Top Five Candies Phoenix Natives Remember

By Lilia Menconi Fri., Oct. 30 2009 at 8:57 AM

Categories: Top Lists

I'm a Phoenix native. Which, they say, is rare. Even more unusual is that I actually love this place.

There are just a handful of us out there and while there are so many things that make us uniquely Phoenician (we don't talk to our neighbors and we shower 7-12 times a week) I'm going to focus some of our fond childhood memories of growing up in the Valley.

Namely, our candy.

Everyone likes candy. Everyone likes lists. And everyone likes to reminisce.

So if this blog doesn't get more hits than my last blog, I will force myself to look in the mirror and say, "You, Lilia Menconi, you are a failure. Your dead grandparents are even embarrassed."

Anyway, here are the top five candies and sweets that only a native Phoenician can truly appreciate.

5. Otter Pops

I'm sure these things existed in other states. But
not like they did here. I would say they didn't merely exist in Phoenix, they totally DOMINATED Phoenix. Back in the day, you couldn't find a kid without a stained tongue from these delicious frozen treats. We used to eat these things until those little bumps on our tongue went raw and we had sliced the corners of our lips with the razor-sharp plastic edges of that cheap popsicle tube. Speaking of which, it really disturbs me that adults were totally comfortable letting a bunch of children massage and suck 7-8 inch cylindrical tubes all summer long. Mom, what is wrong with you?

4. See's Candies

Now, these boxes of delicious bites of chocolate treats weren't strictly a
Phoenix thing. But, to this day, the stores are only in Western
states. I know it's shocking to think about a life without See's, I know. But their limited availability to other states is the reason Forrest
Gump had those disgusting, diarrhea-inducing Russell Stover's chocolates
in the movie. The rest of the U.S. (save for a handful of states
including AZ, CA and TX) doesn't know what the hell a Sees candy is.
Which is something we should be thankful for. Because if those East
Coasters and Southerners did know, they'd be even bigger fatsos than
they already are.

Tags:

Candy, Ladmo Bags, Phoenix

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the mention of a ladmo bag makes me so happy. i still remember what i wore to the show when my cousin won a ladmo bag and she was forced to take me (it was a hand-knitted bright yellow sweater, in case you are wondering). and even just seeing the word 'otter pop' makes my mouth water, specifically the sides of my mouth from being constantly torn up - great call. what you forgot to mention was all the stained shirts! i could never eat those things without getting them all over me. you, lilia menconi, are far from a failure!
She got a Ladmo Bag: she was only about 4 at the time, and afraid to sit in the audience, so I held her for the whole show, but they gave her a bag anyway. She only remembers her brother's LB because he somehow managed to torture her with it.
I never got a ladmo bag =(
"Who thinks to take that nasty, scary tequila worm (which, by the way, made us all very curious about liquor at a young age) and put it in a sweet-tasting candy? An asshole, that's who." ROTFL. Brilliant, Lilia!! I still see that crap in stores. Great list!
Do Ladmo's "Waffos" count? Any chocolate candy bar, particularly made by the Mars Company, became a Phoenix candy when you'd put it in the freezer. How many other cities freeze their chocolate bars? Rock candy was delish. And it all washed down well with Barg's Sodas..
this post is brilliant. the cactus candy is my favorite. i also remember rock candy, which like the cactus candy, we never actually purchased. one year our cousins from indiana came to visit and my aunt bought a disgustingly huge bag of it and my sister ate so much in the back seat of our dad's station wagon, we had to pull over while she yacked on the side of the road. there is a reason its for tourists... ahh, fond memories...
as another native of Phoenix, I loved this list! I remember when my best friend brought home a Ladmo bag, we were in the first grade and she was from then on the coolest, most amazing best friend a girl could have because she shared it with me!