[{"id":285115482154,"handle":"1900s","updated_at":"2025-05-06T20:00:29-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:27-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"1900s","body_html":"\u003ch5\u003eThe rise of candy we know today - from Candy Bars to Sponge Candy.\u003c\/h5\u003e\r\nThe 20th century launched an unprecedented age of candy made for kids, sent to soldiers at war, and reflecting everything from Prohibition to the Cold War. The colors were bright, the scent alluring, and the flavors out of this world.","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:27-04:00","alt":null,"width":2048,"height":2017,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled-design-2023-04-19T123907.127-1_473a8e56-fd45-41fa-8de7-d821f1aae1d9.jpg?v=1726760308"}},{"id":289187332138,"handle":"80s-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-06T15:45:16-04:00","published_at":"2024-12-13T09:35:02-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"80s Candy","body_html":"","image":{"created_at":"2024-12-13T09:35:00-05:00","alt":null,"width":2048,"height":2048,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/GUMMY_WORMS.png?v=1734100501"}},{"id":291189227562,"handle":"all-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-07T05:15:11-04:00","published_at":"2025-01-30T08:34:32-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"ALL CANDY","body_html":""},{"id":285115711530,"handle":"military-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-07T05:15:11-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:45-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"Military Candy","body_html":null,"image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:46-04:00","alt":null,"width":2048,"height":1176,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled-design-2024-05-10T143934.187-1_155d54f1-edee-4b6c-a262-8d76e3cd3acf.jpg?v=1726760327"}},{"id":289138540586,"handle":"old-fashioned-hard-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-06T17:40:16-04:00","published_at":"2024-12-11T16:02:44-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"Old Fashioned Hard Candy","body_html":"\u003cdiv class=\"x_elementToProof\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"\u003eOld time hard candies are delicious, long-lasting, and always a treat. Their flavors, from spicey to sweet, are as varied as their shapes! But they were more than candy treasures! For decades mothers gave their children hard candies to ease their colds. Grandmothers carried hard candies in their purses as breath-fresheners. Hard candies appeared in candy bowls at home and glass jars at the office.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eDid you know\u003c\/b\u003e: Old time hard candies were regional! Hard candy lovers enjoyed maple sugar drops and stained glass depending on where they lived.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eDid you know:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe U.S. government sent literally\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003etons\u003c\/i\u003e of sour balls to troops during World War Two!\u003c\/div\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2024-12-11T16:02:43-05:00","alt":null,"width":2048,"height":2048,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled_design_-_2024-12-11T160157.537.png?v=1733950964"}},{"id":290043822122,"handle":"quick-order","title":"Quick Order","updated_at":"2025-05-07T05:15:11-04:00","body_html":null,"published_at":"2025-01-03T14:49:08-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"quick","disjunctive":false,"rules":[{"column":"variant_price","relation":"greater_than","condition":"0"}],"published_scope":"web"},{"id":285115547690,"handle":"retro-treats","updated_at":"2025-05-06T20:00:38-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:32-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"depict","published_scope":"web","title":"Retro \u0026 Penny Candy","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the Circus Peanut of the 1800s to the Satellite Wafers of the 1950s. Variety! Memories! Delicious!!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:33-04:00","alt":null,"width":2560,"height":1920,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Image-19-scaled_b6f0e6f7-b0e2-40d4-a984-8c445a3a8497.jpg?v=1726760313"}},{"id":295426359338,"handle":"retro-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-06T20:00:38-04:00","published_at":"2025-04-15T12:28:46-04:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"Retro Candy","body_html":"","image":{"created_at":"2025-04-17T07:32:06-04:00","alt":null,"width":4032,"height":3024,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/d012120c-b13e-4d6b-a71a-b3d39470a2cd_2.jpg?v=1744889526"}},{"id":285115973674,"handle":"summer-fun","updated_at":"2025-05-06T15:45:16-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:37:01-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"Summer Fun","body_html":null,"image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:39:04-04:00","alt":null,"width":1535,"height":2048,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled-design-2022-10-20T161422.127_c8f9810d-e5bc-4118-8c5a-4346ad6ec935.jpg?v=1726760344"}}]
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Classic sour balls are a distinctly old-fashioned candy. They are tasty, but not check puckeringly sour as newer sour candies. The colors are bright – dazzling, really – wrapped in a traditional clear covering…although the original sour balls were sold loose, no wrappers, and weighed and charged accordingly. They look great in clear glass candy jars, where guests and family, can help themselves. Sour balls are a wonderful way to ease dry throat, freshen the breath, and calm the nerves on long trips. Besides that, they just taste good.
Did You Know: During World War 2 the War Department sent literally tons of sour balls to troops in Europe which helped quench the soldiers’ thirst and stave off hunger. These candies were part ofworld war candy rations, giving soldiers a much-needed treat during long, grueling days.
Did You Know: For decades, sour balls were given to children when they had a sore throat? Cough drop by another name.
Each 4-ounce recyclable bag comes with a history-rich label, making it a wonderful 1900s candy gift for nostalgic candy lovers. Whether you’re reminiscing about the past or discovering this classic hard candy for the first time, premium sour balls are the perfect sweet and tangy treat to enjoy anytime, and they’re also featured in our candy timeline box, which highlights the evolution of candies like this one.
Product Details
Size: 4 ounces in a 3x6" bag
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Artificial Flavors, Artificial Colors: FD&C Red #40, Yellow #5 and #6, Blue #1.
Allergen Disclaimer: Please note that our products are made in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, soy, and wheat. While we take precautions to prevent cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee that our products are allergen-free.
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Sour Balls: A Vintage Candy Favorite for Over 150 Years
Steeped in history, traditional sour balls were a favorite among grandmothers who lovingly shared them with their grandchildren. Dating back to the mid-1800s, they evolved from 1700s lozenges, prized not just for their taste but also for their soothing benefits. In World War II, the U.S. War Department sent tons of sour balls to troops in Europe to help quench thirst and stave off hunger. These candies were part of the world war candy rations, helping soldiers during their time of need. For decades, they were also a popular home remedy for sore throats—a cough drop in disguise.
Most certainly sour balls have changed over time with new colors, new flavorings and, above all, new kinds of machinery to make them. Still, that begs the question. Suffice to say, sour balls have been enjoyed for at least 150 years.
“The good, old time sour balls that have been in favor for years. A fresh supply from our own candy kitchen to your store.” November 12, 1909 (NOTE: “old time” sour balls)
“On Chestnut Street there were three women selling bananas, an old woman selling sour balls and peppermint sticks, and a small boy selling oranges with freckles on them.” May 24, 1886
These classic treats are part of our 1900s candy gift collection and featured in the candy timeline box, taking you through the rich history of this nostalgic candy.
True Treats is the only historically accurate candy store in the world, bringing the past to life through researched sweets, teas, syrups, and more. Every product is rooted in history, telling the story of how people from all walks of life enjoyed treats through time. Leading this effort is Susan, a nationally recognized candy historian, researcher, and author who appears regularly on TV, radio, and in major publications. With over 40 years of experience, she has written ten books and founded True Treats to share the fascinating history of candy in a fun and delicious way. Susan’s work uncovers the surprising origins of America’s favorite sweets, from ancient uses of sugar to the candies of the 1900s. Through True Treats, Susan makes history an interactive experience, allowing customers to taste the past while learning the stories behind every bite.
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