Twizzlers
Encyclopedia
Twizzlers is a brand of red licorice candy in the United States
and Canada
. Twizzlers is the product of Y&S Candies, Inc., of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, now a subsidiary of The Hershey Company
.
Since 1999, Twizzlers have been manufactured in Memphis, Tennessee
, in a Y&S plant that also makes chewing gum and other candies. From 1970 through 1999, it was manufactured at a plant in Farmington, New Mexico
, but relocated the operation to Memphis because of rising transportation costs. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest licorice twist ever made measured 1200 feet (365.8 m) and 100 pounds (45.4 kg) and was made at the Y&S Candy Plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This record-breaking twist became a Guinness World Record, on July 19, 1998.
, chocolate
, cherry
, and watermelon
flavors, and a variety of shapes and sizes. In addition to their Twists, Bites, and Nibs of various sizes, Y&S introduced Pull 'n' Peel in 1994, and both Twerpz and Strawz in 2004. Limited edition
cherry cola
and "rainbow" (fruit variety consisting of strawberry, orange
, lemonade
, watermelon, blue raspberry
and grape
) flavors were introduced in 2006. Today all these flavors of "rainbow" Twizzlers are still sold in stores and movie theaters. The company also manufactures a special 2 feet (61 cm) variety; the regular length of Twizzlers is 8 inches (20.3 cm). Hershey most recently introduced the Sweet and Sour Filled Twist. They come in two different colors, red and yellow, and both have a gooey, fruity filling inside. In 2011 a new variety called Super Long Nibs was also introduced, combining the flavor and texture of the classic Nib with the length of a standard Twizzler.
All Twizzler products are kosher certified by the Orthodox Union
. Twizzlers do not contain animal gelatin or other animal products, and are approved by PETA
as a vegan-edible confection.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Twizzlers is the product of Y&S Candies, Inc., of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, now a subsidiary of The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
.
History
Y&S Candies, the manufactures of Twizzlers candy, is one of the oldest confectionery firms in the United States. The company was established in 1845 as Young and Smylie, and adopted Y&S as its trademark in 1870. National Licorice Company was created in 1902 through the merger of three small firms: Young & Smylie, S.V. & F.P. Schudder and H.W. Petherbridge. The company changed its name to Y&S candies Inc. in 1968 and was acquired by Hershey Foods in 1977.Since 1999, Twizzlers have been manufactured in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, in a Y&S plant that also makes chewing gum and other candies. From 1970 through 1999, it was manufactured at a plant in Farmington, New Mexico
Farmington, New Mexico
Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S...
, but relocated the operation to Memphis because of rising transportation costs. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest licorice twist ever made measured 1200 feet (365.8 m) and 100 pounds (45.4 kg) and was made at the Y&S Candy Plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This record-breaking twist became a Guinness World Record, on July 19, 1998.
Flavors and varieties
While the original flavor introduced in 1845 was licorice, since then the company has begun to produce Twizzlers in strawberryStrawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
, chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
, cherry
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
, and watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
flavors, and a variety of shapes and sizes. In addition to their Twists, Bites, and Nibs of various sizes, Y&S introduced Pull 'n' Peel in 1994, and both Twerpz and Strawz in 2004. Limited edition
Limited Edition candy
Limited Edition candy is specialized candy manufactured for a limited time period, typically eight to twelve weeks. Limited-edition as a candy marketing strategy was first used in 2003; by August 2005, more than 60 limited-edition candy varieties had been marketed.Hershey's Dark Kisses , Kit Kat...
cherry cola
Cherry Cola
Cherry cola is a soft drink made by mixing cherry flavored syrup into cola. It is a popular mixture that has been available at old-fashioned soda fountains for years. Several major soda manufacturers market their own version of the beverage, including Coca-Cola Cherry, Pepsi Wild Cherry and Cherry...
and "rainbow" (fruit variety consisting of strawberry, orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
, lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.The term can refer to three different types of beverage:...
, watermelon, blue raspberry
Blue Raspberry flavor
Blue raspberry flavor is a common flavoring for candy, snack foods, laffy taffy, sweet syrups and soft drinks. It is more commonly used in the United States, as a sweet flavoring...
and grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
) flavors were introduced in 2006. Today all these flavors of "rainbow" Twizzlers are still sold in stores and movie theaters. The company also manufactures a special 2 feet (61 cm) variety; the regular length of Twizzlers is 8 inches (20.3 cm). Hershey most recently introduced the Sweet and Sour Filled Twist. They come in two different colors, red and yellow, and both have a gooey, fruity filling inside. In 2011 a new variety called Super Long Nibs was also introduced, combining the flavor and texture of the classic Nib with the length of a standard Twizzler.
All Twizzler products are kosher certified by the Orthodox Union
Orthodox Union
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America , more popularly known as the Orthodox Union , is one of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. It is best known for its kosher food preparation supervision service...
. Twizzlers do not contain animal gelatin or other animal products, and are approved by PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
as a vegan-edible confection.