40 of the Most Beloved and Memorable Snacks Throughout History

Often mistaken as the same, Cinnamon Imperials and Red Hots distinctly tantalize our taste buds with their spicy-sweet flavors, though Red Hots pack a spicier punch. The term ‘Cinnamon Imperials’ serves as a broader, generic label within the confectionery realm, denoting any hard candy that boasts that warming cinnamon taste.

While many brands, including Brach’s and the Ferrara Pan Candy Company (creator of Red Hots), have embraced the term ‘Cinnamon Imperials,’ it wasn’t trademarked, allowing its free use. The origin of Cinnamon Imperials predates the 1930s invention of Red Hots, tracing back to an unidentified brand despite cinnamon’s age-old presence in culinary history.