Last updated 4 months ago | Originally Published: September 20, 2021

Discover Everything About Twizzlers And More

Take a few simple ingredients like corn syrup, flour, sugar, cornstarch, and boom, you have Twizzlers! Known for its striking red color, the famous licorice candy has been a favorite snack for nearly a century. In fact, they were invented by one of America’s oldest candy-making companies in the United States. Read on for an interesting history about this classic treat.  

An Idea is Born

In the year 1845 — long before the Civil War even happened — the Young & Smylie Confectionery Company began making licorice. 

Located in Brooklyn, their products ranged from items such as licorice root to 5-pound tins full of licorice pellets. Eventually, they merged with two other companies and became the National Licorice Company. 

Then, in 1929, Twizzlers were first released to the world from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, their mainstream popularity didn’t occur until decades later. 

In fact, the modern version of Twizzlers we have today wasn’t created until the mid-1970s. This is when manufacturers introduced a variety of flavors including strawberry, grape, and cherry. 

Now, over 20 different varieties of Twizzlers exist on the shelves, with unique flavors such as orange cream pop and watermelon. 

Twizz’t of Fate

In 1977, Twizzlers joined the Hershey Company family. Currently, Hershey makes one million miles of Twizzlers per year! That’s enough to circle the planet 40 times and still have enough licorice to stretch across America! 

In terms of numbers, as of June of 2018, Hershey reported about 218.4 million U.S. dollars in Twizzlers sales that year. Today, the strawberry flavor accounts for 70% of the total annual production. By and large, it’s the top flavor for fans of the candy. 

Originally invented in Lancaster, PA, the candy continues to be produced in that same town along with another manufacturing facility located in Memphis, Tennessee. 

How Are Twizzlers Made?

The process is unique: ingredients are pushed through special rotating nozzles that give the candy its iconic twisted shape with a hollow center. On average, each Twizzler has about 15 twists. 

While the original flavor is classic licorice, the company has since expanded its flavor repertoire after being acquired by Hershey. 

Now flavors such as strawberry, grape, chocolate, cherry, and cola are offered. Luckily, you can get all of the best flavors delivered to your door via Candy Retailer. 

That being said, only the original Twizzlers twists are considered true licorice because they include licorice extract. 

Since most of the popular flavors such as strawberry or cherry do not include this ingredient, they are usually referred to by Hershey as “licorice type candy.” 

True to modern times, it is also reported that Hershey now relies on Microsoft to create artificial intelligence for their manufacturing processes. 

Most importantly for the company, artificial intelligence is being used to keep the weight of Twizzlers at the precise amount specified on the package. 

This helps the company work around the imperfections of the weighing process in the factory and avoid underpacking the candy. 

How Were Twizzlers Named?

Although there are rumors that Twizzlers used to go by another name, no one can state exactly what this was. Furthermore, some bloggers and fans of the candy have theorized that Twizzlers is a combination of the words “twisted” and “nozzle”, referring to how the candy is manufactured. That being said, there’s no factual account of the original brand name nor how its current name came about. 

Versions of Twizzlers

Additionally, Twizzlers exist in a variety of shapes and sizes. One example is the Twizzlers Pull ‘n’ Peel, which was first invented in 1994. 

Twerpz and Straws followed the following decade in 2004. There are also Twizzlers Bites and Twizzlers Candy Straws. Even the packaging varies. 

This is the case with the extra-long version of Twizzlers that reaches a startling 2 feet in length. Normally, the typical Twizzler only stretches to 8 inches. 

Notably, all flavors of the Pull ‘n’ Peel, Twists, Bites, and Nibs are kosher-certified. They also do not contain ingredients or processing aids derived from animal origin, making the candy vegan-friendly. 

On The Market: Twizzlers Spin-Offs

As with many candies, countless spin-off products have been inspired by the licorice treat. One popular spin-off is Twizzlers Candy Straws. 

These are a more wide, hollow version of the original candy that can be used to sip drinks. Like the original, there are multiple flavors to choose from, including rainbow, lemonade, and blue raspberry. Even more, the best part is that the straw can be an edible treat after finishing one’s drink!

Another Twizzlers spin-off is the Twizzlers Filled Twists. These are a thicker version of Twizzlers that are manufactured slightly differently to bring a more unique taste. 

Specifically, a layering method is used, with an outer layer and a separate filled later. By doing so, the taste changes as you bite into the filled twist and chew. 

Popular flavors include orange cream pop and key lime pie. Twizzlers has even inspired non-food items such as scented candles. 

Twizzlers Nibs

One of the most coveted Twizzlers-inspired treats is Nibs. These are bite-sized licorice pieces made specifically for nibbling. In other words, perfect when you’re in the mood for a small snack to tide you over! 

The name originates from cacao nibs, which are tiny chocolate bits derived from the beans of the cocoa tree. 

Oddly, no one knows when Young and Smylie, the parent company of Twizzlers, first introduced Nibs to the world. 

However, some candy packaging collectors have investigated and found packaging that dates back to the 1960s.  

Making Twiz-story

Of course, Twizzlers aren’t only known for their delicious taste. Everyone remembers Neil Armstrong’s first words when he landed on the moon were, “That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.” Well, rumor has it, the second comment Armstrong made was, “I could go for some Twizzlers right now!” 

Suddenly, Twizzlers entered mainstream culture and gained an entirely new generation of fans. The candy kept making history. 

Decades later, in 1998 Twizzlers set the Guinness World Record for being the brand behind the longest piece of licorice made in history. The Pull n’ Peel licorice was over 1200 feet long and weighed over 100 pounds. By comparison, that’s as heavy as a baby hippo!

Interestingly, Twizzlers made an appearance during the American-Iran nuclear talks of 2016 as well. Reportedly, the American diplomatic team consumed about ten pounds of strawberry Twizzlers, amongst other snacks such as string cheese and Rice Krispies treats. 

Evidently, they made for good late-night fuel. 

A Favorite Amongst Athletes

Sure enough, famous athletes love the candy too. For example, professional boxer Floyd Mayweather stated he eats candy, including Twizzlers, as part of his pre-fight diet. 

Sydney Leroux, a soccer player on the U.S. women’s team, admitted her favorite “splurge” food was the classic Pull ‘n Peel Twizzlers. 

Additionally, Twizzlers prove to be the perfect, carb-heavy snack for long-distance runners that need a quick energy boost. 

Utah’s Legacy

Oddly, Twizzlers are an incredibly popular candy in the state of Utah. Here, residents consume candy at twice the rate of the national average, making the candy a top choice for when cravings strike. 

As to why this is the case, some guess that it’s due to the high population of younger kids, with 31% of the population under the age of 18. Meanwhile, the national average is 23%. 

Also, one theory is that it is because more than 60% of the state is Mormon. While Mormons can’t drink alcohol, smoke, or consume coffee, they can eat a lot of sugar — and they sure do!

Twizzlers On Fire

One of the perks of Twizzlers is that they don’t melt, unlike your usual candy made of chocolate or other similar ingredients. 

To prove this experience, an informal experiment was conducted assessing what would happen if you set Twizzlers on fire. 

For the experiment, the Rainbow Twizzlers Straw was chosen as the lucky test subject. Although one might expect the candy to eventually turn into a liquid and melt, that didn’t happen. 

Perhaps underwhelmingly, the candy simply turned black and roasted, leaving a burnt sugar smell in the air. 

In another test, Twizzlers were put on high heat on a pan on top of a stove. It took 10 minutes for the Twizzlers to begin reacting to the heat. At that point, the bottom of the candy turned black and eventually began smoking. 

Albeit strange, each of these experiments speaks to the durability of the snack. As such, it’s the perfect item to bring with you on a hot day for a picnic or hike, as you can be sure it will remain fresh and intact under the sun. 

Twizzlers vs. Red Vines

This battle of the brands has waged on for years. Alike to that of Pepsi vs. Coke, the public can’t seem to agree on which candy is better. 

Finally, blogger Allison Shoemaker of the Takeout finally put it to the test. In 2019, she measured the longevity, versatility, legacy, and taste of the two licorice types. 

For the longevity test, bags of licorice were left out unsealed overnight and tasted the following day. Unfortunately, the round was a draw, as neither candy seemed to stay that fresh. 

Next, for the versatility test, Shoemaker used each licorice as a straw, for which Red Vines seemed to work better. 

Yet, Twizzlers won the legacy round, which measured historical impact (credit goes to the alleged Neil Armstrong quote!). 

Lastly, Shoemaker compared the tastes of the two candy brands. Fortunately, Twizzlers won that round as well. 

A Candy For Everybody

From athletes to celebrities to everyday people, Twizzlers is a #1 choice for many. Perfect for sharing at the movies, munching on at picnics, or simply enjoying for yourself, Twizzlers are the go-to treat guaranteed to taste delicious and bring a smile to your face. With a century already under its belt, clearly, the candy is here to stay. 

Recipe: Twizzler’s Twists Cake

For a decadent dessert that’ll blow the minds of your family and friends, try baking this Twizzler’s Twists Cake from Feed Your Soul Too. 

At first, baking with Twizzlers might seem like a challenge. After all, they don’t even melt! However, their wonderful color and texture make for great toppings on most baked goods, especially cakes. 

The recipe below is great for beginners and only requires a handful of ingredients. The colors are also perfect for the winter holidays coming up. 

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 45 min

Total Time: 55 min

Ingredients Required

• 1 box of white cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
• 2 – 8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup of butter, softened
• 2 cups of confectioner sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 4 – 6 strands of strawberry Pull ‘n’ Peel Twizzlers Twists
• 4 – 6 strands of chocolate Twizzlers Twists

Cake Instructions

• For the cake, follow the instructions on the box.
• Let the cake cool, at least 30 minutes, and overnight is even better.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla with a stand mixer.
• Beat the mixture for a good couple of minutes to get the frosting good and fluffy.

Cake Assembly

• Begin by cutting the Twizzlers into approximately 1 – 1 1/2″ long pieces.
• Take the cut pieces and stick them into the cake in a circular design. Start with the chocolate pieces and place them about 2″ in from the outside of the 1st cake layer.
• Place the pieces of Twizzler about 1″ apart and just go all the way around the cake until you get back to where you started.
• Next, take the strawberry flavor and follow the same circular pattern. These were placed about midway through the cake.
• Finish by taking a few more of the chocolate Twizzler pieces and place them in the center of the cake layer.
• Next, cover the 1st cake layer with a good amount of cream cheese frosting.
• Top the frosting with the 2nd cake layer.
• Repeat the same pattern of Twizzlers Twists in the 2nd cake layer.
• Finish the assembly by frosting the top and sides of the cake.
• The final touch is to chop each of the Twizzlers Twists pretty finely.
• Sprinkle all over the top of the cake.
• Serve and enjoy!

Where To Buy Twizzler’s At Online

So there you have it, now you know everything there’s to know about Twizzlers! Plus, you have a pretty recipe to try out! 

With that said, if you’re one of our special readers who actually tries out this recipe, please pictures with us in the comment section! We’d love to see it, so would everyone else!

Now, where to buy it online? Luckily, you’re already at one of America’s largest and friendliest candy stores found online! 

Therefore, all you have to do is click this link and we’ll redirect you over to our Twizzler’s product page! From there, you can purchase in bulk at near wholesale prices!

Best of all, once an order is received, Candy Retailer will ship your candy directly to your front door! So as you can see, buying your Twizzlers online is a time and money saver!