Mike and Ike facts for kids
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| Place of origin | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA (1940). | ||||||
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| Created by | Just Born, Inc. | ||||||
| Variations | Tropical Typhoon, Berry Blast, etc. | ||||||
| 80 kcal (335 kJ) | |||||||
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| Other information | kosher; gluten-free | ||||||
Mike and Ike are popular fruit-flavored candies from America. The company Just Born first made them in 1940. No one really knows how they got their unique name!
Contents
The Sweet Story of Mike and Ike Candies
Mike and Ike candies were first made in 1940. They were created by the Just Born candy company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 1953, Just Born bought another company called Rodda Candy. Rodda was very good at making jelly beans. This helped Just Born create exciting new Mike and Ike flavors, like cotton candy. More flavors, such as Root Beer, came out in the 1960s. New flavors have continued to appear over the years.
What's in a Name?
The exact story behind the name "Mike and Ike" is a bit of a mystery. Even the company that makes them isn't completely sure! Some people think the name came from an old vaudeville song. Others believe it was chosen in a contest within the company. There are also ideas that the names belonged to the people who invented the candy.
Some fun theories suggest the name came from a Rube Goldberg comic strip called "Mike and Ike (They Look Alike)." Another idea is that it was inspired by Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose nickname was Ike. There's even a theory about the Matina Brothers, who were circus performers. Two of them were nicknamed "Mike" and "Ike." They also appeared as Munchkins in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz.
All About Mike and Ike Candies
Mike and Ike candies are chewy and shaped like small oblongs. They come in many different colors and fruit flavors. Some of the classic flavors include cherry, strawberry, orange, lemon, and lime. Other popular types are Tropical Typhoon, Berry Blast, and Jolly Joes.
Each candy is quite small, with about 7 calories. They have no fat and about 1 gram of sugar per candy. Mike and Ike candies are also safe for people who need kosher or gluten-free foods. They are similar to Hot Tamales, another candy made by the same company. However, Mike and Ike candies are not spicy like Hot Tamales.
Exploring Mike and Ike Flavors
Just Born makes many different kinds of Mike and Ike candies. Some are always available, while others are special or limited editions.
| Name | Package color | First available | Package type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Fruits | Green | 1940 | Box, bag, or freezer pop |
| Berry Blast | Blue | 1987 | Box or bag |
| Tropical Typhoon | Pink | 1977 | Box or bag |
| Jolly Joes | Purple | 1973 | Box |
| Red Rageous | Red | 2009 | Box or bag |
| Mega Mix | Light Blue with rainbow | 2016 | Box or bag |
| Mega Mix Sour | Light Green with rainbow | 2018 | Box or bag |
| Sour Watermelon | Light Pink | 2023 | Box |
| Sour Blue Raspberry | Light Blue | 2024 | Box |
Special and Limited Edition Flavors
Over the years, Mike and Ike has released many unique and limited-time flavors. Some of these have even been brought back due to popular demand!
- Lem and Mel (Lemon and watermelon) flavor first came out in 1991. It was reissued in 2013.
- Cherri and Bubb (Cherry and bubble gum) flavor launched in 1989. It was reissued in 2013 and again in 2019.
- Mike and Ike – Strawberries n' Cream launched in 2000 and was reissued in 2019.
- Cherry Cola flavor launched in 2004 and was reissued in 2016.
- Buttered Popcorn flavor also launched in 2004 and was reissued in 2016.
- Mike and Ike Minion Mix had Blueberry and Banana flavors. It launched in 2014.
- Mike and Ike Cotton Candy was reissued in 2015 and again in 2021.
- Mike and Ike Root Beer Float was also reissued in 2015 and again in 2021.
There are also special seasonal packages for holidays like Easter. For Easter, Mike and Ike candies are often shaped like jelly beans.
Mike and Ike in the Media
In April 2012, the company started a fun advertising campaign. It pretended that Mike and Ike were "breaking up" because of "creative differences." The candy boxes even showed one of the names scratched out! This campaign was designed to get younger people interested in the candy.
In 2013, the company announced that Mike and Ike would "reunite." Along with new packaging and juicier-tasting candies, they even released a trailer for a pretend movie. It was called The Return of Mike and Ike.
