Pez Candy History
PEZ candy was invented in 1927 in Vienna, Austria, by Edward Haas III. Since its inception, the candy and dispenser have transitioned from an adult breath mint to a much-loved candy by children and adult collectors alike. More than three billion PEZ candies are consumed annually in the United States alone. PEZ and PEZ dispensers are available in over 60 countries around the world. Does this Spark an idea?
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Origin
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"PEZ" is derived from the German word for peppermint. It was formed using the first, middle and last letter of the word, PheffErminZ. Haas used peppermint oil to make his PEZ creation.
Invention
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When Haas invented the PEZ candy, he did so as an alternative for smoking. Originally, PEZ were brick-shaped candies, packaged in pocket-size tins. In 1947, an employee of PEZ Candy named Oskar Uxa designed a dispenser that resembled a cigarette lighter. The new design also functioned in such a way that it could have one-hand operation, with an automatic stop to prevent the candy from falling out. In 1948, the current design of the dispenser was created. After extensive research in 1952, Haas decided to move the focus of the candy toward children and started placing character heads on the dispenser.
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Fruity Flavors
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In 1952, Haas introduced new fruit flavors. The first flavors offered were cherry, lemon, orange and strawberry. The cherry flavor was replaced with grape because Haas felt the cherry flavor was too reminiscent of cough syrup. In 2009, PEZ is offered in orange, grape, lemon and strawberry. Sugar-free varieties in orange, lemon and strawberry are offered in the United States.
Character Heads
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The first characters to appear as dispenser heads were Popeye and several Disney characters. Mickey Mouse, Santa Claus and the Flintstones' Dino the Dinosaur remain the top-selling dispensers of all time. 300 different characters have appeared on PEZ dispensers.
Dispenser Feet
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In 1987, the PEZ dispenser design was altered to include feet at the bottom. They were included as two tabs to assist the dispenser in standing up straight.
Rare Flavors
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Some countries veered away from the traditional fruit flavors originally offered. Apple and raspberry flavors have been offered in Spain. Chocolate has been offered in Hungary and Thailand. A rare, and discontinued, type of PEZ candy was vitamin-enriched and called "IZO." Also, another rare PEZ candy was called "Kosher," and was designed to comply with Jewish dietary laws. Other discontinued flavors include chlorophyll, cinnamon, coffee, eucalyptus, flower, licorice, menthol, lime and anise.
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