Abba-Zaba
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2013) |
Abba-Zaba is a taffy candy bar with peanut butter center, made by the Annabelle Candy Company in Hayward, California.
History
[edit]According to the Candy Wrapper Museum, the first Abba Zaba bars were manufactured in 1922 by Colby and McDermott.[1] Before Annabelle Candy Co. started manufacturing Abba-Zaba, the packaging featured racist imagery.[2][3] Annabelle Candy Co. will only say that the wrapper has been the same for as long as they have manufactured the candy.[citation needed] The bar was later manufactured by the Cardinet Candy Co. along with U-No Bar. Annabelle Candy purchased the Cardinet Candy Co. in 1978. Annabelle now manufactures both candy bars in addition to others.[4]
Abba-Zaba bars can be found almost exclusively west of the Rockies.[5] The wrapper features a yellow and black checkerboard "taxi" pattern since the 1950s.[6] They can be purchased in bulk on the web. They can also be found in candy specialty stores anywhere in the US and Canada.[citation needed]
In 2005, Annabelle introduced an apple-flavored taffy variant of Abba-Zaba.[7] There is also a new bar that has a chocolate taffy and contains chocolate spread and peanut butter.[citation needed]
Abba-Zaba bars are kosher pareve.[citation needed]
In popular culture
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2019) |
Music
- The bar was a favorite of rock musician Don Van Vliet, who is best known by his stage name Captain Beefheart. He used the bar's name as a song title on his album Safe as Milk in 1967. Artwork on the rear album sleeve also features a black and yellow checkerboard pattern inspired by the Abba-Zaba wrapper.
- Abba-Zaba is mentioned, along with Almond Joy in the Tom Waits song "Chocolate Jesus" that appeared on his album Mule Variations.
- Fenix TX included a song entitled "Abba Zabba" on their 2001 second album Lechuza.
Film
- Abba-Zaba bars are featured prominently in the 1998 Dave Chappelle comedy film Half Baked.
Celebrities
- Actor John Wayne had a sweet tooth and Abba-Zaba bars were his favorite candy.[8]
- Actress and TV host Tiffani Thiessen counts the candy bars among her favorite snacks on set while filming episodes of Saved By the Bell.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ The Candy Wrapper Museum. The Candy Wrapper Museum. Retrieved on 2014-03-30.
- ^ Greene, Lydia (2023-04-04). "Old-School Candies That Were Seriously Controversial". Mashed. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Photo". redesignblog.files.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ Mara, Janis (2017-08-07). "Inside the East Bay company that makes Abba-Zaba, Big Hunk, Rocky Road". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Home Sweets Home: The USA's Tastiest Regional Candies | Frommer's". www.frommers.com. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
- ^ "Blast from the past! 10 retro Halloween candies". TODAY.com. July 5, 2014. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Annabelle adds Apple Abba-Zaba". Professional Candy Buyer. 13 (3): 104–105. 2005-05-01.
- ^ "Tiffani Thiessen still indulges in her favorite '80s snacks: 'I was an Abba-Zaba or Hot Tamales girl': The 48-year-old actress dishes on her epic Thanksgiving dinner fail and why she'd love to have dinner with Princess Diana". Yahoo!Life. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
Other sources
[edit]- Pacyniak, Bernard (September 2004). "Sweet on Annabelle". Candy Industry Magazine. 169 (9): 18–25. ISSN 0745-1032.
External links
[edit]- Annabellecandy.com - Official website
- Candy Wrapper Museum - Earliest known Abba-Zaba box and wrapper