Amazing Grace is a PEZ Dispenser

The PEZ dispenser originated in Vienna, Austria in 1927, when confectioner Eduard Haas III created PEZ as a compressed peppermint candy aimed at adults as a breath freshener and a smoking alternative. The name “PEZ” comes from the German word PfeffErminZ (peppermint), taking the first, middle, and last letters. The original dispensers, introduced in 1948, were simple, lighter-shaped containers reflecting the product’s anti-smoking marketing. In the 1950s, as PEZ expanded to the United States, the company transformed the dispenser by adding character heads to attract children, beginning with Santa Claus and later featuring popular figures from movies, cartoons, and comic strips. This shift turned the PEZ dispenser into both a candy holder and a collectible toy, helping it become a global pop culture icon.

Race Car PEZ Dispenser International AG (2003)

The Race Car PEZ Dispenser (International AG, 2003) is a collectible novelty candy dispenser released by PEZ in 2003 that combines classic PEZ candy dispensing with a pull-back toy car design. Unlike standard character heads, this model features a small race car body that winds up and races forward when pulled back, making it both a functional PEZ dispenser and an interactive toy vehicle. These “Indy style” pull-and-go racing car dispensers were offered in several colors and variants and have since been discontinued, making them of interest to PEZ collectors; typical market values for unopened examples from this era tend to be modest, often around low double-digit dollars depending on condition and packaging.

PEZ Dispenser Furry Friends (Dakin1986)

The PEZ Dispenser Fuzzy Friends White Cat from Dakin in 2007 is a charming collectible that blends PEZ’s classic candy-dispenser design with the soft, character-driven look of Dakin’s plush-inspired figures. Released as part of the Fuzzy Friends series, this version features a white cat with an adorably rounded face, embroidered details, and a fuzzy texture that gives it a cozy, miniature plush-like appearance atop the standard PEZ stem. Collectors appreciate it for its cute aesthetic, its crossover appeal between toy and candy memorabilia, and its relatively short production run, which makes it a fun and slightly harder-to-find addition to PEZ character collections from the mid-2000s.

Hello Kitty Llama PEZ (Sanrio)

The Llama is a whimsical pink llama character that occasionally appears in Hello Kitty–related media, such as Hello Kitty magazines and on merchandise like Pez sweets. Typically depicted in shades of pink, cream, or purple, the Llama is a minor companion figure rather than a central Sanrio character, often shown alongside Hello Kitty in playful or decorative contexts. While some observers note visual similarities to llamas in traditional Andes folklore, this character does not carry cultural symbolism and is instead presented as a cute, colorful addition to Sanrio’s broad cast of charming friends.

Harry Potter (PEZ 2023)

 

Captain America (PEZ dispenser)

 

Buzz Lightyear (PEZ Dispenser)

 Did you know???

Pez was invented in Austria and later exported worldwide. The all-uppercase spelling of the logo echoes the trademark's style on the packaging and the dispensers, with the logo drawn in perspective and giving the appearance that the letters are built out of 44 brick-like Pez mints (14 bricks in the P and 15 in each of the E and Z).

PEZ Girl (Funko Pop 2020)

Did you know?

Some Pez dispensers can sell for large amounts as collectibles. The highest verifiable sale of a Pez dispenser was a private sale of a Mickey Mouse soft head at $7,000 between an Austrian dealer and a US collector. This dispenser was never available for sale to the public and was a factory prototype. The high prices which some Pez items fetch have led to the manufacturing of fake Pez items as well. The 2006 eBay sale of a clear 50s Space Gun for $11,000 took place, but according to Pez researcher David Welch, the dispenser was later proven by chemical testing to be a well-made fake. The most valuable Pez dispensers are three Political Donkeys, each valued at over $13,000, one of which was owned by JFK.

Peter PEZ (Funko Pop 2020)

Did you know? 

Pez was invented in Austria and later exported worldwide. The all-uppercase spelling of the logo echoes the trademark's style on the packaging and the dispensers, with the logo drawn in perspective and giving the appearance that the letters are built out of 44 brick-like Pez mints (14 bricks in the P and 15 in each of the E and Z).