Give a loved one a memory-filled taste of the late 70s and early 80s.
Struggling to find a 50th birthday gift for someone special in your life? “Over the hill” gifts can be especially tricky, but something simple, yet thoughtful can be exactly the thing to make their day. How about giving them some candy from their childhood that will bring back cherished memories of the good ol’ days. The 70s and 80s are known today for a number of icons and moments such as bell bottoms, disco, the start of MTV, and Motorola’s release of the first cellular phone to work on a large American network. Take a look at some of the most popular candy during the late 70s and early 80s that your friend or family member will remember from his or her childhood, and make the perfect 50th birthday gift.
Pop Rocks: the exploding candy that became a cultural phenomenon. They were invented in 1975 by William Mitchell, a food service scientist at General Foods. He made the discovery while trying to design an instant soft drink when he put some sugar flavoring mixed with carbon dioxide in his mouth.
Nerds: Small irregularly-shaped candies that come in a variety of flavors. They’re usually sold in a box that has two separate flavors, each with its own opening. These tiny treats were first created and launched in 1983 when Wonka owned the company.
Reese’s Pieces: These crunchy candies were created to capitalize on the success of the chocolate-covered peanut butter cups. The candy was introduced in 1979 and became extremely popular with the 1982 release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, in which they were featured.
Chupa Chups: In 1980 these lollipops arrived to the USA and became a social and commercial phenomenon. It was fashionable to be seen with one in your mouth wherever you went and the company used many celebrities as spokesmen and women. To market the candy, shopkeepers were instructed by the company to place them near the cash register within reach of children’s hands instead of behind the counter.
Big League Chew: Shredded bubblegum in an aluminum foil pouch that’s different and fun to chew. The candy was introduced in 1980 and named by Portland Maverick’s pitcher, Rob Nelson.
Need some more ideas and options? Check out our favorite gifts for 50th birthdays.