Thursday, February 23, 2006
BottlecapsThese were a revelation when I had them as a kid. It was one of the earliest recollections I have of considering product design from top to bottom. (Well, that and AIM toothpaste which was a big deal back then.) The name of the product, the shape if the candies and of course the flavors all seemed to indicate that there was someone behind all this. Before that, I think I just though that kindly cooks slaved away in “test kitchens” to come up with new candies, or everything had just always been that way. Bottle Caps are little crumbly, chalk-like candies flavored like sodas. They come in cherry, root beer, cola, orange and grape. I’m not sure if there was ever a Dr. Pepper/Mr. Pibb flavor, but it certainly doesn’t exist now. The packaging varies, sometimes you can find them in packets (like the Razzles) and sometimes in rolls like this. I like the rolls because they’re compact, but it does make it hard to avoid the colors you don’t want to eat (that’d be Cherry for me). Seeing how there are so few Root Beer flavored candies, this is one that always calls to me. The root beer of a Bottle Cap is vastly different from a Root Beer Barrel hard candy. A hard candy relies on the herbal/balsam qualities of the flavor along with a fair dose of sugar. This candy has a bit of a sour bite, I think to mimic the acidic carbonated drink and has a slight cooling quality on the tongue. It’s plenty sweet and has that root beer essence to it, but misses on the more complex flavors of the actual root beer flavor. The orange and grape are nothing to write home about, they’re just a fruit flavor with the sour/cool bite to them. The Cola flavor is equally interesting, with its earthy acidic bite and unique flavor. I like the flavor of cola, though I really don’t like soda (I wish other things came in cola flavor, like Root Beer Barrels). I can’t say that I feel like buying them again. I don’t think I’d had them for about 15 years and I could probably go another. I think I like the idea of the little snack packs better, maybe I’ll have to get some for Halloween this year and then have two or three to satisfy that wee craving. I know Bottlecaps have their feverish defenders and that’s cool. I’m not saying it’s a bad candy, I think it’s delightful and original. Just not for me. Note: this candy was manufactured in the United States.
POSTED BY Cybele AT 9:55 am |
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
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I always like getting bottlecaps. Any candy that comes with a soda flavor - particularly cola - is a good one in my book. I’m a particular fan of those gummy cola bottles, both sour and sweet.
Don’t they have a Dr. Pepper flavored Jelly Belly? And I’m thinking bottle caps used to have a lemon-lime instead of (or maybe in addition to?) that cherry one…
I absolutely LOVE BottleCaps Especially the cola and root beer flavors. One of my all-time faves.
And Tricia, yes, there is a Dr. Pepper flavored Jelly Belly
Brian
I have memories of sorting through the Bottlecaps in my Halloween haul (I only ever seemed to eat them at Halloween), and picking out the yellow banana ones. Is my memory playing tricks on me? I really could have sworn there was a banana flavor that I LOVED.
Although banana soda doesn’t sound right; maybe it was a cream soda or something that I mistook.
Good memories, regardless!
There are several Japanese candies with Cola flavour. The next time you go to Mitsuwa you should keep your eyes open.
I remember Bottle Caps myself, and used to like them a lot. Now…I don’t know. My memory and your description of them makes me think of Ramune candy (a Japanese confection) though perhaps a bit harder.
Lesley, I don’t think your memory is playing tricks. If not Bottle Caps, then some other, similar candy had a banana flavour once upon a time.
Lesley - I too remember some sort of chalky candy disk that was banana flavor, though I can’t figure if it was a bottlecap or some other candy (I know they are part of the Runts family and shaped like bananas).
Bruce - I have tried the Shigekix cola hard gummi. It was okay, the sour part kinda threw me. But I’ll keep looking, I know the Japanese use cola flavor a lot.
Tricia - I seem to recall lemon-lime too!
I’ll have to poke around in some candy archives to see what I can come up with about the history of the bottlecaps flavors and other similar candies.
My favorite cola flavored candy besides Haribo’s sour cola bottles are cola-flavored Chupa Chups. Besides regular cola, they also have lemon cola and cherry cola. Mmm..
yeah, i just tried them for the first time in 15+ years too and they were more sugar-y than i remembered and cola was definitely still the best flavor. not sure i’d buy more now either.
Bottlecaps are like crack to me! I love them, and I’ll eat several rolls at a time. It’s fun to separate all the colors in their own stacks. One interesting thing I’ve noticed about them is that the candy texture and quality can vary depending on the packaging. I’ve gotten them in a movie theater style box before and the bottle caps were smaller than normal, harder and actually had rock-like granules in them (eeks). The best are the ones that come in the rolls. Great review!
You hit the nail right on the head. I can’t tell you how many times I ransacked a package of bottle caps and ate all of the cola and root beer, and then pawned the rest off on my younger siblings. As far as cola flavored candies go, the cola bottle caps are #3 on my list. I really like gummy cola bottles (not sure if multiple companies make them), and cola flavored nerds are the king in my book. What the heck happened to nerds? They used to have awesome flavors like the cola (and cherry cola, which was pretty good), cinnamon, wintergreen, banana. Why have you forsaken me, Willy Wonka?
The banana flavored wafers are, alas, no more. I believe you are thinking of Wacky Wafers. A delicious little treat similar in texture to Bottle Caps but with much more zing.
I am SO loving this site (I have a link to it on my message board signature and I’m hoping it’s okay with the author here). If you all want a kick, run to the bookstore (or Amazon.com) and buy “Candy and Me (A Love Story)” I now feel uncompelled to write an autobiography- she’s done it for me.
Doh! Wacky Wafers! That’s what I’m thinking of Angela!
I did read Hilary Liftin’s book last summer - she REALLY likes bottle caps.
You should also pick up Candy Freak by Steve Almond ... an excellent read.
I love the Root Beer ones, they make me remember my childhood.
I always got these in packets, because they were given me, either as Halloween trick or treat candy or other prizes. They were either the two cap packets or the six cap packets. I love all thingfs sweettart. They were my earliest remembered candy passion before I got into gummies.
oh dear i love these things yumm yummm
BOTTLE CAPS R GOD OF EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love bottle caps!! I’m almost 32 years old, and when I get ahold of a box of bottle caps, I just can’t put them down. My favorites are also the rootbeer and cola flavors. I wish Walgreens carried bottle caps, but they don’t. So instead, I have to go to Blockbuster to get them.
i love them but can never tell root beer from cola
I’m having some right now actually. The cola and grape are the best…dont care for the orange and root beer. Someone at work told me they had lemon lime which was replaced by cherry.
bottle caps are disgusting to me other than the root beer ones
I would love to find a place that would sell the root beer and cola bottlecaps in bulk. I don’t really care at all for the other flavors
Hi,
Has anyone else found the taste drastically changed recently? I bought 2 boxes at Walmart and threw them out because I thought htre was something worng with them. them my daughters gor some of the tiny packs at Halloween and I tried those: again an almost soapy flavor that doesn’t taste like soda at all. How long ago did they start making these in Mexico and does that have anything to do with it (ie, changed the “formula” or outsourced)? Yuk.
Bottlecaps are my all-time favorite candy! I liked to get the boxes instead of the rolls. Wal-Mart sells the boxes for $0.89 and Target has double boxes for $1.49. I love when Blockbuster has them on sale. I never eat the cherries. I usually do not eat the grape either. My favorites are the rootbeer and cola.
Everyone on here who doesn’t like the cherry Bottlecaps, please I implore you give them all to me!! I just went through 4 rolls of bottlecaps to find my beloved cherry and there were only 7 total:( out of 4 rolls! mm sweet bottlecaps..everytime I make a trip to Cracker Barrel I know I’ll be bringing a few rolls home…
I would love to find a place that would sell the root beer and cola bottlecaps in bulk. I don?t really care at all for the other flavors
Comment by mchrzanowski
Hah! I totally Agree with you! That was actually what I was looking for when I found this site.. I have an obsession with the Root Beer ones, actually pretty much anything root beer flavored lol
Has anyone else found the taste drastically changed recently? I bought 2 boxes at Walmart and threw them out because I thought htre was something worng with them. them my daughters gor some of the tiny packs at Halloween and I tried those: again an almost soapy flavor that doesn?t taste like soda at all. How long ago did they start making these in Mexico and does that have anything to do with it (ie, changed the ?formula? or outsourced)? Yuk.
Comment by zmster
And Ya, I noticed that to, All I had to do was shop at a different store, apparently it’s like different stores buy from different countries or something. If you buy them at Cvs they have the exact flavor they are supposed to.
Lesley, there WERE Banana bottle caps. Back when I was a kid in the 70’s, Bottle caps were different than they are now. They werent made by Wonka, and they were bigger, the size of a quarter. There were 6 or 8 to a pack…...AND THERE WAS BANANA! They were so much better than they are now. They actually fizzed like soda. Does anyone remember the original “Fizzies” the soda shope drink tablets of the 60’s and 70’s? Talk about an addiction! Well, anyone lucky enough to live here in the Sacramento, CA. area…..there is a candy shop in Old Sac (Rainbow Heaven Candy shop) that sells them! They are just like the old ones from my childhood. NOT the Nutra-Sweet ones that tried to make a come back in the 80’s. The bad thing…..candy is 6.00 a lb. which makes the Fizzies like $4 for a box of 8 tablets. Yikes!!!!!! But I love them so that is what I have to pay. The best thing about them…..DONT put them in water like it says…..just drop them on your tongue and let them FIZZ away…..Yummmmy!
I just got a Jumbo Size box (9 oz) at Dollar Tree for $1. I like all but the orange ones!
I will be 50 years old in December, and I still buy my bottle caps, at least twice a month. I love the root beer and can live with the other flavors. I hope they never go away.
Do they still make Bottlecaps? I cant find them anywhere in the town I live in anymore.
First time I tried these, I was unimpressed, but now I love them! I don’t suck the till they’re soft, I Like to just chew them up like tums tablets…they remind me of that. Less chalky better flavored antacid tablets.
I usually raid my boy’s halloween hall to divest them of the bottle caps. I just love them. Like a number of folks, my favorites are the root beer and cola - the others are acceptable. I’ve often wondered why they don’t make packs of the individual flavors, or at least the cola and root beer, like they used to have rolls of the chocolate Necco wafers. The really distressing thing was that bottle caps were impossible to find here in Cincinnati this halloween. Don’t know what happened to them.
help; ive been trying to find bottlecaps in my local stores for months. Im from syracuse area and none of the normal stores(walmart, dollartree,family dollar, target,riteaid,cvs,kinnys and others) have had avalible soooooooooo whats up with this!!!!!!!!! when ive talked to the “help” they are know help can yoiu look into this or pass on to someone who can im in deep withdrall. thanks
heyy i love bottlecaps!!!!! Especially cola flavor…yummy!!
Just bought a new box of Bottle Caps today at Walmart in King of Prussia, PA. I noticed the box was slightly different. Instead of the usual squeeze/flip opening, these had a perforated edge with a tab to tuck back in. However this wasn’t all that changed! The actual candies were smaller than they used to be, but a little thicker. Dime sized instead of nickel sized. And overall they seemed to be slightly softer, which I think most of us prefer. I’m curious if anyone else has found these new ones recently.
Yes! I noticed this too, Craig. I do not like the new size of them, or texture. Also, the cherry ones burn my tongue! I miss my old bottlecaps- the original sized ones… :(
yeah, the new size is annoying, and they taste different…a little chalkier, and definitely a downgrade. why change something perfect and make it just okay?
I think I have an idea as to what has happened. I too, like all of you am a huge Bottlecap fan. I can easily eat a theater box in one evening. Also, like many of you I prefer the Rootbeer and Cola flavors and wish they would make a box or roll of just them. Anyway, as to my theory for what has happened. I believe this to be another example of the Wal-Mart squeeze. When companies as big as Wal-Mart force companies like Wonka to sell their candies at ridiculously low prices, companies like Wonks must combat in such a way that Wal-Mart deems acceptable. They can’t change the box size or the weight so they have no choice but to designate an entire section of the factory to make an inferior product. It’s the only way they can fool Wal-Mart and still make a profit. I happen to have both boxes in front of me because I was so upset with the quality of the Wal-Mart Bottlecap, I had to hit Blockbuster (because I have a hard time finding them anywhere else). The ingredients are slightly different. The Wal-Mart Bottlecap has Phosphoric Acid, which is not an ingredient in the Bottlecap we all love so dearly. I have also found this to be true with other products I have purchased at Wal-Mart. Companies will designate entire sections or even whole factories just to make products with a cheaper spec for companies like Wal-Mart. The lesson I have learned here is to stop shopping at Wal-Mart. Now, let me get back to my tasty Bottlecaps that I bought at Blockbuster!
My daughter just got back from Michigan with a roll of bottle caps and they are thicker and softer than what I remember and seem slightly smaller in diameter. Don’t like the change one bit. If Blockbuster is selling the original then thats where I am heading… You can’t mess with the original formula without disclosing it on the package, like “New crappy texture” or “New Smaller diamerter” or “New Softer feel like Smarties”. Crap! If I can’t find the original formula then they have lost me for life.
For those who are noticing a difference in texture & size I have a question: are they in the rolls or loose in a box or sealed packet?
I haven’t seen the rolls for sale in my neck of the woods, but the last time I purchased them was last Halloween. They were part of a mixed bag of candy, and they came in little pouches of 10 or so (about the size of the little bags of M&Ms; that get handed out for Halloween), and they seemed to be the usual shape, size and texture.
I haven’t seen the rolls either, these have been in the boxes. I’m in the Philly area if it counts for anything… I can’t say I’m hating these new ones, but they’re definitely not like the old favorites.
Hi Folks!
There seems to be a little confusion about the candy discussed on here. The Wacky Wafers I remember were a little bigger than a quarter, and they came in an assortment of fruity flavors (including Bananna). Bottle Caps are about the size of a dime and have the flavor of various sodas. I have found Bottle Caps at the Dollar Tree and Wal-Mart. Bottle Caps taste about the same as they did when I was a kid, and I like all of the flavors. Wacky Wafers on the other hand seem to have fallen off of the face of the earth. I can’t find them anywhere… not even old packages of them on eBay. Willy Wonka needs to start up the Wacky Wafer machine again! Bananna, Watermelon & Sour Apple were my favorites. Thankfully Fizzies Drink Tablets are back in production, although they aren’t producing all of the original flavors as yet.
Dale - You’re mistaken. We all know full well that we’re talking about Bottle Caps. Wacky Wafers were discontinued when Nestle bought Wonka, many years ago. Bottle Caps have absolutely been changed, at least the version being sold at Wal-Mart.
I looked in Wikipedia and it said that in the beginning of 2009 the company changed the size of the candy.
What devastates me, however, is that the back of the cap is flat, instead of having the bottlecap indentation. Now that’s poor craftsmanship!
AWESOME!!!!!!!!
I just picked up some Bottle Caps this weekend. I was really ticked off to find that the product had been changed. These were the new smaller, flat bottomed candies.
These were not purchased at Walmart. This changed product is now apparantly substituting the old style so if you know where to get some of the old ones you should stock up.
These new ones are “NOT” Bottle Caps. They are an inferior impostor. They are a much softer product compared to the older, original style. The taste was off to me but simply could have been due to the softer style. The overall shape is smaller and it has a flat bottom instead of the indented underside. The shape is part of what made them Bottle Caps in the first place.
I compare this product change to the moron who approved “New Coke” for Coca-Cola back in the 80’s.
I called Wonka to register my complaint and request that the original product be returned to the store shelves. Please join me in calling them to voice your dislike of the new style.
Call Wonka at 1-800-358-1971, wait through the menu and select to speak to a representative. Voice your complaint at the change and ask that the original style product be returned to the shelves.
Kato One, I think your memory is embellishing. I remember the larger bottle caps, too, but fizzing - I expect I would have also remembered.
I also remember fizzies - the original version with sodium cyclamates (which the FDA outlawed due to bad data, but which remains legal in Canada to this day), the second version which had no sweetener, so had to be dissolved in a glass of sugar water, and finally the 80’s rebirth.
Kevin, you ask “why change something perfect and make it just okay?” Because marketing people think like politicians. They think they can make changes without people changing their behavior. In this case, they concluded they could save x amount of dollars in manufacture, and assumed purchase rate would remain constant.
Yep. New bottle caps suck. Limon-Lime is gone- replaced by a tiny cherry.
They don’t look like bottle caps anymore- small and one sided.
PLease someone make something like the old ones- maybe call them BOTTLE TOPS or something and bring back limon-lime—these new ones are just smarties or something—
IF it wasn’t for root beer they wouldn’t even remotely resemble bottle caps..
I love them- I can’t stop eat them. They are soooooooooooo good!! Especially the red, grape, and orange ones!!! I’ll get old,and probably will lose all of my teeth.
I LOOOOOVE BOTTLE CAPS. TODAY I WAS AT KMART AND I WAS LIKE, IM GOING TO BUY GOBBSTOPPERS. AND THEN MY TWO GOOD FRIENDS WERE ALL, TRY THE BOTTLE CAPS, EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS, ETC. I REMEBER I READ MY HOROSCOPE AND IT SAID I SHOLD TRY NEW THINGS SO I BOUGHT THEM AND I HAVE ZERO REGRETS! THANKS MR WONKA I LOVE YOU. IF THERE WERE NO OTHER FOOD IN THE WORLD I WANT TO LIVE OFF BOTTLE CAPS. ROOT HEER FLAVOUR ESPECIALLY.
SORRY GUYS, I MEANT ROOT BEER. IM NOT THAT KIND OF GUY, PLEASE DON’T JUDGE ME. I JUST REALLY LOVE BOTTLE CAPS.
Prefer, the old shape. The older, prewonka were firmer, taste brighter, and of course bigger
I saw some bottle caps at the store checkout today and wanted to give my daughter a treat, so I picked up a box. The new formulation of this product is an abomination, and has no bearing on the original candy.
The original candy was *crunchy* - and had a delightful surface that got slick as soon as it hit your mouth. You could let it dissolve or bite down on it for a satisfying ‘crack’!
The new stuff? Grainy, too-sweet, not-puckery enough, and just wholly unsatisfying. Where’s the lemon lime? Why does the bottom side of the candy not have a concave shape?
Profoundly unsatisfying. So sad. Calling Wonka candy to complain, but not holding my breath that it will do any good.
The old bottle caps ROCKED!!! Cola is not very good. I love grape, root beer, orange, cola, cherry, in that order. Grape rocks the best tasting flavor ever!
I’m trying to remember a candy from when I was a kid (I’m 29). They were shaped like bottles, Cherry Cola flavored, Root Beer & Cream Soda too (I think). Not the Cherry Cola gummies, they had like the same texture as Bottle Caps. Me and a co-worker swear we remember, them while everyone else seems to think we’re crazy. Beginning to think we are since we cannot find any proof of their existence anywhere ;(
Has anyone found a place online that sells just the root beer and cola flavors only?
This is the old package when they were bigger and better-tasting:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6524306851_c5d7d9fff5.jpg
I also would love to buy bulk of cola and root beer. Will be calling the company to see what can be done. I buy Bottle Caps at Walmart for .98ยข. I will buy all they have of the large box size.
I am crazy for these candies.
Carol, (and others who like the cola and root beer flavors..)
I like the Cherry, and Orange BEST. If someone wants to buy some bulk, then separate them… figure a price and I will take all the Cherry and Orange (and maybe Grape)...
Mark
marktrezz (at ) yahoo
I was walking home from the store and I bought some bottle caps, it was dark so I couldn’t see what I was eating. I got home and noticed brown dots all over them. I then checked the “best by” date 2011. They tasted fine but is this bad for me?
@Candyslayer25 - All depends, how many unicorns are you seeing?
These sweets are really bad. all taste bad except the cola one which is okay at best. I have trouble even giving them away. i wouldn’t make the mistake of accepting them for free agin. 1/10
Cool to see this. My father is actually the inventor of bottle caps. It won candy of the year at the time of its release. I’m buying Bottle Caps t-shirts for everyone in my family this year and happened upon this!
Another candy messed up. They changed them and they no longer look like freakin bottlecaps which is the name of the candy! Now they are smaller with a flat instead of concave bottom.
Also, JJ Frizell… Cola is the worst one lol. We could have made great freinds as kids, I’d gladly trade you all my Cola and Root Beer for your Cherry, Grape, and Orage.
I agree with all who are disappointed with the changes that have been made to the new version. I miss the green lemon lime (7-up) flavor, and REALLY miss the old shape. It felt cool in your mouth, the texture was stiffer, something you can’t really find anymore, apparently. What happened?!
I would totally be willing to buy the pack of rolls of bottle caps and seperate the cola and root beer flavored and keep those for me and send someone the cherry, grape, and orange.
I also preferred the pre-2009 original Bottle Caps Candies. They were bigger, tasted better, had the better shape. The “Wonka” name brand seems to have killed a LOT of old fashion candies. Hate them with a passion!
hello.
is the root beer candy alcoholic or non-alcoholic
thank u
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