The Iconic Old-School Candy That Used To Be Made With WWII Ammo Presses

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Every October, they come out of hibernation, a seasonal defrosting comparable to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You" hitting radio stations during Yuletide: those plastic-wrapped rolls of Smarties wafers. Pale, somewhat chalky, and petite in size, they are small enough that you could eat a whole package in one mouthful if you have hearty teeth and a belly that doesn't roil at a sugar rush. When you swipe a package of Smarties from your kid's trick-or-treat bucket, or when you grab a one-pound bulk package from Amazon to factor into your calculus of how much candy to buy for Halloween, you probably don't spare a thought for where the candy came from. And, yet, this sweet treat — which is available year-round! — has a fascinating backstory.

In 1949, Edward Dee of London immigrated to the United States with his family. They laid down roots in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Dee rented a garage in nearby Bloomfield. Here, he stored a machine that previously compressed gunpowder for bullets during World War II. Only, he now used it to make a candy that Dee had previously invented in England. There, the small sugar wafers were flavored with cinnamon and clove. In America, however, the result was fruit-flavored, and Smarties were officially born. They won't actually increase your intellect (just like Frank Sinatra's favorite candy, LifeSavers, aren't a reliable flotation device), but they sure are fun to pop when you need a sugary pick-me-up!

Smarties have come a long way from their genesis in a garage ammo press! Today, billions of packages a year are manufactured in two plants: one in Union, New Jersey, and another in Haymarket, Ontario. Fun fact: Canadians know Smarties as "Rockets" to differentiate them from another (chocolate) candy with the same name! Reflecting the success of the treat, the candy company once known as "Ce De Candy" is now the "Smarties Candy Company" and is currently run entirely by women: Edward Dee's three granddaughters. One of this trio, Jessica Dee Sawyer, oversaw the creation of new packaging for Smarties, a yearlong process that involved 100 different logos and led to a deep conversation about how to maintain the family's iconic brand. As of writing, the company is one of the few entirely family-owned candy businesses left in the United States.

Nowadays, Smarties is about so much more than simple rolls of pellet candy. A look at the Smarties shop reveals a surprisingly wide variety of products, including sour Smarties, gummy Smarties, and even Giant and Mega Smarties that are much bigger than your normal candy! Do you fancy Smarties on a stick? Mega Lollies might be for you. Apparently, Smarties once offered Smarties n' Creme candies, but these are listed as out of stock on several websites and appear to have joined the confectionary world's list of discontinued candy bars and sweets.