“Originally launched by private company ABC in 1943, and inspired by British creamy candy, the sweets were first called Mickey Mouse Sweets, and the wrappers featured the famed Disney rodent. During the political upheaval of the 1950s… the use of Western imagery became politically sensitive. The rodent became a rabbit in 1959, and White Rabbit candies were officially launched.”
I remember this being the first true Chinese candy I had growing up. I also grew up with Botan and Sugus, which I never realized were Japanese and Swiss respectively until years later. White Rabbit was the gross candy that my sisters and I didn’t like.
I remember liking it, but not loving it. I will eat one if it is around. What I remember liking eating is the rice paper on the white rabbit candy. That is the highlight for me.
On a topical political angle, 50% of Guang Sheng Yuan Group, which owns White Rabbit Candy, is owned by Newbridge Capital, a holding company founded by capitalist and Tibetan Buddhism maven Richard Blum, husband of California’s Senator Dianne Feinstein.