What Are Nerds Candy?

Being a nerd used to be a bad thing, conjuring an image of a loser with a pocket protector and thick glasses. But these days it’s taken on a more positive connotation. Today, a nerd is more someone who is passionate about a particular subject, a specialist in their favorite realm of pop culture. And that’s not the only positive association with nerds. There’s also the popular candy that comes in teensy tiny morsels. But how much do we know about these little gobs of sugar? 

Who makes Nerds candy? When were they invented? What are they made of? And why on Earth are they called Nerds? Let’s nerd out about Nerds! 

Who makes Nerds candy?

The history of the Nerds parent company is slightly thorny. They were originally distributed by the now-defunct Sunmark Corporation under the Willy Wonka Candy Company. As with Sunmark, the Willy Wonka Candy Company is now basically defunct—although it did make a comeback as a promotional tie-in for the film Wonka

Today, Nerds are made by the Ferrara Candy Company (based out of Chicago), but they are distributed internationally by Nestle. Got all that?

When were Nerds invented?

Nerds were first unveiled in 1983 and it wasn’t long before they were a staple on candy shelves everywhere. However, not every Nerds-related product has been so successful. 

Did you know there was briefly a Nerds cereal as well? And it was apparently “tiny tangy crunchy” cereal, which doesn’t sound like a great complement to milk. Did it really taste like Nerds candy? If so, that might explain why it lasted for such a short time.

How are Nerds made?

A factory worker in an episode of Upwrapped about Nerds sums it up well: “Basically we start off with a sugar crystal and we just keep coating it with more sugar.” That’s right, you take some crystallized sugar, shake it in a barrel with flavored corn syrup, add some flavorings and colorings, and you’ve got yourself some Nerds.

What are Nerds made of?

Nerds are made predominantly of sugar. If you’ve ever tasted them, this should come as no surprise. They are made of sugar crystals, similar to rock candy. But, to get more specific, here is the ingredients list on a box of Nerds: Corn Syrup, Sugar, Dextrose, Malic Acid (DL-Malic Acid), Contains 2% or Less of Gum Arabic, Natural Flavors, Carnauba Wax, Color Added, Blue 2 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Carmine Color, Blue 1 Lake.

Why are Nerds called Nerds?

The answers I’ve found to this question are slightly dubious. Apparently, some people think they were named after a reference in If I Ran The Zoo by Dr. Seuss, in which “Nerds” are described as one of the creatures the narrator would add to the zoo. Why Dr. Seuss would be connected to a Willy Wonka-branded candy, however, is unclear. Whatever the reason for Nerds being called Nerds, it’s a clever name for a candy product that sticks in your memory. 

What is the Nerds mascot? 

The Nerds mascot is a bulbous little colorful creature with a big nose and cartoon eyes. This creature is, simply, a Nerd, an anthropomorphized artist’s rendering of the candies found within the box. Because of this, the mascot is generally just called a Nerd. There’s no Norbert the Nerd or an extended Nerd Family or anything like that. The creature on the box is just what you’ll find inside (except with eyes).


About the Author

Matt Crowley

Matt Crowley is a comedy writer living in Los Angeles. He likes maple-flavored snacks, loves every kind of cheese, and is slowly learning to accept mushrooms.