What candy is more fun to eat than Pez? These little candy tablets come in assorted fruit flavors, the most popular of which are strawberry, orange, lemon and grape. But their true appeal is in the fun containers featuring cartoon characters, celebrities, holiday icons, animals, and even video game characters. Pez dispensers are collectable toys available in convenience stores, grocery stores, toy stores and elsewhere for around a dollar. You can buy refills packs of the candy or, since they are so affordable, purchase another container which comes with two or three new packs. The dispenser opens to hold an entire pack of Pez, so you can toss it on your desk or in your car and enjoy the candies one at a time—straight from Santa Claus’s mouth (or Mickey’s… or Spiderman’s… or a random clown’s…).
Pez originated in Vienna, Austria as a peppermint meant to cure smoker’s breath. In German, the word Pferrerminz (which means peppermint) was shortened to create the name Pez. (If you need some useless trivia at a social gathering, pull that one out—you’ll be the only one who knows.) But since adopting the popular fruit flavors, sours, and more, Pez has permeated candy culture worldwide. In the United States, nearly 3 million of these candies are sold every year. That’s a huge number, but believable since these are so affordable and because they make great gifts.
From stocking stuffers to Easter basket contents, I’ve owned many Pez dispensers over the years. They are equally fun for kids and adults, which is why they’ve retained their popularity for so many years. There’s something great about a candy that you can interact with, share with friends, and always count on to brighten your day. My favorite Pez flavor is a tie between strawberry and orange, but I’m a big fan of the assorted flavor packs. My favorite dispenser ever? That’s a tough one. But I must confess that I did break down and purchase the turtle from Over the Hedge because he was just that adorable.
Tags: Pez, bite size candy, fruit candies, candy toys, sweets