Back when life was sweet: Remembering the Candies of the 90s

Long before every kid had a phone and a playlist, happiness came in pocket-sized wrappers and cost just a coin or two. The 90s were sweet in every sense, not just because of the lack of homework apps or endless WhatsApp school groups, but because of the joy packed inside colourful, sticky, melt-in-your-pocket candy wrappers.

These weren’t fancy imports or gourmet bites. They were simple, full of flavour, and deeply loved. A trip to the local kirana meant eyeing the candy jars behind the counter, calculating how much joy your pocket money could buy. One coin, many options – now that was real decision-making. Let’s take a sugary stroll down memory lane with the iconic candies that made growing up in India such a treat.

Phantom Sweet Cigarettes

There was nothing more rebellious than holding one of these white sticks between your fingers and pretending you were too cool for school.

The red tip, the chalky texture, the minty taste, it was theatre, not just candy. Everyone had a “smoking pose,” and yes, it made us feel like movie stars. Nobody actually liked the flavour that much, but it didn’t matter. Phantom wasn’t about taste – it was about attitude.

Poppins

Poppins were more than just candy; they were an emotion. A rainbow roll of fruity buttons, all neatly stacked in a crinkly wrapper. Unwrapping them felt like unrolling happiness.

You always had a favourite colour, and arguments with siblings often involved the last orange or purple piece. They were shared on school trips, traded in class, and hoarded secretly during exam time. You never really stopped at one.

Rola Cola

The name said it all – cola in candy form. Rola Cola had that syrupy fizz-flavour that felt like cheating the system. Couldn’t have soft drinks? No problem. Pop a Rola Cola instead and pretend you were sipping on a cold cola bottle.

It had the sweetness of childhood rebellion and came in a neat, glossy wrapper that always seemed a little too grown-up.

Parle Kismi

Kismi had that signature caramel-coconut taste that felt nostalgic even back then. It was the toffee version of an old song, warm, familiar, and never trying too hard. The wrapper was unmistakable, and once it was unwrapped, the toffee took its time to melt, just like the slow, peaceful pace of 90s afternoons.

No hurry, no buzz, just a sweet pause.

Big Babol & Boomer

The great bubblegum rivalry. Big Babol came with oversized promises, and sometimes, oversized gum. The flavour was super fruity and gone in minutes, but it gave you massive bubbles, and that was all that mattered. Boomer, with its cheeky mascot and slightly more stubborn chew, was always close competition. Lunch breaks were full of bubble-blowing contests, sticky fingers, and chewing till your jaw hurt.

Swad & Hajmola Candy

These were the tangy rebels of the candy world. Swad came in a tiny paper pouch, you tore it, tapped it into your palm, and let the sour-salty-sweet hit smack your tastebuds. Hajmola Candy was its cooler cousin, a dark, chewy masala bomb you could pop between classes or sneak in after meals. One was never enough, and neither lasted long.