Every individually wrapped Laffy Taffy carries a one-line joke printed on the inside of the wrapper, a gimmick running since the 1980s that eventually gave the candy its name.
From Beich's Taffy to Laffy Taffy
The candy started out as Beich's Taffy, made by the Beich Candy Company. Once the joke-wrapper gimmick took hold, the brand was renamed Laffy Taffy to match what people already called it. Ownership later passed to Nestle before moving to Ferrara Candy Company, which still makes it today.
The Joke Wrapper Gimmick
The jokes are simple, groan-worthy puns and riddles, the sort meant to be read aloud and repeated. It is a low-cost piece of branding, but it worked well enough that the wrapper joke became more talked-about than most of the flavours themselves, and helped the candy stand out on a shelf crowded with other taffy.
Flavours and Formats
- Banana — the most iconic and widely recognised flavour.
- Cherry, strawberry and grape — the other original core flavours.
- Stretchy bars vs bite-size pieces — sold both as individually wrapped bites and as longer stretch bars.
- Sour versions — added later to extend the range beyond the original fruit line-up.
Laffy Taffy sits alongside other imported American candy and snacks.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Laffy Taffy have jokes on the wrapper?
Laffy Taffy has printed a short joke on the inside of every wrapper since the 1980s, a branding gimmick that became the candy's signature feature and eventually part of its name.
Who makes Laffy Taffy?
Laffy Taffy began as Beich's Taffy, made by the Beich Candy Company, later passed through Nestle's ownership, and is now produced by Ferrara Candy Company.
What flavours does Laffy Taffy come in?
Core Laffy Taffy flavours include banana, cherry, strawberry, grape and blue raspberry, sold as individually wrapped pieces or as stretchy taffy bars.