m wondering if you’re looking for something like this.

http://candy.about.com/od/christmascandy/r/mint_meringue.htm

http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/nc...

[Sean]

I know exactly what you are talking about, they were round and airy and striped. They came in mint and Butterscotch flavors, little smaller than a golf ball and melted in your mouth like meringue. They came in about a 5oz cellophane bag. I used to inhale the buuterscotch flavored ones. I cannot recall the name of the product though...

[RUNNERFEMME]

Phil - that is so sweet - and i know this post is super late, but try this.
http://oldtimecandy.com/bobs-sweet-st...

i know exactly what she means.

[PalmerMoose]

I believe that you are talking about Air Bons.

[Sean]

YES! That is what they were called, Air Bons...

[Smileelisa]

I have purchased a candy like you described at Cracker barrel. they dissolve pretty much as soon as you bite into one. They are little puff balls, white with red stripes and totally yummy. Not sure what they are called. My husband also purchased a big tub of them at CVS I believe. I can't remember the name tho.

[EatmorePilgrimschicken]

Hi Guys, I enjoyed these candies also while growing up in No.Louisiana. The store that sold them then was K & B which has gone out of business. I remember only 2 flavors peppermint and my fav spearmint. I have searched the net and the shops mentioned here and have not found them. Someone said they were made by Elmers candy but they have discontinued their production. Elmers however still makes Easter and other holiday candies. The 2 main things that I recall about them was you had to keep the bag tightly sealed or the candy would lose their crispiness, and everytime you belched you had the freshest breath for days (smile). Happy Hunting and holler if you find them.

[Kelli2006]

There is a vintage candy store on the SE side of Cleveland that also ships their products. It has been featured many times on Food TV.

http://www.sweetiescandy.com/

[amarks007]

You probably already know this but they were called Air Bons, Whitman's made them. They, however, don't make them anymore and upon emailing them they have no plans to bring them back. I miss them so much. My late grandmother bought them every christmas.

[Beckyleach]

I always called those "peppermint pillows" growing up. Try the (horrendously tacky but occasionally useful) store part of a Cracker Barrel Restaurant. I find lots of vintage candies (and great saltines) there...

[Gio]

If anyone is still looking for these candies 2 years later...
The Vermont Village Store sells something surprisingly similar to those described in the thread:
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/br...