Remember when you were a kid and you had those cool little wax bottles with juice in them? Of course you do! And did you know that you can still get them? Bet ya' didn't! Well, they've been around for a while and they are still as much fun as they were back then. Read to find out more about this classic chewy candy treat!
Retro Wax Candy
"Wax bottles" is the more common name for what The American Candy Company officially calls "Nik-L-Nips." The name combines the original cost of a "Nickel" and "nip" which is the usual method of opening up these tiny wax bottles. The "nip" is also attributed to a "nip" of whiskey (small bottle holding one shot). Best known as the inventor of wax lips, The American Candy Company was founded in 1899 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Selma, Alabama in 1939.
Today, the company is still in business, specializing in making old-fashioned hard candies. However, their wax candy division was sold to Concord Confections in 2002 and is now part of Tootsie Roll Industries, who now is the overhead of the sale of Nik-L-Nips, as well as wax lips, wax fangs, and even wax mustaches under the name Wack-O-Wax.
Nik-L-Nips are 2 1/2" (and approx. 1" wide) tall and feature flavored juices (cherry, orange, lemon, apple, and blue raspberry) inside the wax. These classic nostalgic treats are still very popular because they are actually really tasty and incredibly fun to eat!
How to Eat Wax Bottles
Step 1. Bite ‘Em - Bite off the top Step 2. Drink ‘Em - Suck out the liquid Step 3. Chew ‘Em - Chew the wax, just like gum!
With a treat this fun, it's no wonder that they've been popular for decades! So, what are you waiting for? Go out and get yourself a pack of wax bottles and share a memory or two with your kids as you relive the good ol' days of childhood.
Updated 10-21-19