Tootsie Rolls are a classic American candy that have been around for over 100 years. They are chewy, chocolatey, and come in a variety of sizes. But what exactly is the smallest Tootsie Roll size available? Let’s take a closer look.
A Brief History of Tootsie Rolls
Tootsie Rolls were first created in 1896 by Leo Hirshfield, who named them after his 5-year-old daughter Clara, whose nickname was “Tootsie.” Hirshfield’s original recipe used only five ingredients: sugar, cream, cocoa butter, corn syrup, and condensed milk.
The candy was an immediate success. In the early 1900s, Hirshfield opened a small storefront in New York City to produce and sell Tootsie Rolls. As demand grew, the company quickly expanded into a larger factory.
Over the next few decades, Tootsie Roll Industries introduced new flavors, sizes, and packaging. They started selling Tootsie Rolls in paper bags and cardboard boxes to cater to bulk candy sales. During World War II, Tootsie Rolls were included in soldiers’ rations for their durability and shelf stability.
Today, over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced daily in a variety of sizes at Tootsie Roll Industries’ massive factory in Chicago. The company manufactures over 4 billion Tootsie Rolls every year!
Tootsie Roll Sizes
Tootsie Rolls come in a wide range of sizes and shapes to suit different occasions:
Mini and Bite Size
– Mini Tootsie Rolls: Approximately 0.17 oz each, unwrapped, often sold in bulk bags
– Bite Size Tootsie Rolls: Approximately 0.3 oz each, wrapped, bag of 60
Fun and Snack Sizes
– Snack Size Tootsie Rolls: Approximately 0.5 oz each, wrapped, bag of 24
– Junior Size Tootsie Rolls: Approximately 0.8 oz each, wrapped, bag of 18
– Midgee Size Tootsie Rolls: Approximately 1.5 oz each, wrapped, bag of 8
Standard and King Size
– Standard Size Tootsie Rolls: Approximately 2.0 oz each, wrapped, bag of 6
– King Size Tootsie Rolls: Approximately 3.0 oz each, wrapped, bag of 4
Novelty and Special Edition
– Vanilla Tootsie Rolls: 2.0 oz size with vanilla flavor
– Fruit Chews: Various fruit flavors in a chewy format
– Special holiday editions like Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Christmas designs
So as you can see, Tootsie Rolls range from very small unwrapped minis to extra large king size. But what is the absolute smallest Tootsie Roll you can buy?
The Smallest Tootsie Roll
The smallest commercially available Tootsie Roll is the mini size. These tiny Tootsie Rolls are unwrapped and measure approximately 0.17 oz each.
Mini Tootsie Rolls are designed for bulk candy sales situations like party favors, candy buffets, pinatas, restaurant mints, and concession stands. They are perfect for grabbing a quick small bite of chocolate.
You can purchase bags of mini Tootsie Rolls from online retailers like Amazon, candy wholesalers, some convenience stores, and directly from Tootsie Roll Industries. Here are some details on finding mini Tootsie Rolls:
Amazon
– Sold in 5 lb bulk bags (approximately 600 pieces per bag)
– Also available in smaller 1 lb bags
– Prices range from $11.99 for 1 lb to $29.99 for 5 lbs
Candy Wholesalers
– Offer mini Tootsie Rolls in bulkCases of 12 x 1 lb bags are common
– Sold by the pound or case for wholesale pricing
– Minimum orders may apply
Convenience Stores
– Individual 1 lb bags are sometimes sold at gas stations and corner stores
– Pricing is similar to Amazon
– Selection varies by location
Direct from Tootsie Roll
– Tootsie Roll Industries has an online store with mini Tootsie Rolls
– 5 lb bags are priced around $30
– No minimum order but pricier than other options
So in summary, the mini Tootsie Roll is the smallest at just 0.17 oz. These tiny candies are perfect for events, parties, baking, candy dishes, and any situation where you want just a little bite of chocolatey Tootsie Roll flavor. While not always easy to find in stores, they can easily be purchased online in bulk.
Nutrition Information for Mini Tootsie Rolls
Since the mini Tootsie Roll is the smallest size, you may wonder how its nutrition information compares to larger Tootsie Rolls.
Here is a nutrition label for the mini Tootsie Roll at 0.17 oz:
| Mini Tootsie Roll (0.17 oz / 5g) | Amount Per Roll |
|---|---|
| Calories | 20 |
| Total Fat 1g | 2% DV |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% DV |
| Trans Fat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% DV |
| Sodium 0mg | 0% DV |
| Total Carbohydrate 4g | 1% DV |
| – Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% DV |
| – Total Sugars 4g | |
| – Includes 0g Added Sugars | |
| Protein 0g |
For comparison, here are the nutrition facts for a standard 2 oz Tootsie Roll:
| Standard Tootsie Roll (2 oz / 57g) | Amount Per Roll |
|---|---|
| Calories | 140 |
| Total Fat 4g | 6% DV |
| Saturated Fat 2g | 10% DV |
| Trans Fat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% DV |
| Sodium 15mg | 1% DV |
| Total Carbohydrate 24g | 8% DV |
| – Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% DV |
| – Total Sugars 20g | |
| – Includes 4g Added Sugars | |
| Protein 1g |
As you can see, the mini Tootsie Roll contains significantly fewer calories and sugar than the standard size. Just one mini roll provides 20 calories and 4g of sugar, compared to 140 calories and 20g of sugar in a regular roll.
The tiny 0.17 oz mini Tootsie Roll allows you to enjoy the classic Tootsie Roll flavor with a fraction of the calories. It’s the perfect single bite candy treat!
Uses for Mini Tootsie Rolls
The conveniently small size of mini Tootsie Rolls makes them versatile to use in many fun ways:
Candy Buffets
Mini Tootsie Rolls are ideal for candy and dessert buffets at parties. Their tiny individually unwrapped size lets guests grab a taste without touching shared items.
Piñatas
Fill piñatas with mini Tootsie Rolls and other bite size candies. When the piñata breaks, children will love scooping up the tiny treats.
Ice Cream Toppings
Add some crunch and chocolate to your ice cream by topping it with mini Tootsie Rolls. You can also include them in sundaes.
Movie Theater Candy
Keep a bag of mini Tootsie Rolls with you for discreet munching at the movies. They won’t make noise or disturb other patrons.
Holiday Treats
Use holiday-themed mini Tootsie Rolls for Christmas goodie bags, Easter baskets, Valentine’s Day exchanges, and more.
Wedding Candy Bar
Create a colorful candy bar for weddings and other events using mini Tootsie Rolls and other bite-size candies in glass jars.
Cake Decorations
Decorate cakes and cupcakes with mini Tootsie Rolls by pressing them gently into frosting or using candy glue dots.
Pros and Cons of Mini Tootsie Rolls
Mini Tootsie Rolls have both advantages and disadvantages compared to regular Tootsie Rolls:
Pros:
– Individually sized for portion control
– Fewer calories and less sugar per piece
– Easy to grab for a quick candy fix
– Great for use in crafts, baking, events
– Affordable bulk pricing
Cons:
– Need to be unwrapped individually
– Can melt more easily than regular rolls
– Not as readily available in stores
– Bulk packaging not ideal for home use
– Small size frustrating for larger candy cravings
Overall, the pros of the minis’ tiny size, versatility, and bulk value seem to outweigh the minor inconveniences. Just be aware of the differences before purchasing.
How Mini Tootsie Rolls Are Made
Mini Tootsie Rolls go through almost the same manufacturing process as the larger Tootsie Rolls. Here is an overview:
1. Blending
The liquid ingredients (corn syrup, condensed milk, cocoa butter) are blended in large vats along with powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
2. Cooking
The mixture is cooked and heated to the proper texture over low heat.
3. Rolling
Once the right consistency is reached, the hot candy mass is poured onto cooled rolling pans. Rotating blades shape it into long log-like portions.
4. Stamping
The logs are stamped at short intervals to create the small individual candies.
5. Cooling and Wrapping
After being conditioned with cornstarch, the candies cool and harden. Mini Tootsie Rolls are kept unwrapped.
6. Packing
The mini Tootsie Rolls are packed into bulk bags and boxes, then shipped out to distributors.
The only differences from regular Tootsie Roll production are the smaller log sizes and lack of individual wrapping. Otherwise, the process is very similar across all Tootsie Roll varieties.
Which Candy Company Makes Tootsie Rolls?
Tootsie Rolls and all their sizes are produced by Tootsie Roll Industries, one of the largest and oldest confectioners in the U.S.
Headquartered in Chicago, Tootsie Roll Industries makes over 32 million Tootsie Rolls every day alongside other classic candies like Dots, Junior Mints, Charleston Chew, and more. The company has over 2000 employees and rakes in over $500 million in annual sales.
Tootsie Roll has been a distinctly American candy brand for over a century. Even the company’s headquarters building is a Chicago landmark: a massive 10-story factory called the Tootsie Roll Industries Building.
While many candy brands like Hershey’s and Mars have been sold to larger conglomerates, Tootsie Roll Industries has remained family-owned and independent since its founding in 1896.
So rest assured that whenever you bite into a mini Tootsie Roll, it came straight from the original Chicago home of Tootsie!
Fun Facts About Mini Tootsie Rolls
Mini Tootsie Rolls have some interesting tidbits hidden in their tiny package:
– It would take over 11,000 mini Tootsie Rolls lined up end to end to stretch one mile.
– A single 5 lb bag contains approximately 600 mini Tootsie Rolls.
– Unwrapped minis prevent an estimated 60 miles of paper waste compared to wrapped candies.
– Mini Tootsie Rolls have been sold since at least the 1950s.
– Machines can make over 70,000 Tootsie Rolls per hour, both mini and regular sizes.
– The chewy chocolate in Tootsie Rolls helps them last over a year without spoiling.
– Tootsie Rolls were included in every U.S. soldier’s field rations during World War II.
So don’t let the small size fool you – there’s a lot of sweet history and fun in every bite of a teeny Tootsie Roll!
Conclusion
In summary, the smallest variety of Tootsie Roll available is the 0.17 oz mini size. These tiny candies offer all the chewy chocolate Tootsie Roll flavor in an unwrapped, portion-controlled bite.
Mini Tootsie Rolls are the perfect choice for events,bulk candy needs, and quick candy cravings when you don’t want a full size. And with only 20 calories per piece, you don’t need to feel guilty enjoying this classic American treat!
So the next time you’re looking for a little taste of Tootsie Roll in a petite package, grab a bag of minis. Just be careful not to eat the whole bag in one sitting!
