What Are the Flavors of Necco Wafers?
What are the flavors of Necco Wafers? Turns out they haven’t changed in over a century! Our guide to the 8 Necco flavors is here to help.
By Aimee Tucker|Jan 04 2019|
What are the Flavors of Necco Wafers?
Photo Credit:Some things truly never change. Necco wafers are made using the same formula now as when they were first introduced back in 1847 (see Update at the bottom of this post), but the curious combination of flavors (lemon and clove in one mouthful, anyone?) sometimes has us scratching our heads.
Many New Englanders have fond memories of Necco candy stretching all the way back to childhood. You can learn more about the history of Necco Wafers in our previous post, Necco Wafers | America’s Oldest Candy.
Maybe it’s been awhile, or maybe you never knew for sure, but for anyone who’s ever wondered “Just what are the flavors of Necco wafers?” — we’re here with a handy guide to all eight colors.
What are the Flavors of Necco Wafers?
Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
The flavors of some colors are fairly obvious. We expect that yellow candy will be lemon, green candy will be lime (or, heaven forbid, green apple), and orange will be orange.
But then things get a little more interesting. For example, white Necco wafers are cinnamon. Pink Neccos are wintergreen (just remember pink like Pepto-Bismol). And the purple Neccos? The light purple wafers are clove, while the dark purple (Necco calls it “black,” but it’s really just a darker purple) are licorice-flavored.
- Yellow = Lemon
- Green = Lime
- Orange = Orange
- White = Cinnamon
- Pink = Wintergreen
- Light Purple = Clove
- Dark Purple = Licorice
And the ingredients in Necco wafers? They’re made with sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, gum, colorings, and (last but not least) flavoring.
Finally, just in case you’re tired of original Necco Wafers, you can keep your eyes peeled for the more elusive rolls of Chocolate Necco Wafers and Tropical Necco Wafers, which come in lime, strawberry, mango, banana, passion fruit, and coconut.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Do you have a favorite of the Necco flavors?
Necco Update (2018)
Due to financial hardship, Necco was first sold to investment firm American Capital in 2007. When losses continued, the Los Angeles-based Ares Management bought both Necco and American Capital in 2017. Ares sold Necco’s real estate to an investment firm that rented the facility back to Necco. In May 2018, Necco declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was purchased by Greenwich, CT-based Round Hill Investments for $17.3 million. Hopes for a rebound were abundant, since Round Hill had been responsible for reviving troubled brands like Pabst Blue Ribbon, Chef Boyardee, and Hostess (including its venerated Twinkies), but on July 24, 2018, the Revere facility was was suddenly shuttered. Approximately 230 workers and executives were laid off, and production of all candy lines stopped, ending the Necco Wafer’s reign as the country’s longest-running, continuously produced candy.
Round Hill would go on to sell off many of Necco’s long-running candy lines to other manufacturers. The Necco Wafer, Sweethearts conversation hearts, and Canada Mints were sold to the Spangler Candy Company of Ohio, best known for their Dum Dum Lollipops. Spangler quickly announced plans for both Necco Wafers (perhaps renamed) and Sweethearts to return to store shelves in 2019.
This post was first published in 2016 and has been updated.
MORE CLASSIC NEW ENGLAND CANDY:
Mary Jane Candy | Favorite Old-Fashioned Candy
Sky Bar | New England’s Classic Chocolate Candy Bar
Necco Sweethearts Conversation Hearts | A Valentine’s Day Candy Favorite
When my sister was I’ll with cancer, the only sweet thing she wanted was Neccos. She enjoyed all the flavors, but chocolate was her favorite. She used to smile a little and roll her eyes as she savored the first moment each delectible flavor hit her taste buds. Now whenever I eat Neccos, I think of her and I love the memories.
There may be disagreement over the color of the darker licorice-flavored wafers – I’ve always thought of it as gray myself – but I think we can agree that Necco calls it “black” and not “back.” Ah, the art of copy-editing, lost in the over-reliance upon the spell-checker.
Hi, Jack! We do our best to catch spelling and grammar errors in our web posts, but some inevitably sneak through. We’ve corrected our mistake. Thanks for your comment, and have a great day!
I have three non-infant granchildren and always keep multiple rolls of Necco Wafers in my car. As soon as they get in the car the first thing they ask is “Papa, can I have some Necco wafers?” Sometimes it’s a little sneakier … “Papa, I smell something”, What? “Maybe Necco Wafers” or “Papa, I’m very, very hungry” What do you want “Mabe Necco Wafers”
Haven’t had these in a very long time, makes me want some. I remember all of those flavors, but didn’t there used to be chocolate, too?
I’ve loved Necco wafers from when I was very little. I still buy them but have to search sometimes to find them as a lot of stores in CO do not carry them. I wish they were sold in every store. Target, Walgreen’s, CVS would be a great place as I’m in that store about once every week. Thanks for such a delicious treat!!
I grew up in northern NH and have lived in the greater Boston area since 1976 and always enjoyed driving by the NECCO candy factory on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, where it was for many years, across the street from MIT, which always smelled “very pleasant”! I have to admit, although I like them all, chocolate is by far my favorite.
Ditto, on the Chico Necco Wafers, I buy them by the box , at Amazon. Leave a roll in each car, never get stale, junk draw in kitchen. Each of my pocket books, when I shop in stores I offer a Necco wafer , If a person is coughing , I always receive a smile, and where did you get the chocolate flavor?
I grew up with Neccos in New England and buy then even now in California, I still can’t pass them up!
I look for the Neccos all the time. Still my favorite !!
I found a supposedly old Necco Wafer ad online that mentions there being nine flavors. Was there a ninth flavor at one time and what was it?
are the colors the same in each pack? or who decides how many of each go where. sometimes 2 colors are next to each other, is it ramdum .
Some years ago Necco changed the flavors. I complained. They responded they wanted more natural flavors and colors. I stopped buying them then because they weren’t what I liked anymore. Later they returned to the original flavors. Too late because I never bought them again. This may have been a critical mistake that lead to their demise.
I adore Necco Wafers! Everytime I am down East I pick up a case.
I still buy them,my favorite
I remember them from my childhood, but I never did like them.
After reading this I now want some chocolate Necco wafers!
I love those, and can not have sugar anymore, but while I ate them all the time, I found it was always hard to find them. They dont stand out. I believe if they had a brighter package , they would sell well. Hate to see them go. And after finding out you are taking them off, I am sure sales will get better.
Was there ever a rootbeer flavor? I’m remembering rootbeer!
Wintergreen and root beer flavors are very close. Wintergreen is a typical ingredient in root beer.
I love these candies. They even help settle my stomach if I overeat at supper time. I hate to see Necco go out of business. I have a good notion to start making the candies myself. Just need to experiment with the flavorings to see if I can match that old fashioned taste. I can’t imagine the cost of the machines to make them however. Will start just making the homemade style and see how things work out. Here’s hoping I don’t blow up my kitchen! LOL
I’m almost 80 and still enjoy my Necco Wafers. Any chance you can make a lime green role. I know they would sell better than the chocolate roll and the lime taste so good.
I read that the Necco plant had gone out of business. Who is making them now? I always remember the Mass Ave factory.
Are the neccowafers company out of business?
I love the chocolate Necco wafers, I find them at JoAnn Fabrics.
It would be nice to be able to purchase in stores or even order rolls that have a single specific wafer.
I would love just an orange roll, just a yellow roll, or just a licorice roll. Please bring them back soon.
Oh please bring the Necco’s back. I love them and unable to find them any where.
Please please please bring Necco wafers back?
I have tried about every store in Springfield, Missouri and there are times I am Lucky. I just turned 76 and must have my Necco’s while I am still around to enjoy them. Some say they taste like chalk but to me they are ambrosia and have been since I was a little girl enjoying them in the movie theater. Please hurry, powers that be! I need my Necco’s today and I am tired of searching…
It’s officially Autumn 2019!! When will we get our Neccos back?!?!?!
CLOVE is the best, but also cinnamon and wintergreen. Where can I buy just the clove flavor???
Agree.. clove is the best flavor!!
I’ve loved Necco Wafers since my childhood near Boston. Since all the upset, I buy them on Amazon, the only place I can find them. I haven’t seen them in stores for years. Sad.
Dollar Tree has them now!!
CVS sells them! They are up by the registers. A lot of times they run them on sale for 88 cents a pack!
CVS sells them! They are up by the registers. A lot of times they run them on sale for 88 cents a pack!
They could charge $12 a pack and I’d still buy them! Wintergreen, clove and liquorice. The best.
Cracker Barrel Country store and Restaurant sells them. One of my favorite childhood candies that the flavor hasn’t changed. The Five Below stores sell them as well.
I’m so glad that they are continued to be made. I will usually buy 10 rolls when I run out. Most all the supermarkets and drug stores in the western New York area. A long time favorite of mine. My wife cannot believe that I love these so much. I’m 77 years old. When the time comes, I will leave them to my daughter as part of her inheritance; lol. Thanks for the article.
Five below has the regular rolls and the all chocolate here in PA
I am a secret Necco addict. I buy the 24-pack about every 6 weeks through Amazon, and always try to catch the delivery before my husband sees it. I cannot fall asleep without first having several. I have no favorite flavor—they’re ALL delicious!