Skip to Content

Totally Radical! 10 Treats from the 1990s You Used to Love

Check out these drinks and foods that were popular in the 1990s!
By Sahara Borja
<b>Wrigley introduced its Bubble Tape product in the late 1980s, but the height of its popularity was in the 90s. Bubble tape was six feet of bubble gum wrapped in a spiral, encased in pink tape-dispenser-like shell. Bubble Tape was marketed exclusively to children, and all the kids wanted it, especially because it tasted...absolutely disgusting. But the six-feet factor made up for the yuck factor, until the 2000s at least. You can still find Bubble Tape in many stores today, but you don't see any advertisements for it. </b>
Courtesy of Wrigley
M.C. Hammer pants, C + C Music Factory, Nintendo, neon biking shorts. Are we bringing back fond memories of the 1990s? It's not just the mention of fashion and music that can make you reminisce about the last decade in the twentieth century. There are definitely some '90s-era foods that will elicit recognition. We're looking back at a few of the 1990s' most beloved treats, from Laffy Taffy and Poprocks to Capri Sun and the shortlived — but glorious — Crystal Pepsi. Take a trip down memory lane with us — and yes, you must dress appropriately!Still feeling nostalgic? Check out these fun, vintage lunchboxes from way back when, and get a load of some of our favorite retro candy.
1

Bubble Tape

<b>Wrigley introduced its Bubble Tape product in the late 1980s, but the height of its popularity was in the 90s. Bubble tape was six feet of bubble gum wrapped in a spiral, encased in pink tape-dispenser-like shell. Bubble Tape was marketed exclusively to children, and all the kids wanted it, especially because it tasted...absolutely disgusting. But the six-feet factor made up for the yuck factor, until the 2000s at least. You can still find Bubble Tape in many stores today, but you don't see any advertisements for it. </b>
Courtesy of Wrigley

Remember Bubble Tape? Wrigley introduced the hot-pink gum in the late 1980s, but it reached the height of its popularity in the '90s. Bubble Tape offered six feet of bubble gum wrapped in a spiral, encased in pink tape-dispenser-like shell. Bubble Tape was marketed exclusively to children, and successfully so. You can still find Bubble Tape in many stores today. Start tugging to see if it gives you the same joy as it did two decades ago.

2

Crystal Pepsi

Liquid, Product, Bottle, Plastic bottle, Drink, Drinkware, Orange, Bottle cap, Ceiling, Carbonated soft drinks,
Minh Phan

If you want your mint chocolate chip ice cream scoops to have a green hue and your glass of Pepsi to include caramel coloring, you may have been one of the millions of people who opposed Pepsi going clear. The soda company's new drink, called "Crystal Pepsi," was Pepsi, only clear. For some reason it didn't stick. Crystal Pepsi appeared on the market in 1992. While it had a set of die-hard fans, by 1993 most people in the U.S. were tired of it. It lasted a little while longer in Europe, however.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Jawbreakers

<p>Jawbreakers, also known as gobstoppers, are exactly what they sound like - highly dangerous confections that for some reason were given to children. You can't bite into them unless you want to wear dentures for the rest of your life, so you just suck layer upon layer of sugar away for hours, or  days or even weeks with the larger ones. I can't think why people stopped buying them so much - why wouldn't you want to carry around a sticky, germ-covered bowling ball-like candy that could knock out your teeth with you for weeks and weeks? Doesn't that sound immensely appealing?</p>
Flickr/Dotpolka

Jawbreakers, also known as gobstoppers, are exactly what they sound like — hard, tough balls made of sugar that are impossible to bite into. Although the little ones were cute, they, too, could wreak havoc on your teeth. The huge jawbreakers were impossible to work through in less than a few hours. Most children gnawed on their jawbreakers, waiting for them to get smaller and smaller. This candy was best for the patient child (some children are patient, right?). The rest of us just had to pretend to be patient or give up and move onto something easier, like Gummy Bears.

4

Laffy Taffy

<p>Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the Laffy Taffy! Laffy Taffys were actually introduced by the Willy Wonka Candy Company in the 1970s, but we all gobbled them down like, well, candy in the 90s. These individually wrapped, chewy, tongue-stainingly colorful taffys had jokes written on the wrappers, written by taffy-consuming child pun prodigies. Although Laffy Taffys are still on the market, but they don't make 'em like they used to -  literally, because the candies used to be short and fat, and now they're longer and flatter, and sometimes have sparkles.</p>
M. Kasahara

Laffy Taffy was introduced by the Willy Wonka Candy Company in the 1970s, but the candy didn't really become very popular until the '90s. The individually wrapped, chewy, tongue-staining, colorful taffys had jokes on the wrappers. Laffy Taffy candies are still on the market, but they don't make 'em like they used to — they are now flatter and longer, with a bit more design flair. Why were they so popular? The name? The tartness? Perhaps a combination of both? We'll need a time machine to go back and take an informal poll. And while we're there, we will need to taste all of them, too. You know, for research...

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Poprocks

Finger, Red, Carmine, Nail, Thumb, Paper product, Coquelicot, Paper,
Silas Perez

In the 1990s, the myth surrounding Poprocks was that if you mixed them with soda the combination would explode in your stomach. Thankfully it was just a myth! The little Poprocks did differ from typical candy in that they created a fizzy reaction in your mouth. Truth be told, as far as "fun" food goes, Poprocks was pretty high on the list. How could kids resist? Though popular in the 1990s, they are also associated with the 1970s, making them a multi-generational candy — one you and your parents may have enjoyed together!

6

Push Pops

<p>"Don't push ME, push a push pop" was the slogan used to promote  Push-Pops, a candy meant to divert growing violent tendencies in children from their peers to their snacks. Or maybe it was just a a cute slogan for a longlasting lollipop in a tube that you kept pushing up as the top disappeared. There was even a cap you could put on top of the pop so that you could save it for later - yum! Give life a push!</p>
Flickr/Lafra

"Don't push ME, push a push pop!" was the slogan used to promote Push Pops. You could continue to enjoy the long-lasting lollipop in a tube by pushing it up as the top disappeared. There was even a cap you could put on top of the pop so that you could save it for later — genius! On the heels of the Push Pops were Ring Pops, but those were a little harder to cover up...

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Ring Pop

Red, Colorfulness, Carmine, Maroon, Gas, Still life photography, Coquelicot, Lighting accessory, Cylinder, Animation,
Flickr/Beatrice A.

The '90s, as you already know, was an era of many wonders — not the least of which was edible jewelry! Ring Pops were lollipops you could wear on your fingers. The candy part was shaped like an oversized, glowing jewel, and the actual ring was plastic. With these little candies — much like Push Pops — kids could keep their fingers from getting sticky while eating. The best part, however, might have been the ease with which you could present one of these to the object of your grade-school affection. Even if rejected, it was all yours to enjoy!

8

Dippin' Dots

Food, Pink, Produce, Ingredient, Natural foods, Kitchen utensil, Seedless fruit, Berry, Spoon, Superfood,
Flickr/Churl Han

The "Ice Cream of the Future" was invented in 1987 by flash-freezing ice cream mix in liquid notrogen. The result was ice cream shaped into tiny little balls. Dippin' Dots was big in the '90s despite the fact that it was never sold at grocery stores because of demanding cooling requirements. Instead, as you may remember, Dippin' Dots was sold at individual outlets, in stadiums, malls, and theme parks. The Dots are still around, but now the "Ice Cream of the Future" is more like a relic of the past. Did you go nuts for these? Or did you prefer regular ice cream?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Lunchables

Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Peach, Dish, Convenience food, Recipe, Finger food, Snack, Breakfast,
Flickr/Megan Squire

What is the lesson we can learn from Lunchables? Perhaps that anything is better than a brown-bag lunch. In the '90s, Lunchables were a hit. The pre-packed lunches typically held crackers, cheese, and meat, which kids put together themselves when it was time to eat. Lunchables were wildly popular among kids as well as parents, who were now off the hook from packing lunch. At the height of their popularity, Lunchables also offered burgers, hot dogs, and make-your-own "pizza." Since then, it's been DIY everything, rendering Lunchables a bit less innovative than they were when they first arrived on the scene.

10

Capri Sun

Blue, Rock, Electric blue, Azure, Colorfulness, Pebble, Cobalt blue, Rubble,
Flickr/Damien Cox

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what set Capri Sun apart from the rest of the drinks on the market at the time. Was it the packaging? The pouch? The fantastic advertising? It's still sold today, but it's not as prevalent as it used to be — maybe because even adults had trouble getting those little straws into the right place on the pouch. There's even a Facebook page called "The Devastation of Losing your Straw on your Capri Sun," which has received 9,000 likes. That said, there was no denying the joy of putting a Capri Sun in the freezer and enjoying it as a slushy treat later. Since it hit the market in the '90s, the brand has reduced the amount of sugar per pouch and introduced "new options everyone can feel good about," like their 100% juices and green production practices.

Watch Next 
preview for Watch Our Newest Videos
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below