All The Candies That Start With A

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Whether you’re feeling nostalgic about the candies of your youth or simply interested in the history of some of your favorite confectionaries, this list is the perfect launchpad. From hard candies to chewy ones and sweet to sour, the A candies are a truly fun bunch. Take a look. 

Abba Zaba

Produced by Annabelle’s Candy Company, which is located in Hayward, California, Abba Zaba is a tasty chocolate candy bar that hit the streets in 1922. The original Abba Zaba bar is a chewy taffy with a creamy peanut butter filling. Made with corn syrup, real peanut butter, and vegetable oil, this divine candy bar is enveloped in an iconic yellow and black checkered wrapper. Besides this original flavor, Annabelle’s recently introduced a new “mystery flavor” that changes as you eat it. 

Abba Zaba bars are not commonly found in your neighborhood candy aisle, though they can be ordered in bulk online. West of the Rockies, however, you have a better chance of finding these sweet treats in person. Lastly, the Abba Zaba bar contains 250 calories, one gram of dietary fiber, and two grams of protein per serving. And no matter which flavor you gravitate toward, be aware that the bars are processed in a plant that uses milk, eggs, and nuts. 

Aero Bar

The Aero Bar is a light chocolate bar that was introduced by the Nestle Corporation in 1935. Nestle, which has suppliers all over the world, first introduced this bubbly candy bar to the UK and Ireland where it remains a much-loved treat. The Aero Bar blends milk and dark chocolate coating that envelops tiny bubbles that have been mechanically blown into the bar. The result of these bubbles is a light airy feeling in your mouth. Essentially, an Aero Bar is a chocolate bar with a unique texture created by aeration. 

The original Aero Bar is made entirely of solid chocolate; each serving has 220 calories, 12 grams of fat, 25 grams of sugar, one gram of fiber, and three grams of protein. Best of all, the Aero Bar is available in a litany of varieties including chocolate mousse, tiramisu, black forest, and truffle to name a few. Finally, Aero Bars are readily available all over the world including domestically in the US. 

After Eight

Manufactured by Nestle Corporation, After Eight is a thin mint chocolate candy that was first introduced in 1962. Although they were originally made of dairy-free milk, in 2002 the recipe for After Eights was tweaked to incorporate butterfat. 

Marketed as the perfect after-dinner mint, After Eight is a chocolate-covered confection that’s essentially mint-flavored fondant covered in dark chocolate. Notably, After Eights are super delicate and light. Though the original dark chocolate variety is the most popular, After Eights are also available in orange and milk chocolate varieties. After Eights are primarily made of sugar, water, fructose, and chocolate. What’s more, these tasty candies are made of certified kosher dairy. Lastly, each After Eight is only 35 calories and contains just over one gram of fat, nearly six grams of sugar, and less than a gram each of dietary fiber and protein. 

Almond Joy

This unique coconut candy is manufactured by The Hershey Company. This tasty candy was invented in 1946 in Connecticut and was later purchased by The Hershey Company in 1988. Of note, Almond Joy bars are small, two-bite candies that have a coconut and almond center and are coated in milk chocolate. Essentially, Almond Joys are a Mounds candy bar, also produced by The Hershey Company, with the almond. 

Almond Joy’s standard packaging contains two small chocolate bars, but they’re also packaged in mini versions which are popular treats on Halloween. Almond Joy is made of milk chocolate, sweetened coconut flakes, crunchy almonds, and milk protein. A standard-sized package of Almond Joy contains 220 calories, 13 grams of fat, 21 grams of sugar, two grams of dietary fiber, and two grams of protein per serving. Best of all, Almond Joys are both kosher and vegetarian. 

Airheads

Manufactured by Perfetti Van Melle in Kentucky, Airheads were first introduced to the US in 1985. Since that time, these yummy treats have been a much-loved candy of children and adults alike. Airheads are a stretchy, taffy that comes in a wide array of sizes, flavors, and colors. The original Airheads are roughly the size of a standard candy bar, but they also come in fun-size and bite-size packages too. 

Original Airheads are available in blue raspberry, watermelon, white mystery, and cherry flavors, however, since their invention other flavors such as grape, orange, strawberry, and green apple have been introduced. The main ingredients in Airheads include corn syrup, sugar, and food starch. Notably, Airheads are a sticky, stretchy, taffy treat that is as fun to eat as it is to taste. Furthermore, each standard size Airhead contains 60 calories, zero fat, 11 grams of sugar, and zero fiber or protein. Best of all, Airheads don’t contain any common allergens and they’re kosher. 

Allsorts

Allsorts are fun, but-sized licorice candies that were popularized in the UK in 1899. Since that time, Allsorts has become one of the most successful candy varieties for the Maynard Bassetts Candy Company. Allsorts are essentially a mixed bag of teeny licorice candies in different shapes and sizes, thus the name Allsorts. Primarily made of licorice, sugar, coconut, aniseed, and gelatin, Allsorts are tasty and chewy. 

Allsorts come in shareable bags with an assortment of licorice candies ranging in flavors and colors. Some are tubular with filling while others are round tidbits and some are layered while others are non-pareil bespeckled types. The colors of each candy vary and there’s a beautiful mix of pastel and dark-colored licorices. A serving size of Allsorts is roughly eight pieces and each serving consists of 150 calories, two grams of fat, 24 grams of sugar, one gram of protein, and less than a gram of dietary fiber. Finally, Allsorts are dairy-free and kosher, though not vegan. 

Altoids

First invented in London in 1780, Altoids hit mainstream popularity in the US in 1918. Conceived as a treatment for stomach discomfort, it was quickly realized that Altoids are best suited for conquering bad breath than as a stomach remedy. Known for the slogan “Curiously Strong Mints,” Altoids are known for their powerful flavor and aftertaste. Though the original Altoids are a strong peppermint flavor, they now come in wintergreen, cinnamon, and sour varieties.

Of note, the main ingredients in original Peppermint Altoids are sugar and peppermint oil. Each Altoid mint contains just five calories and one gram of sugar; they’re not a significant source of dietary fiber, protein, or fat. Though Altoids are dairy-free and kosher, they are not vegan as they contain gelatin derived from pork fat. 

Andes Mints

Manufactured by Tootsie Roll Industries, the same producers of Tootsie Rolls, Andes Candies were first introduced in Chicago in 1921. Originally named Andy’s Candies after the man who created them, Andes Candies were renamed to evoke images of the cold Andes Mountain Range with every minty bite you take. Best known as an after-dinner mint, Andes Candies are bite-sized, rectangular treats that are comprised of a chocolate and green mint sandwich. 

Furthermore, Andes Candies is made of a combination of natural and artificial flavors including sugar, cocoa, milk, and peppermint oil among other ingredients. Though less popular than the original mint candy, Andes Candies come in other varieties such as cherry jubilee, toffee crunch, mint parfait, and peppermint crunch to name a few. Each bite-sized Andes Candy has only 50 calories, three-and-a-half grams of fat, five grams of sugar, no dietary fiber, and one gram of protein. Lastly, if you have concerns regarding dietary restrictions, know that Andes Candies do contain milk and soy. 

Appleheads

Made by Ferrara Pan Candy, Appleheads are hard, bite-sized candies that were invented in 1962 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This overtly sour apple candy comes in a 24-count, lime green box. A close relative to the Lemonheads sour candy, Appleheads will cause you to seriously pucker up. The ingredients in Appleheads are principally composed of apple juice, sugar, corny syrup, and citric acid. One box of 24 candies contains zero calories, fat, protein, or dietary fiber, though there are 18 grams of sugar per serving. Lastly, beware that Appleheads are manufactured in a plant with dairy, soy, and nut products. 

Atomic Fireball

Manufactured by the Ferrara Pan Candy Company, Atomic Fireballs are the spicy, hard candy balls that childhood challenges are made of. Each hard candy is roughly the size of a gumball; they’re primarily made of sugar and corn syrup. Atomic Fireballs have a spicy, strong cinnamon flavor that will surely make your eyes water. Atomic Fireballs are hard like a Jawbreaker and are usually sucked on until they dissolve. Every three pieces of Atomic Fireballs have 60 calories and 16 grams of sugar; they’re not a noteworthy source of protein, dietary fiber, or fat. Finally, Atomic Fireballs are manufactured in a plant with dairy, eggs, nuts, and soy though they are both kosher and vegan. 

Amarula

Amarula is a cream liqueur made of the Amarula fruits of South Africa; from this liqueur, a delicious, adults-only chocolate bar was created. The liqueur itself is made with sugar, cream, and the sweet fruit of the Amarula tree. The chocolate candy bar is made of eight perforated chocolate pods, each of which is filled with juicy liqueur. 

Though the Amarula candies are only manufactured in South Africa, they are imported to the US and can be found in some liquor stores around the country; otherwise, they can be purchased from online retailers. It’s worth noting that each delicious chocolate square contains 44 calories, one gram of fat, and no protein or fiber. Finally, these delicious candies are a fun way to replace an after-dinner drink or to place out in a bowl at dinner parties. 

The Final Letter

Herein, there are so many tasty and time-tested candies of both historic and contemporary repute. From decadent chocolates to some of the strongest flavor profiles candies have ever seen, there’s something fun for every palette on the A list of candies.

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