Classic sweet treats from your childhood, what were their names again?

Still a Mystery: The Iconic, Colorful Squirms of Our Childhood, Unnamed and Unchanged for 60 Years

• Authored by Denise Snieguole Wachter
• Time to read: ±2 minutes

Childhood Favorites: Recall the Actual Names of Those Sweet Treats from Your Past? - Classic sweet treats from your childhood, what were their names again?

For 6 decades, they've been an unwavering presence: Colorful, square, chewy candies have tagged along with the childhood of countless Germans - whether accompanying a kid's first trip to the bank or the doc, or setting the vibe frantic at carnival parades. Birthdays truly kicked off when the colorful, delicious treats in flavors like cherry, raspberry, lemon, and orange were dished out. But have you ever wondered, what in the hell are these sweets really called, and why have they stuck with the same look for 6 decades?

The secret to our childhood conundrum was recently cracked by comedian Ole Waschkau on Twitter (now defunct): They are affectionately known as Bohme Fruchtkaramellen and are made in the Saxon town of Delitzsch. Darren Ehlert, CEO of the Delitzsch chocolate factory and board member of the sister company Halloren, affectionately refers to them as "Frukas."

"After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Delitzsch chocolate factory became a subsidiary of the company Wissoll, which relocated the production of several confectionery brands to Delitzsch," explains Ehlert in an interview with "Wirtschaftswoche." Today, the chocolate factory is once again an independent entity and produces, among other things, Royal Mints, chocolate cream tablets, and you guessed it, Bohme Fruchtkaramellen. "They are among our bestsellers," Ehlert tells the "Berliner Kurier."

The Market for Chewy Candies: Strong and Steady

The square chewy candies aren't breaking sales records, but demand for them remains "very robust and consistently high," according to Ehlert. Ehlert emphasizes that they enjoy the product because it's the only non-chocolate sweet in their range. Cherry and raspberry are the favored flavors, he tells the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (SZ).

But if a product is doing that well, why sit back and relax instead of evolving, modernizing, and ditching the retro design? They tried, Ehlert admits. For instance, they altered the packaging to a stand-up pouch, but that didn't work: The packaging simply sat on the shelf, as reported by "Wirtschaftswoche." As Ehlert tells the "Süddeutsche Zeitung," there were even complaints. Moreover, consumers on social media made threats to stop buying the product if changes were made.

The bond between customers and the fruit caramels is astonishingly strong. Ehlert suspects that his caramels trigger nostalgic feelings because they are often associated with first experiences or close family relationships. "People recall memories of their childhood, that they connect the Frukas with their parents or with the first visit to the bank or the hairdresser," says Ehlert to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung."

Chewy Candies: A Piece of Nostalgia, Here to Stay

So what happens to the candies at carnival? Ehlert is okay with his candies being used asProjectile treats. "It's a bit sad to waste food like that, but it's part of the tradition," says Ehlert to the "SZ" and adds: "Carnival is good for our business. We sell the most candies two months after Christmas."

The formula behind the consistent success of Bohme Fruchtkaramellen lies in stable demand, vivid childhood memories, and the traditional connection to carnival. In a world that's constantly changing, they remain a little piece of nostalgia.

Sources: "Wirtschaftswoche", "Süddeutsche Zeitung", "Berliner Kurier", Ole Waschkau on "X"

Additional Sidenotes:- Cherry and raspberry are the most popular flavors.- The demand for the square, chewy candies remains "very stable at a very good level."- Delitzsch is a town in Saxony, Germany, where the candies are made.- The helmsman of the factory, Darren Ehlert, affectionately calls the candies "Frukas."- The products produced by the factory, besides the fruit caramels, include Royal Mints, chocolate cream tablets, and other varieties.

Trivia:- The concept of these chewy candies seems similar to Starburst Fritt, a flat, fruit-flavored candy popular in Germany.- Despite not being square, Haribo Gummy Bears are another famous German candy known for their classic design that's been around for decades.

• Despite the constant evolution of products, the 'Bohme Fruchtkaramellen' have managed to maintain their retro design due to consumer preference, as common memories and nostalgic feelings are associated with these colorful squares.
• The 'lifestyle' of Bohme Fruchtkaramellen extends beyond just being a sweet treat, as they often symbolize 'first experiences' or mark 'close family relationships' during events like visits to the bank or the hairdresser.
• With 'shopping' for 'food-and-drink' items, consumers can find Bohme Fruchtkaramellen in various stores alongside other products from the Delitzsch chocolate factory, such as Royal Mints and chocolate cream tablets. In addition, these candies are also available in 'fashion-and-beauty' stores and in the 'home-and-garden' section, as they are often part of traditional gift baskets.

Read also: