I noticed a comment where someone said they were looking for Bonomo's Turkish Taffy. It is a chewy, long-lasting bar candy bar that popped up around World War II and was popular not only because it tasted good, but because it was inexpensive and most kids could afford it. "Turkish Taffy" was not taffy, nor was it Turkish. The "taffy" was really a type of nougat, a mixture of egg whites and corn syrup that was whipped together and then baked. The baking gave the product a distinctively hard texture, so that it could be broken into shards if kept cold, but melted into a wonderful chew in your mouth. The original flavor was vanilla, but by the 1960s it also came in chocolate, strawberry and banana. In 1980, the company sold to Tootsie Roll Industries and, in 1989, production ceased.
Bonomo's is no more, but Old Time Candy carries a similar product called French Chew. It is long lasting, chewy, melts in your mouth and shatters when cold, just like Bonomo's did. It also comes in the same four flavors as the original product. Since we can't get the original for a side-by-side comparison, it's hard to say if they're really the same, but they are very similar candies, so you won't go wrong with the French Chew if you're looking for a taffy fix.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-16-2006 @ 12:15AM
RWD fan said...
Your description sounds an awful lot like a "Big Hunk" bar, but without the nuts.
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10-16-2006 @ 4:55PM
Frank Townend said...
I found the following on the Web (©2003). http://www.bonomosturkishtaffy.com/index.html
It states:
Despite its long absent from the shelves, the look, and taste of Bonomo Turkish Taffy has not been forgotten. In fact Bonomo has become the most sought after candy. Although some have tried to duplicate Bonomo there has never been anything like it. Learn why 80 million bars were sold each year... buy some today.
The candy which was first produced shortly after World War ll became a favorite of New Yorkers and thereafter the rest of the Country. Unlike other candy which quickly melted in your mouth, Bonomo Turkish Taffy was smooth and slow. It was so delicious and long lasting that a single bar could last though a double feature at the movies. Bonomo is back in its original delectable form and flavors.
We are taking advanced orders for Bonomos Turkish Taffy BonomoTM Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and Banana.
For further information on Sales, Distribution and Sponsorship contact us at:
Bonomo Turkish Taffy, LLC
1 Old Country Road Carle Place,
New York - 11545
or email BONOMOTAFFY@aol.com
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10-28-2006 @ 11:28AM
Laurie Ellingson said...
As Halloween approaches the remembrances of this holiday past comes to mind. The costumes, the excitement, and the candy. Too bad candy is so everyday now. It was such a joy to look forward to the varieties received in your sack, pillow case, or container. Personally, I've been looking in stores for Turkish Taffy for some time now. It's a memory that has it's own little corner in my heart. It lasted a long time and came with directions; something nobody seems to want to spend time doing anymore, reading directions, I mean. I've only recently decided to "look it up" on the search engines of the internet. Although a relief to find an answer, so regretably not soon enough, for it has ceased production! And now must it be replaced by a substitute? Bring back the original Turkish Taffy, Tootsie Roll!
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11-26-2006 @ 4:33AM
Terry K said...
I couldn't sleep and I'm at the computer thinking about what I can look up and Bonomo pops into my head. SHOCK! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! It's coming back. I left Jersey in '71 and for years taffy was the last thing on my mind, but by the time I thought about it again, it wasn't being made. You know that you always want what you can't have, so here I am typing it into the web......life is good! Thanks Bonomo, for making all our dreams come true!
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1-01-2007 @ 3:27PM
marie said...
Sounds an awful lot like Charleston Chew, honestly.
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1-01-2007 @ 6:19PM
Dale Harden said...
I love your Taffy,I have looked for it in stores over the past years but never could find it. I would like to find and old Bonomo's turkish taffy box.
Thank you.
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