Kits candy memories...

Ah strawberry KITS... I remember as a child in the 1970's walking to the candy store with my sister. We would count our pennies, and choose our
candy carefully, as not to waste a cent. KITS were 5 cents then. If I remember correctly there were 4 in a package. We would walk home and I would unwrap the outer wrapping of my KITS so that I had 20-30 little squares in front of me. 

Then I would wait until my sister had finished hers so that I could slowly savor mine in front of her, laughing quietly, so my mom wouldn't notice her watching me with envy, and make me share. They were always eaten in the same order-- peanut butter, chocolate, banana, and the very best STRAWBERRY KITS for last. ~ Kathy from Minnesota

Coming from a large family, we each got 5 cents a week to spend at school for the candy station. It was so hard to see the other children get their pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters out EVERY day, and we had to wait until Fridays.

So, in a child's mind, I thought I would be able to make the Kits and B.B. Bats at home. (while mom was out of the kitchen, of course) Peanut Butter and sugar in hand, I tried to mold a hunk into a little square. Or, a toothpick was used when trying to make a B.B. Bat.

When it wouldn't get hard, I had thoughts of using the oven to 'dry it out', but knew that I shouldn't. So, second best idea was to let it 'dry' out on the counter. Needless to say, I could never get my 'recipe' to taste like the ones that I had to wait to buy on Friday's. HHmmmmmmmmm..............

I think I always chose the Kits, because one penny gave you 5 pieces of candy!! Thrifty, even back as a child. All the penny candy is such a wonderful memory. Glad I found your site by accident. ~ Patricia from Ohio

It seems like I ate Kits all of my childhood. I don't remember when I first tasted it, but the flavor just hit my taste buds perfectly. It was my choice, and my brother's and sister's choice anytime we went to the store. I remember when my cousin would join us, his first question was: "Got any Kits?".

When I found a website that carried old fashioned candy, I was thrilled. However, I miss the large size we used to buy. Now it's only half the size. Still good, but not the same thing. The sight and taste of these delectable morsels still brings back precious memories of childhood. ~ Edna from California

Kits is probably the first candy that I bought with my own money way back in the fifties. My daddy would let me go along to the big old country general store where he was buying something like food for the chickens. If I was lucky, I might have a nickel or a few pennies to spend on candy that was in a big glass case. Several things were just a penny each and getting a nickel's worth of Kits was a big bag of candy when I opened each little package up! That candy could last several days if I didn't eat but a couple of pieces a day. Strawberry and chocolate were my favorites. Banana was BAD! When I have a chance, I still buy these candies of my childhood. ~ Helen from North Carolina

I grew up in Johnson City, New York, home of the Fair Play Caramel Company, one of the firms that made Kits (and other candies). In the late '30s and early '40s you got six caramels to a package for a penny. Kits were something most of us had every day, as some kids had parents who worked at the candy factory, and we got lots of free samples.

My favorite was molasses with the peanut butter center. There also was a white Kits (maybe vanilla flavor) that was distributed locally. It may have been test marketed in our area, as I don't recall seeing it elsewhere. The candy factory in my hometown is long gone, but I'm glad to see that Kits are still around after all these years for people to enjoy. ~ Bob from Florida

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