12 Snacks from the Past That Were Actually Pretty Gross
Some childhood snacks were more of a crime against taste buds than a treat, and looking back, it’s a mystery how we ever ate them.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Nostalgia can make anything seem better, but some old-school snacks were just plain weird. From questionable textures to flavors that never should have existed, these so-called treats were more like edible experiments gone wrong. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and cringe at the snacks that should have stayed in the past.
1. Jell-O Salad
Internet Archive Book Images on Wikimedia Commons
Who thought gelatin mixed with vegetables was a good idea? The texture alone was enough to make anyone gag, but then you’d hit a chunk of carrot or celery, and it got worse. It was like someone tried to trap a salad in an edible force field. Somehow, this was actually served at parties—on purpose.
2. Candy Cigarettes
Alf van Beem on Wikimedia Commons
Nothing says “childhood fun” like pretending to smoke sugar sticks. The chalky texture and barely-there flavor made them less enjoyable and more like punishment. They didn’t even taste like real candy—just stale, sweet dust. Honestly, the best part was pretending to be cool, not actually eating them.
3. Aspic
El Caminito on Wikimedia Commons
Imagine meat Jell-O, and now try not to shudder. In this dish, meat, eggs, and sometimes vegetables were trapped in a cold, wobbly gelatin mold. The texture was somewhere between slime and regret. Whoever invented this must have been playing a joke on everyone.
4. Vienna Sausages
Changlc on Wikimedia Commons
Tiny canned hot dogs swimming in mystery liquid—what could go wrong? The mushy texture and strange aftertaste made them more of a survival food than a snack. You either loved them or questioned the life choices that led you to open the can. The real challenge was forgetting how they smelled.
5. Popcorn Balls
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They sounded fun, but biting into one felt like punishment. The sticky, rock-hard coating turned a light, fluffy snack into a dental hazard. You’d either crack a tooth or get caramel stuck in your molars for hours. It’s fun in theory but painful in reality.
6. Fruit Cake
Reem Al-Kashif on Wikimedia Commons
This brick of a dessert was more durable than delicious. The neon-colored fruit chunks looked suspicious, and the flavor was a weird mix of stale bread and regret. It lasted forever, probably because no one actually ate it. You got one for Christmas, and it just… existed.
7. Circus Peanuts
Mark Bonica on Wikimedia Commons
These orange, banana-flavored marshmallow lumps were both confusing and offensive. They looked like peanuts but tasted like artificial sadness. The texture was somewhere between foam and stale chewing gum. No one ever asked for them, yet they kept showing up.
8. Space Food Sticks
Achim Raschka on Wikimedia Commons
Marketed as “astronaut snacks,” they were just chewy, bland protein bars that tasted like disappointment. They had the texture of old Play-Doh and the flavor of a cardboard box. Kids ate them because space was cool, not because they actually enjoyed them. Astronauts deserved better.
9. Wax Bottles (Nik-L-Nips)
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Drinking a tiny sip of syrup from a wax bottle was fun for about three seconds. Then, you had to chew the wax, which was like eating a candle. The liquid inside was mostly sugar and regret. By the time you finished one, you realized it wasn’t worth the effort.
10. Durian
Rod Waddington on Wikimedia Commons
Known as the “king of fruits” but also infamous for its rotten-onion-meets-gym-socks smell. The texture is creamy, but the taste can be overpowering, with hints of garlic, sweetness, and, well, funk. Some people adore it, but others literally gag.
11. Black Licorice
JohnJPJr on Wikimedia Commons
Some people love its deep, herbal, slightly medicinal taste, but for many, it just tastes like sweetened rubber and regret. Plus, eating too much can actually be dangerous due to the compound glycyrrhizin, which can mess with your potassium levels.
12. Garlic Chocolate
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Garlic Chocolate is a rare but real thing! Some adventurous chocolatiers have tried mixing garlic with chocolate, claiming it adds depth and umami. However, let’s be honest; most people expect chocolate to be sweet, creamy, and comforting, not pungent and savory.