Candy maker Eduard Haas III invented PEZ candy in Vienna, Austria in 1927. Haas designed the mint-flavored candies as an alternative to smoking tobacco products. The name “PEZ” originated from the German word “PfeffErminZ” which means “peppermint”. Originally, the candies were sold in pocket-sized tins. Then, Oscar Uxa invented the first mechanical PEZ dispenser in 1948. It was shaped like a cigarette lighter. By lifting its top, it gave you one mint at a time. PEZ candy and their dispensers have evolved over the years, and kids and collectors love them even more! Here are 10 interesting facts about PEZ candy:
Americans Love PEZ Candies!
1. PEZ candies were introduced to the United States in 1952. Today, Americans alone eat more than 3 billion PEZ candies every year! You can find PEZ candies and their mechanical dispensers in over 60 countries worldwide.
2. Where Are the PEZ Candy and Dispensers Manufactured?
The PEZ candy dispensers themselves come from China, Hungary and Slovenia. The brick-shaped candies are made in Orange, Connecticut. The Connecticut plant packages the two products together before they’re marketed.
3. PEZ Dispensers Take on Personalities
An interesting fact about PEZ candy is that it wasn’t until 1955 that heads of cartoon characters were put on the tops of the PEZ candy dispensers. The first characters included Mickey Mouse, Santa Claus, Spacetrooper and Popeye. Since these products were designed for kids, three fruit flavors- lemon, orange and strawberry- were also added.
4. What Are Collectors of PEZ Candy Dispensers Known As?
Just like fans of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffet are called, “Parrotheads”, people who collect PEZ candy dispensers are known as “PEZheads”.
5. What Flavors of PEZ Candies Have Been Made?
Even though all of these flavors aren’t available at all now, or, they aren’t available in the United States, the company has produced these flavors, thus far: Peppermint, Wild Cherry, Raspberry, Assorted Fruit, Grape, Lemon, Orange, Strawberry, Chocolate, Anise, Chlorophyll, Coffee, Eucalyptus, Flower Flavor, Hot Cinnamon, IZO (vitamins), Lime and Menthol.
An interesting fact about PEZ candy is that is also comes in three sugar-free flavors: Orange, Lemon, and Strawberry.
6. An Interesting Fact About PEZ Candy Was The Company Motto
Up until the 1970’s, PEZ candies were produced by the Haas Food Manufacturing Corporation.
It was then that the company name was changed to PEZ Candy Incorporated. The company motto was, “A Treat to Eat in a Puppet That’s Neat!”
7. What Other Kinds of PEZ Character Dispensers Have Been Manufactured?
Since the PEZ company began to add character heads to their mechanical dispensers in 1955, they have added approximately 300 more. Some of these include Papa Smurf, Snoopy, Bambi, Pluto, Creature From the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, Wolf Man, Barney Rubble, Mowgli, Foghorn Leghorn, Daffy Duck, Droopy, Tom & Jerry, Bat Girl, Captain America, Spider-Man, Betsy Ross, Daniel Boone, Halloween Pumpkin, Dr. Skull, Mr. Ugly, Easter Lamb, Bunny, Duck, Snowman, Inspector Clouseau, Jiminy Cricket, Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman, Captain Hook, Zorro and Bride and Groom.
New PEZ dispenser characters are produced by the company every year.
8. Is There Really an “Elvis Presley” PEZ Candy Dispenser?
If you noticed the Elvis Presley PEZ candy dispenser in the 1994 movie “The Client”(starring Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones), you might want to own one for yourself! Another interesting fact about PEZ candy is that the company has never manufactured an Elvis Presley dispenser. The dispenser used in the movie was a prop, not the real thing.
9. Can I Buy PEZ Candy Dispensers Directly From the Company?
Yes, you can! Just log onto their website at www.pez.com and check out their factory store. Or, in the United States, call 1-800-653-3134. Unfortunately, the company no longer sells discontinued PEZ dispensers.
10. Are Some PEZ Candy Dispensers Really Worth Money?
Here are some interesting facts that will answer that question: PEZ Collector/author David Welch made it into the 2000 and 2001 edition of the “Guinness Book of World Records” by selling three PEZ dispensers for $18,000 in 1998. The dispensers were a shiny gold elephant, a soft Mickey Mouse head and a headless dispenser that bore the words “PEZ-HAAS.
