The taste is a turnoff, but oh the kitsch! (TaB is back)

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 3/5/2006 | Tanya Barrientos

[bootless]

Ugh! TaB was horrible from the get-go - remember it in my middle school years.

Now Fresca...

BTW, remember Shake-a-Puddin'? I could never get the damn stuff to work...

[mkjessup]

I'm with you, the only thing TaB was good for in my opinion, was to degrease carburetors before rebuilding them, lol. Fresca wasn't half bad, I thought it had a pretty good taste.

Now Shake-A-Puddin? I could never get that thing to work either, so don't feel bad. ;)

[Welsh Rabbit]

I always wondered how "Moxie" tasted. That was one of the first soft drinks.

Vile, truly vile. I came across some in one of those supermarket-sized liquor stores a couple of years ago, and got a bottle because I'd seen a segment on Moxie on the History Channel. I really can't describe the taste; maybe something like used motor oil mixed with turpentine.

[Sally'sConcerns]

And don't forget "ATOMIC FIREBALLS", one of *the* hottest candies around, my mouth tingles even now at the thought...

Back in those days I hadn't been exposed to much Mexican Food and the only spices my Mom used in cooking were salt and pepper. Atomic Fireballs were way too hot for me to handle! I might enjoy them today since my palate has been acclimated.

[I still care]

Thanks! I always heard it was an acquired taste. I saw that special also.

The other candy I always had (and don't see nowadays) was Bonamo Turkish Taffy. In Strawberry, Chocolate, Banana, and Vanilla. Skybars were another favorite.

I saw a special on I think the Food Channel, and my kids were amazed when I told them the order of the stuffings in Skybar. I always gave away the peanut butter one, next to last in the bar.

[AZLiberty]

Fresca was good with cyclamates. When they decided cyclamates were bad for you (or at least they were bad for mice in huge doses), Fresca switched to bitter saccharin and became undrinkable.

[MotleyGirl70]

Tab? No thanks--I'd rather drink pickle juice.

[MotleyGirl70]

My grandparents always had Fresca at their house when I was kid. I remember it having a nasty after taste.

[Starter]

They still sell them. (Well, most of them. I haven't been able to find Grape Duds in years.) There's a number of stores on the net to give you a candy fix as well. You might want to try http://www.oldtimecandy.com/ for most of those listed. (Although most gas stations seem to sell Good & Plenties.)

[Starter]

My sister used to freeze pickle juice and eat it as a snack. I'm still fairly creeped out about that.

[Cagey]

There's a new company coming out with an old name you may recognize. This company was started by the ex CEO's of Snapple and Yoo Hoo.

They also have chocolate, "clemintine", and vanilla cream.