From Melody to Mango Bite: 7 iconic 90s candies every Indian grew up eating
PM Narendra Modi's Melody toffee gift to Giorgia Meloni has reopened India's 90s candy memories, bringing classic favourites like Kismi, Poppins and Mango Bite back into the spotlight.
PM Narendra Modi gifting Melody toffees to Giorgia Meloni has revived nostalgia around India’s favourite 90s candies, from Mango Bite and Kismi to Poppins, Rol-a-Cola and Swad. (Image: Instagram)
New Delhi,UPDATED: May 20, 2026 16:13 IST
“Melody itni chocolaty kyun hai?” This rhetorical question never really got an answer, but the love of the candy grew everyday in the hearts of all 90s kids. Because some childhood candies never really disappear.
They simply wait for the right moment to return, wrapped in nostalgia, memes and now, a little diplomatic drama too.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting Melody toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni quickly sent the internet into a frenzy, mostly because nobody could resist the “Melodi” wordplay.
But beyond the jokes, the moment reopened an entire shelf of 90s Indian candy memories, the kind that lived inside school bags, tiny kirana shops and glass jars near billing counters.
THE CANDIES EVERY 90S KID REMEMBERS
1. MELODY
The star of the internet once again. Melody became iconic thanks to its famous line: “Melody itni chocolaty kyun hai?” The soft chocolate-caramel toffee still carries instant nostalgia for many Indians.
2. KISMI
Kismi had a flavour people rarely forgot, a mix of caramel and cardamom that somehow worked perfectly. Even today, one bite feels like stepping back into a school canteen.
3. POPPINS
Bright, colourful and impossible to eat just one at a time. Poppins felt less like candy and more like edible confetti for 90s kids.
4. MANGO BITE
For many children, Mango Bite was summer in wrapper form. Cheap, sweet and easy to find at every local shop, it became a lunch-break staple.
5. ROL-A-COLA
The cola-flavoured candy had a cool factor of its own. Rol-a-Cola stood out because it tasted unlike most regular fruit candies at the time.
6. PHANTOM SWEET CIGARETTES
Probably the most “that would never happen today” candy from the 90s era. The playful cigarette-style packaging made Phantom unforgettable for an entire generation.
7. SWAD
Panjon’s Swad was the candy many households secretly kept stocked. Tangy, digestive-style and oddly addictive, it became a familiar sight in snack drawers.
ICONIC 90S INDIAN CANDIES
Not every one of these sweets was launched in the 1990s, but they became deeply tied to 90s childhood memories. They were affordable, everywhere and part of everyday life before smartphones and food delivery apps took over.
That is why a simple Melody toffee gifted during an international meeting could suddenly send thousands of Indians into full nostalgia mode online.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one candy wrapper to unlock an entire childhood.
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