What Are Those Strawberry Candies Grandmothers Always Seem To Have?

Few things bring back memories as much as the foods our grandmothers gave us. We fondly remember things like warm chocolate chip cookies or her special homemade spaghetti sauce. And what about those strange little strawberry-flavored hard candies that were omnipresent, from the candy dish in the parlor or seemingly appearing out of nowhere from her handbag. What are those strawberry candies we all remember from our childhoods?

These candies – officially called strawberry bon bons – are known for their hard shell and soft, chewy center. Their twisted, seed-speckled, red wrapper gives a hint to the strawberry-flavored candy inside. You may remember patiently sucking on them until the center emerged from the hard shell. Or maybe you were one of those kids who crunched down on the candy as soon as it went in your mouth.

Not unlike the murky history of Christmas candy canes, the origin story of strawberry bon bons isn't entirely clear. Hard candies have been mass-produced since the 19th century, after "drop candies" first came on the scene via France, but little is known about when strawberry bon bons hit the scene. One thing we know for sure is that they have been enjoyed for generations.

That iconic candy dish we often see filled with these sweet treats has a significance that goes back to the Great Depression. Fancy glass bowls were a status symbol back then — a sign that your family was doing so well that you could afford something as frivolous as a candy-filled bowl. During a time of sugar rationing and shortages, it sent a powerful message.

Sugar was rationed during World War I and certainly became pricey during the Great Depression. In the U.S., another round of rationing during the Second World War didn't end until June 1947, two years after WWII ended. It wasn't until then that sugar could be used for frivolous purposes like strawberry bon bons. Candies of all kinds came to represent a time of plenty and prosperity.

For many, strawberry bon bons evoke powerful childhood nostalgia. Whether it was the treat your grandma quietly unwrapped in church to occupy you or the goody she gave you simply for being special to her, fond memories accompany these candies. If reading about them makes you nostalgic for this sweet treat, strawberry bon bons are still available for purchase online online or in larger candy stores.