Traditional Clear Toy Candy since 1894.
Since 1894, Regennas Candy Shop has been crafting Clear Toy candy and other traditional homemade treats. With over 150 original molds, our Clear Toys are poured by hand, preserving the timeless methods passed down through generations.
These beautiful and delicious hard candies are available as solid pieces or on sticks. Our most popular designs come in vibrant amber, red, and green, and can be purchased by the pound.
The Regennas Candy Story
The Regennas Candy Shop opened for business in 1894 in Philadelphia. It was founded by C. Fred Regennas & Sons. C. Fred had learned the candy business in Lititz, PA from Billy Bollinger. Their first shop was located at 1330 North 19th Street in Philadelphia. Every week they would lead their horse-drawn carriage full of candy to tempt the local vendors.
After the death of his wife, Fred returned to Lititz with his two sons, Charles H., Sr. and Harry. In 1910, Fred constructed a home and shop on West Lemon Street.
The business continued into the next generation with the help of his sons. Harry built himself quite a reputation as a skilled confectioner. But in 1960, Harry could no longer continue his craft.
His nephew Charles (Charlie) H. Regennas, Jr. would continue the candy tradition. Charlie began on a part-time basis with the help of his wife, Betty. His duties as a letter carrier took up most of his time. After his retirement in 1972, Charles could devote more time to the candy business. It started to attract quite a following. His candy was featured in such magazines as Life, Time, Americana, and numerous other publications. After Charlie’s passing in 2005, Betty continued operating the business for several years with help from friends and family.
Regennas Candy Today
Charlie’s son Jake would be the next in line for the candy business but his work took him out of state for several years. The Regennas Family is grateful to the Rager Family for operating the business in Myerstown, PA until Jake returned and could resume its operations in 2021. In 2022, the business returned to Lititz in a production area attached to the home of Jake’s daughter, Kimberly Regennas.
The Regennas Family still uses the same recipes that were used in the factory back in 1894 and is proud to continue as an original clear toy candy manufacturer.
What is Clear Toy Candy?
German immigrants are credited with introducing Clear Toy candy to America when they settled in Pennsylvania. Recipes for this hard candy date back to as early as 1772. Originally known as "barley candy," it was made using barley sugar, which was a more affordable and locally available alternative to imported cane sugar. However, by 1818, the increased availability of cane sugar caused barley sugar to decline in popularity. The name "Clear Toy" emerged from the candy’s likeness to miniature people, animals, and other shapes.
Most original molds were crafted by Thomas Mills & Brothers (circa 1864) and V. Clad & Sons (circa 1863). These molds, made from a brass-based composition metal, create well-defined, three-dimensional shapes that are easily distinguished from modern reproductions or synthetic molds, which often produce candies that are flat on one side.
To make Clear Toy candy, a blend of sugars and corn syrup is heated to the perfect temperature before being transferred to original copper pans and then poured into molds. Once it cools to room temperature, the candy is removed, trimmed of any excess, and packaged for sale locally and nationwide.
“A lot of people haven’t seen these clear toy since they were children, and they are delighted by them.”
– Betty Regennas