Hot Tamales are a cinnamon

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...

 candy

Candy

Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...

  manufactured by the Just Born

Just Born

Just Born is a candy manufacturer based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Their tagline is "A great candy isn't made...it's Just Born."...

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They are shaped like Mike and Ike

Mike and Ike

Mike and Ike is a brand of fruit-flavored candies. They were first introduced in 1940 by Just Born, Inc., of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a family-owned company founded in 1923.-The candy:...

 candies and were introduced in 1950.

In addition to the hot and spicy flavor, there is also Hot Tamales Fire (originally Super Hot Hot Tamales) which is more intense than the original, a darker red in color, and less opaque.

A spearmint version was available in the late 2000's called Hot Tamales Ice, but is now discontinued.

In 2011, Just Born® released Hot Tamales® "3 ALARM" containing three different colored candies mixed in each box.