The Early Days of a Retro Candy Bar
The history of the Abba-Zaba bar goes way back, all the way to 1922, to be exact. It was a different time, then. The first radio had just arrived at the White House, Egypt received independence from Great Britain, and a little candy company called Colby and McDermott was manufacturing a new kind of candy bar in Los Angeles, California.
What made this candy so special, you might ask? Well, it consisted of a white taffy exterior with a creamy peanut butter center. Known as the Abba-Zaba bar, this stick-to-your-teeth confection became a huge hit out west, where they still carry the biggest clout, today.
In The Spotlight
Anyone who loves the Abba-Zaba bar will recognize that black and yellow Taxi-cab-esque exterior. But are you familiar with the original wrapper scandal? Early Abba-Zaba wrappers from Colby & McDermott depict what appear to be African tribesmen in a jungle, sitting beside a taffy tree. And while this racially taboo packaging would never fly today, it didn’t do the brand any damage when the candy first came out.
The Abba-Zaba bar has also made numerous TV and movie appearances in its sweet history, racking up quite a few screen creds- the most famous of which may be from its mention in the movie Half Baked.
So Famous!
Abba-Zaba Today
Over the years, manufacturing of the candy passed first to Cardinet Candy and then to Annabelle Candy Company in 1978. But despite frequent company changes, the original Abba-Zaba taste has remained the same.
Today, Annabelle Candy Company manufactures the Abba-Zaba bar in Hayward, California. The candy is Kosher pareve and is even available in new flavors. You can now get your Abba-Zaba fix with green-apple flavored taffy, or a chocolate, instead of peanut butter, filling.
And once you’ve gotten your hands on one, the choice is yours on how you want to enjoy it. Some say freezing them is the best way. Others say leaving them in a hot car does the trick. Either way, you’re in for a treat.
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Sources
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abba-Zaba
- http://www.candywrappermuseum.com/abbazaba.html
- http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/08/abba-zaba-candy-taffy-peanut-butter-you-my-only-friend.html
- https://www.facebook.com/ABBAZABA
I loved your story Gary o’dell. Abba zabba is my favorite candy.
my name is Gary O’Dell…I have spoken with you before regarding Abba Zaba…..I really think it would be a nice story
to the respect the Candy should get….When I lived across from the Original Factory on 12th street in Los Angeles…I used
to stand by the door while wrappers were wrapping the One Penny candies they had 3 machines and seems like the machines went every single day…When Christmas would come around Mr. McDermott would have all of the neighborhood kids line up and they would go upstairs where he lived and he would give them a 80 count box Wrapped with Christmas paper and a brand new $ 1.00 Bill his employees would help him do this….To me in my world,which was quite limited This was a very very nice thing to do…..Respectfully Gary O’Dell 75 years old
I Miss The Spear Chucker That Used To Be On The Rapper
I was so sad the other day when I bought an ABBA zabba and there was no peanut butter at all!!! Just white taffy……not sure what happened. Bit it was very disappointing…..
Your search is over! https://legacy.candyfavorites.com/abba-zaba