What Are the Flavors of Necco Wafers?

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?

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.

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