Which Chocolate Or Sweets Are Still Going Since 1958

Alright, pull up a chair and let’s talk about the real OGs of the candy aisle—the sugary survivors that have been around since 1958. That’s the year the hula hoop was invented, the first Grammy Awards happened, and NASA was born. But while rocket science has changed, some candy recipes have stayed gloriously, stubbornly the same.

Smarties: The Chalky Rebels

First up: Smarties. Yes, those little pastel discs that taste vaguely of crushed-up Tums but with more personality. They’ve been rolling off production lines since 1958, and they’ve barely changed a bit.

In fact, the original recipe is so secret that only three people on the planet know it. That’s more security than Fort Knox, which is hilarious when you realize Smarties are just dehydrated sugar and a mysterious pink dust that stains your fingers for hours.

Fun fact: during the 1970s energy crisis, Smarties were the only candy that didn’t raise their price—they just made the rolls shorter. The ultimate inflation hack? I call it shrinkflation before it was cool.

Pez: The Plastic-Headed Time Machine

Now, let’s talk Pez. Launched in 1952, but the iconic character heads—like the classy Santa and the creepy Easter Bunny—really hit their stride in 1958. You know Pez: the candy that tastes like compressed childhood and requires a tiny plastic guillotine to eat.

This stuff was originally invented as a breath mint for smokers in Austria. Yes, you read that right. A mint for adults. Then someone yelled, “Let’s add fruit flavor and a cartoon head!” and history was made. Today, the Pez dispenser itself is more famous than the candy. You can buy a gun-shaped dispenser that shoots Pez across a room—purely for legal, non-combative snack warfare.

Kinder Surprise? No—Kinder Chocolate (The Sneaky One)

Okay, this one’s a curveball. Kinder Chocolate wasn’t invented until 1968, but its spiritual ancestor—the Kinder treat concept—was sparked by experiments in 1958 by Italian company Ferrero. But the real survivor here is Ferrero Rocher’s nutty cousin, the Mon Chéri (a cherry liqueur chocolate). Launched in 1958, this boozy bonbon has outlived disco, the Berlin Wall, and your uncle’s “just one more” at the dinner table.

Mon Chéri is still going strong in Italy and parts of Europe. It’s the chocolate that screams “I’m fancy but I’m also secretly a party.” One bite and you’re legally required to loosen your tie.

Swedish Fish: The Fish That Refused to Evolve

No, they weren’t invented in 1958—they dropped in 1959. But stick with me. Because the Pez and Smarties have a distant cousin that came right after: Pixy Stix. That’s right, those paper tubes of pure, unadulterated sugar—originally a powdered drink mix for astronauts? Okay, I made that last part up, but it should be true.

Pixy Stix launched in 1958, and their ingredient list reads like a chemistry exam you failed. But people love them because they’re essentially a sugar IV drip. You tear open the top, pour it in your mouth, and feel your teeth dissolve gratefully.

Hot Tamales: The Fiery Fiend

You want a candy that’s been burning mouths since 1958? Say hello to Hot Tamales. Yes, those spicy red shoelaces of hellfire. They were born in the same year as the moon’s backside was first photographed. Coincidence? I think not.

The iconic “chewy cinnamon” punch is still made with the same original recipe. Pro tip: if you eat a bag of these while watching a scary movie, your heart rate will double—and that’s before the monster shows up.

But Wait—The Big Three

If you’re looking for the absolute royalty of 1958 candy survivors, look no further than these:

• M&M’s? No, they’re from 1941. But the red M&M got its modern shade in 1958. So close enough.
• Life Savers? Oldies from 1912. But the Five Flavor pack got its iconic fruity lineup in 1958. You’re welcome.
• Pez. I already mentioned them, but they deserve a second bow. They’re the only candy you can legally use as a prop in a magic trick.

Why Do These Sweets Live Forever?

Here’s the surprising fact: none of these candies have majorly changed their recipe since 1958. Smarties still taste like chalk, Pez still crumbles into your lap, and Hot Tamales still make you question your life choices. And we love them for it.

These sweets are nostalgia in a wrapper. They remind us that some things are better left unchanged—like your grandmother’s fruitcake (okay, maybe not that). So next time you unwrap a Pez, remember: you’re eating a piece of history that’s outlasted Elvis, the Cold War, and every diet you ever started.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a roll of Smarties and a very poor decision about eating the whole thing in one go. You should, too.