Mike and Ike
 | |
| Place of origin | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA (1940) |
|---|---|
| Creator | Just Born, Inc. |
| Variations | Tropical Typhoon, etc. |
| 140 (40g serving) kcal | |
| Other information | 0 grams of fat; kosher; gluten-free |
 Cookbook: Mike and Ike  Media: Mike and Ike | |
Mike and Ike is a brand of fruit-flavored candies. They were first introduced in 1940 by the company Just Born, Inc.[1][2][3]
Candy
Mike and Ike are oblong fruit-flavored chewy candies that come in several colors and varieties, including cherry, orange, lime, lemon, and strawberry. Popular varieties are Tropical Typhoon, Berry Blast and Jolly Joes. Each candy has 7 calories, 0 grams of fat, and approximately 1 gram of sugar. The candy is kosher and gluten-free.[4]
They are similar to Hot Tamales, another candy introduced by the same manufacturer in 1950, though they are not spicy.[5]
Varieties
Just Born produces several varieties of Mike and Ikes, including:[6][7]
| Name | Package color | First available | Package type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Fruits | Green | 1940 | Box, bag, or freezer pop |
| Berry Blast | Blue | 1987 | Box or bag |
| Tangy Twister | Orange | 2005 | Box or bag |
| Tropical Typhoon | Pink | 1977 | Box or bag |
| Italian Ice | Light blue | 2008 | Box or bag |
| Lemonade Blends | Yellow | 2007 | Box or bag |
| Jolly Joes | Purple | 1973 | Box |
| Zours | Yellow | 1999 | Box or bag |
| Red Rageous | Red | 2009 | Box or bag |
| Strawberry Reunion[8] | Black and pink | 2013 | Box |
| Sweet Paradise | Light Purple | 2014 | Box |
| Merry Mix | Light Blue | 2015 | Bag |
Retro/limited varieties include:[7][9]
- Lem and Mel (Lemon and watermelon) flavor (launched 1991)
- Cherri and Bubb (Cherry and bubble gum) flavor (launched 1989)
- Strawbana (launched 1991)
- Mike and Ike – Srawberries n' Cream (launched 2000)
- Mike and Ike – Oranges n' Cream (launched 2000)
- Cherry Cola (launched 2004, reissued 2016)
- Mike and Ike Minion Mix – Blueberry and Banana flavors (launched 2014)
- Mike and Ike Valentines Mix (Seasonal)
- Mike and Ike Mummy's Mix (Seasonal)
There are also seasonal versions in which the Mike and Ike flavors are formed as jelly beans.[10]
Media
In April 2012, they ran an ad campaign based on the premise that Mike and Ike were "breaking up" due to "creative differences"; the packaging showed one or the other name scratched out. The campaign was intended to capture the interest of younger consumers.[11][12][13] In 2013 the company announced Mike and Ike would reunite. In addition to a re-designed packaging and juicier tasting candy, a trailer for a movie was released, entitled, The Return of Mike and Ike.[14]
In popular culture
- Among its fans are Pablo Prigioni, Will Smith, Paul Rudd, Steven Spielberg, Bob Smith, Bernie Mac, Russell Quinn and Professional Wrestler CW.[15]
- In the TV series Limitless, Brian Finch nicknames Agents Daryl and Jason as Mike and Ike.
- In the TV series Family Guy, Peter asks his father in law for a bowl of Mike and Ike's, but without the Ike's.
- In the TV series Scrubs, an intern accidentally gives a patient a Mike and Ike instead of their medication.
- In The Avenger pulp stories, hero Richard Henry Benson carries a pistol called Mike and a knife called Ike. He uses both to injure only. The Avenger, Vol. I, No. 1, "Justice, Inc." (Sep 1939) predates the "Mike and Ike" candies by a year, so it's a reference to the Mike and Ike (They Look Alike) comic strip for which the candies were named.
References
- ↑ Annette B. Natow; Jo-Ann Heslin; Karen J. Nolan (2005). The most complete food counter. Simon and Schuster. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Over 200,000 Public Votes Determine Canada's Most Inspiring Young Leader". Canadian Business Online. May 26, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ Andrew F. Smith (2006). Encyclopedia of junk food and fast food. Greenwood Publishing Group. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Fruity Facts about Mike and Ike" (PDF) (Press release). Just Born. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ Andrew F. Smith (2007). The Oxford companion to American food and drink. Oxford University Press. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Mike and Ike candy flavors". justborn. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
- 1 2 "Just Born Interactive Timeline" (PDF). Just Born. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
- ↑ "Mike And Ike Getting Back Together After Messy Divorce". huffingtonpost. 2013-03-20. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
- ↑ "Mike and Ike candy flavors". justborn. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
- ↑ Just Born INC (2010). "Stock up". Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ↑ Dale, Maryclaire (April 13, 2012). "Mike and Ike announce split in cheeky ad campaign". Bloomberg Businessweek. Associated Press. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ↑ Bangert, Dave (April 28, 2012). "A culture war in the candy aisle". Journal & Courier. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ↑ Cox, Ana Marie (May 8, 2012). "Same-sex marriage amendments: bigotry's last gasp". The Guardian. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ↑ "Mike and Ike's 'Breakup' Lifted Sales and Social". ADWEEK. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
- ↑ "Fruity Facts about MIKE AND IKE" (PDF) (Press release). Just Born. Retrieved September 24, 2010.