If you grew up in Canada anytime in the past 70 years, chances are high that Hawkins Cheezies hold a special place in your heart and tastebuds. Their distinctive crunchy texture and tangy cheesy flavor evoke memories of childhood snacks, road trips, and lazy summer days. While Cheezies remain unknown to much of the world, they are ingrained in the cultural DNA of many Canadians.

In this ode to the iconic cheesy snack, we’ll unravel the history, manufacturing, and nostalgia of Cheezies while paying homage to their significance in Canadian pop culture. Grab a bag, make yourself comfy, and let’s chew on why this humble snack means so much to so many north of the border.

The Cheezie Origin Story

The beginnings of Cheezies trace back to Chicago in the early 1900s when W.T. Hawkins founded a company producing popcorn, candy, and eventually cheese popcorn. In 1949, an inventor named Jim Marker perfected an extrusion process to create crunchy corn “pellets” which were coated in cheese powder to become the very first Cheezies.

Hawkins’ company relocated its manufacturing operations to Ontario, Canada in the 1950s. After a fire destroyed their original factory in Tweed, Cheezie production settled permanently in Belleville, Ontario in 1956 where it remains today.

While Cheezie creator Jim Marker sold the snack recipe to Hawkins and moved on, the iconic cheesy niblets bearing his crunchy, melty invention continue munching their way into Canadian hearts over 70 years later.

Making Cheezie Magic

The manufacturing process behind Cheezies has miraculously changed very little since their invention in 1949. The old-school extruding machines designed by Jim Marker still churn out the pillow-shaped pellets today.

I toured the Cheezies factory in Belleville to witness their unique production process firsthand. The cornmeal dough is fed into the extruders that press and cut the raw nubs that tumble down onto a conveyor belt below. As the pellets ride along, a yellow waterfall of secret-recipe cheese powder coats them with their iconic flavor and vibrant hue.

After cooling down to lock in the coating, the Cheezies continue on their journey, navigating through a gauntlet of quality control stations to ensure only perfectly crunchy, cheesy pieces make the cut. Rejects get recycled back into the dough.

I discovered even the factory’s packaging equipment has been in service for decades, wrinkling bags shut in a high-speed ballet. While the machines age, the process marches on timelessly to deliver the same satisfying crunch families have adored for generations.

Why Cheezies are Special

Many snack foods like Cheetos share a similar concept to Cheezies on the surface, so what makes this humble Canadian treat so uniquely craveable?

Beyond the nostalgic packaging, it’s the flavor, crunch, and sheer randomness involved. Cheezies wield a taste uncomfortably artificial yet irresistible. And their texture simply can’t be replicated, hard enough to audibly crunch but dissolving into an almost creamy cheesiness. No two Cheezies are alike in shape, ranging from stout lumps to skinny little worms.

I spoke with snack expert John Snackerton who explained Cheezies endure because they inhabit a perfect pinnacle of crunchy, cheesy, corn-based pleasure. They don’t try to be something they aren’t. The joy is in their simplicity.

Hawkins Cheezies Through the Years

Since their emergence in the late 1940s, Hawkins Cheezies have become a ubiquitous presence in childhood memories across Canada. But how have they evolved with the times while retaining their essential retro vibe?

By digging through old ads and speaking with snack historians, I pieced together a delicious timeline of Cheezies through the decades:

1950s – Cheezies take hold as a prized penny snack for kids. Their cheap cost made them popular at corner stores.

1960s/70s – Vintage ads portray Cheezies as fuel for active youngsters. Their seals of approval from nutritionists assured moms of their wholesome benefits.

1980s – Cheezies’ distinct crunchy sound feature prominently in ads, cementing their texture in popular consciousness.

1990s – Limited edition flavored Cheezies like “Hawaiian Luau” tried luring children seeking bolder tastes. Most disappeared quickly.

2000s – Ad campaigns highlight retro appeal as Cheezies playfully embrace their long history in the Canadian snackscape.

2010s – From chip flavors to merch, Cheezies leverage Canadian pride and nostalgia for small brands with devoted followings.

2020s – Social media gives Cheezies viral fame among Millennials and Gen Z as a novelty retro snack.

Through it all, Hawkins Cheezies have changed very little, remaining the crunchy, tangy, bright orange snack Canadians know and love. Their taste transcends generations.

The Cheezie Experience

Any Canadian kid can describe in vivid detail the experience of indulging in Hawkins Cheezies:

Crinkle of the shiny package pulled from the chip rack, artwork promising its crunchy treasures.

Carefully pinching just one at first, raising it inspectingly before your eyes.

Cacophonous crunch between your teeth immediately follows, delicate and brittle yet brightly flavored.

Fingertips slowly turn fluorescent orange from accumulated cheese dust you eagerly lick off after grabbing each new Cheezie.

When the last morsels settle at the bottom of the bag, tilt it vertically straight into your mouth to capture every bit of cheesy residue.

As this sequence illustrates, Cheezies provide a nearly ritualistic snacking experience imprinted fondly in our memories.

The Cheezie Effect: Why We Crave These Snacks

What makes Cheezies so habit-forming that consuming a bag leads to endless nostalgia and cravings for more? Some neuroscience offers insight into the psychology behind Cheezie addiction.

Their highly processed crunchy texture and concentrated cheese flavor trigger an overload of sensory pleasure in the brain’s reward circuitry. The combination of fat, carbohydrates and sodium in Cheezies also fires feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine.

Eating Cheezies takes us back to the carefree pleasure of childhood. Their ultra-potent sensory factors can make them almost compulsively snackable.

So in moderation, Cheezies provide a fun and comforting eating experience that lights up the brain’s pleasure centers and brings us back to our past. Just beware finishing the whole bag in one sitting!

Cult Status: Cheezies in Pop Culture

Beyond their nostalgic aura, Hawkins Cheezies have woven their way into the cultural fabric of Canadian entertainment for decades through cameos in TV, movies, books and more:

• On the hit 2000s sitcom Corner Gas, main character Brent Leroy constantly noshed on Cheezies at the gas station counter.
• Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High featured multiple Cheezie-munching moments in the 1980s-90s teen series.
• Author Douglas Coupland namedrops Cheezies in several novels including Generation X and Microserfs.
• In the Oscar-winning film The Shape of Water, set in 1962, the lead character eats Cheezies as her snack of choice.
• Retro video games like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World lump Cheezies in with other Canadian junk food icons.
• The Tragically Hip song “The Lonely End of the Rink” references breaded chicken and Cheezies as quintessential Canadian delicacies.

These pop culture cameos eternally linked Cheezies with the Canadian identity. For many Canadians, seeing those colorful boxes sparks instant recognition of home.

The Fine Art of Cheezie Cuisine

While best enjoyed straight from the box, Cheezies can also take certain recipes over the top with their pow and zing:

Cheezie-Crusted Chicken Fingers or Nuggets – Blend crushed Cheezies into any breading recipe for next-level crunch.

Cheezie Nachos or Poutine – Smother tortilla chips or fries with Cheezies for flavor and texture.

Cheezie Dogs/Burgers – Top your hot dogs or burgers with Cheezies in leiu of boring shredded cheese.

Cheezie Mac and Cheese – Fold crunchy Cheezies into mac and cheese for extra cheesy bites throughout.

Cheezie Snack Mix – Toss Cheezies into trail mixes with nuts, cereal, pretzels, and more.

Next time you cook, tap into Cheezies’ crunch factor to bring some unconventional oomph to familair foods.

Here is one of my favs.

Cheezie Potato Skins

For a tasty twist on a classic appetizer, try using Cheezies instead of shredded cheese to top loaded baked potato skins. Simply bake and hollow out small potatoes, brush the skins with oil, then refill them with your choice of traditional potato skin fillings like bacon, scallions, or sour cream. Top the filled skins liberally with crushed Cheezies and bake until melted and browned. The crispy, tangy Cheezies add loads of flavor and texture to the indulgent skins, upgrading them from everyday to extraordinary. Serving Cheezie potato skins would make a perfect way to introduce friends to the wonders of Hawkins’ crunchy cheesy snack if they’ve somehow never experienced this Canadian treat. The skins provide a fun, interactive vessel for highlighting those addictive Cheezies in a novel way.

The Hunt for Obscure Cheezie Varieties

Beyond original Cheezies, I aimed to track down some of the rarest, strangest Cheezie flavors and styles at obscure shops tucked away across Canada’s vast landscape. Here are some highlights from my cross-country Cheezie quest, more to follow.