In 2022, Kiwis were hit hard by the news that iconic lunchbox item Le Snak was being discontinued.
It had been filling children’s and adults’ lunchboxes for 30 years, but Bluebird revealed the reason for ending the Kiwi classic was due to a decline in sales as “consumers’ taste preferenceshave changed”.
Months later, the news was still triggering for some, including Kiwi internet sensation Tavlova who declared it was “another snack taken too soon”.
But it’s not the first time a classic has been taken away from angry Kiwis.
In honour of the fallen Le Snaks, here’s a roundup of classic Kiwiana snacks that should be brought back from extinction to help our tastebuds heal from our latest loss.
CHILL LOLLY SCRAMBLE ICECREAM
Who remembers this icecream with the delicious lolly scramble inside?
These bad boys were the saviour on any hot summer’s day when you wanted to buy both icecream and lollies, but only had the money for one.
Luckily this came with both in the one tub and the fizzy lollies inside were an ultimate favourite.
Tip Top, it's time to bring these back!
YUM BARS
Simply the best. Better than all the rest.
When it comes to muffin bars, this Ernest Adams treat was hands-down the tastiest item to get in your lunch box.
Yum Bars were moist and filled with a yummy creamy caramel centre.
These were often used in the playground as a bargaining chip or a way to make a quick couple of dollars if you had snuck another one in your lunchbox.
"Bro, I'll let you be the king in handball if you give me your Yum Bar?" many kids across New Zealand were heard begging just so they could get a taste of Yum.
Simply the best, better than all the rest.
TANGY FRUITS
Tangy Fruits were small edible fruit flavoured round candies, often sold in New Zealand at movie theatres. Photo / Twitter
Tangy Fruits were small, round, fruit-flavoured candies, often sold at movie theatres.
They were damn tasty but often used to throw at friends during your outing at the movies.
Tangy Fruits rarely lasted a whole film and were considered perfect for the movies since there was no disturbing rustling sound to worry about when one reached for a second helping.
Production ceased in 2008, again due to a lack of consumer demand.
Expats were furious with one person saying in 2009: "What! The end of Tangy Fruits? As an expat Kiwi what I am going to feed my kids when I come home? I'd like to be able to say 'this is what real lollies are like - not that rubbish you get in Australia'."
RIP the Tangy Fruit.
ROLL UPS
The standard procedure was to wrap them around your finger and race your friends to see who could finish theirs first.
If you didn't wrap these around your fingers and suck them dry, then are you even a legitimate Kiwi kid?
If your friends were annoying scabs they'd line up asking for some of your finest Hubba Bubba powder so they wouldn't miss out.
WHISTLE LOLLIPOPS
The Whistle lollipops made a lot of noise!
Let's be honest, while they were reasonably tasty the main reason you got your hands on the Whistle was to annoy the crap out of your parents and friends.
This lollipop was designed in the shape of a whistle and boy did it make a lot of noise!
If you wanted the whistle to survive more than a few minutes the key was to eat it from the bottom up.
Apparently, some shops are still selling these but they're not as readily available as they were back in the 90s.
Paradiso was certainly a summertime favourite where the blend of the tropical sorbet outside mixed with the vanilla icecream inside was what dreams were made of.
The Paradiso was never cheap but it was what you begged your parents to buy when they said they'd shout the icecreams.
Tip Top should consider a limited-time only relaunch. Please!
CALIPPO SHOTS
The currency of the school playground.
For years I've been trying to remember the name of these "little lemon-lime balls of wow". Finally, it came to my head and ultimately made its way to the list what needs to be bought back to the masses.
These chewy balls of flavour were a "game-changer" according to a lot of Kiwis back in the day.
They were easy to share around so if you were happy to forgo a handful of Calippo you probably became the popular kid in school.
