Last Updated on May 6, 2021 by Jim Edwards
Contents
What are Smarties?
Smarties are a kind of tablet candies in the United States. The tablets are stacked one on top of each other and sold in a bunch. The tablet’s shape can be described as a biconcave disc with a diameter of 1 cm approximately. The larger version of Smarties measures 2.5 cm in diameter.
A single package roll contains an assortment of different pastel shades:
- orange
- yellow
- green
- pink
- white
- purple
Every color has a distinct flavor that we describe in more detail below. A single roll contains 15 tablets.
Smarties in the US are different from Nestle Smarties in the UK. In the US, the candy is produced and marketed by the Smarties Candy Company.
History of Smarties
Smarties Candy Company is a well-known family business owned by the Dee Family. The company was earlier known as Ce De Candy, Inc. Edward Dee, along with his family, moved to New Jersey from England in January 1949. He brought along two pellet machines and installed them in a rented facility in Bloomfield in August 1949 to make candies.
In 1959, Edward Dee moved the company to Elizabeth, New Jersey. Later in 1967, he shifted the base to Union, New Jersey. The name Ce De Candy was changed to Smarties Candy Company in January 2011.
The company also opened a factory in 1963 in Toronto. The candies are known as “Rockets” in Canada.
The current Co-Presidents of the Smarties Candy Company are Liz Dee, Sarah Dee, and Jessica Dee Sawyer. They are the founder’s granddaughters. Billions of Smarties rolls are produced every year in the two facilities in New Jersey and Ontario.
What is the Taste and Flavor of Smarties like?
A single roll of Smarties contains 15 tablets. These tablets are an assortment of different pastel colors, each having a distinct flavor. The colors and flavors are:
| Color | Flavor |
| Orange | Orange |
| Yellow | Pineapple |
| Green | Strawberry |
| Purple | Grape |
| Pink | Cherry |
| White | Orange cream |
The tablets are tangy in taste and not too hard to chew. The texture is smooth and husky.
Smarties Vs. Sweet Tarts – How do they compare?
Smarties and Sweet Tarts are similar candies. They look alike; however, they have a few distinctive features. Each has its own fan base, and people love to draw comparisons between the two.
Smarties are smaller compared to Sweet Tarts.
Smarties belongs to Smarties Candy Company, and Sweet Tarts belongs to the Willy Wonka Candy Company (now Nestle).
Smarties are softer compared to Sweet Tarts.
Smarties are sourer and bolder in color compared to Sweet Tarts.
Smarties Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the ingredients in Smarties?
The ingredients in Smarties are sugar, dextrose, calcium stearate, citric acid, artificial and natural flavors, and artificial colors (Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Red 40 Lake).
Nutritional Facts of Smarties
The nutritional facts mentioned below are for a serving size of 15 tablets (one roll).
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat (0 g) | 0% |
| Saturated Fat (0 g) | 0% |
| Trans Fat (0 g) | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate (6 g) | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber (0 g) | 0% |
| Sugar (6 g) | |
| Sodium (0 mg) | 0% |
| Cholesterol (0 mg) | 0% |
| Protein (0 g) | 0% |
| Iron (0 mg) | 0% |
| Calcium (0 mg) | 0% |
| Vitamin A (0 mcg) | 0% |
| Vitamin C (0 mcg) | 0% |
How many calories are there in Smarties?
A single roll (15 tablets) of Smarties contains 25 calories.
How many carbs are there in Smarties?
There are only 6g of carbs in a roll of Smarties. Also includes 6g of sugar.
Are Smarties gluten-free?
Smarties are gluten-free, and people who have Celiac disease can safely consume them. We recommend you check the product package before consumption. If a UPC number begins with “0 11206”, it signifies that the product is gluten-free and is manufactured in a facility making only gluten-free products.
Are Smarties vegan?
Smarties are 100% vegan candy. The ingredients do not have any raw materials sourced from animals. The calcium stearate present in the candy is derived from plants.
Related: See our post about candy necklaces – if you like smarties you will also like these! Also, UFO Shaped Satellite Wafers also make noise and are a huge childhood favorite too!
Video: How Are Smarties Made?
One of your favorite childhood candies is made in a complex, industrial manner in massive batches. The first batches of the candy were actually made from repurposed WWII pellet machines.
This is a fascinating video and we learned a few things. Definitely is worth a watch!
If you want to see the official Smarties website you can find them here
Finally, we had to address this question. We didn’t really want to, but many of you asked us about this so here is the answer.
How Do you Smoke Smarties?
Around 2009 the concept of “smoking smarties became a thing. At least in the United States – thanks social media LOL. So the truth is there is no smoking involved. This is just kids trying to be “cool” and appear to be smoking.
How do you do this? Basically you crush a lot of smarties and inhale them and then when you breath out there is a cloud of “smarty smoke” which appears slightly like smoke from a cigarette.
But it’s not smoke, and its not from tobacco. So it is more about kids trying to be cool and parents freaking out that it will “encourage smoking” but we honestly think it’s just kids being a little rebellious. And acting like kids.
Here’s a good video of how this became a thing in 2009. Note the hysterical tone.
And if you really want to try this wacky idea, here’s the best way to smoke smarties. Again, there is no smoking involved.
Image Credit: Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
I’m Jim Edwards and I started this website to share my love of Junk Food. We cover new junk food, desserts, snack foods, fast food secret menus, candy (of course!) and other related news. We love trying “secret menus” at restaurants. And we love trying new products too. So, we are trying to have some fun with our hobby and share some useful information with you, our community. Please feel to send us your suggestions and feedback through the contact form. And if you have products you would like us to try, let us know…!
