There are many great Easter Candy options, but here are a few of our favorites. Or View All Easter Candy.
1. Easter Decade Gift Boxes. Indulge in nostalgia with our 2lb or 4lb boxes filled with candy from your chosen decade. Customize your box with an Easter-themed top and add a personal touch with a handwritten gift card if desired.
2.LifeSavers Swirled Pops. These delightful treats are exclusive to the spring season, making them the perfect addition to your Easter basket!
3 Speckled Mini Malted Milk Eggs Bite-sized eggs of malted milk, coated in chocolate, and adorned with vibrant candy shells. These festive treats are ideal for Easter gift bags and baskets.
4. Peeps. No Easter is complete without marshmallow Peeps! Choose from an array of assorted colors and flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth.
5. Easter Rolo: Indulge in the smooth caramel and decadent chocolate of Easter Rolos, wrapped in festive holiday foil for an extra touch of joy.
Whether you're looking for a trip down memory lane with our Decade Gift Boxes or simply craving the classic sweetness of Peeps, we've got you covered with these delightful Easter treats and gifts! Shop Easter Candy here: www.oldtimecandy.com/collections/candy-by-occasion-easter-candy
]]>What about Atomic Fireballs?
If you like those, chances are you also like Trolli Gummi Worms—maybe you also like Nerds or Nerds Gummy Clusters.
If any of those candies caught the attention of your sweet tooth, that means you’re a fan of Ferrara Candy Company. Credited with being one of the most innovative and popular candy brands on the planet, Ferrara Candy Company has been operating for over 100 years and in that time, crafted some of the sweetest confections consumers have ever tasted.
As a retro candy store, we love to dive into the sweet history of these iconic brands and discover their origin stories. So that’s what we did with Ferrara Candy Company.
Let’s dive in!
Ferrara Candy Company was started by Italian immigrant Salvatore Ferrara in 1908 in Little Italy, Chicago. Salvatore, a seasoned pastry chef, wanted to open a small shop where he could share his delicious sweets with the rest of Little Italy. This began with a traditional Italian wedding treat known as confetti—candy-coated almonds.
As Salvatore's small shop continued to grow in popularity, he ventured further into the candy side of the business exploring different confectionery concepts like panning. Panning is a method for adding a sugar-based "shell" to confectionery or nuts. Think of some of your favorite sweets like M&Ms, Gobstoppers, Lemonheads, and Atomic Fireballs (we’ll be coming back to those last two soon).
Salvatore noticed that candy was selling more than pastries so he partnered with brother-in-laws Salvatore Buffardi and Anello Pagano to open a new space that focused on producing and selling panned candy at scale. In these early years, Salvatore brought a handful of new candies to the American market including Boston Baked Beans (candy-coated peanuts), Jujyfruits (fruit-flavored chewy candy), Chuckles (jelly candy with a sugar coating), and Atomic Fireballs (a spicy cinnamon hard candy).
Around 1962, the company conceptualized one of its most popular products to date: Lemonheads. Most of us remember these from childhood—a sweet and tart hard candy that tingles your taste buds with the flavors of citrus and lemon. They were an immediate hit amongst kids and adults would go on to become one of the most popular candies in Ferrara’s confectionery catalog.
Over the next two decades Ferrara would continue to produce a variety of bulk candy that was sold to other brick-and-mortar candy stores across the U.S. While it was successful, it began to notice a strong trend with branded products with over 80% of sales attributed to these products. According to Salvatore Ferrara II, "there's always a war on commodity items, and brand loyalty for these items is not very strong. Generally, commodity items are bought on the basis of who has the cheapest price today, and not necessarily who has the best product."
This spawned a new focus on branded candy and shifted attention away from bulk candy. Instead of producing mass quantities of bulk candy, Ferrara would pivot toward branded products that only they could produce, helping the brand build upon the success of products like Lemonheads and Atomic Fireballs.
In the early 1990s, Ferrara started acquiring a variety of existing candy brands including Black Forest and Mellos gummies. The company also acquired the right to manufacture fruit snacks and used the Flintstones movie license to promote the product. Similarly, Ferrara struck a deal with Sun-Maid and Planters to produce both chocolate-covered raisins and peanuts, further endorsing the brand’s reputation as a major player in the candy industry.
By the 2000’s, Ferrara products could be found on store shelves across the country and popularity grew substantially thanks to the acquisitions made during the 1990s. In 2000, Ferrara made an agreement with Spangler to make Atomic Fireball and Lemonhead lollipops which were sold by Spangler. At the same time, the brand started to aggressively market its Black Forest line which would go on to be one of the fastest growing products in its category and propel to one of the 15 top-selling chewy candies in the United States.
Following the rapid growth, Ferrara continued to acquire new brands and licensing that would push the brand forward with young consumers. This included a merger with American Licorice, Necco, Palmer, and Spangler, Ferrara Pan to establish Imagination Confections LLC. Working as one cohesive candy unit, this armed Ferrara with the sales and marketing to leverage its licensing with Disney and get more candy into the hands of consumers.
By 2006, Ferrara was a force in the candy industry. With high-end chocolate being one of the fastest-growing segments of the candy industry, Ferrara Pan took on exclusive distribution of four European premium Kraft Foods' chocolate brands—Toblerone, Terry's, Milka, and Cote D'Or—with plans to introduce them to the mass, grocery, and drug channels.
In 2012, after 104 years of family-driven operations, Ferrara Pan was sold on June 28th and merged with Farley and Sathers, which was owned by Catterton Partners. This new company was named the Ferrara Candy Company and led by Salvatore Ferrara II.
Over the next 5 years, Ferrara Candy Company would go on to develop new products and put a modern spin on many of its sweet treats. Then in 2017, Ferrero Rocher acquired Ferrara Candy Company and merged all of its products into its ecosystem. Ferrero is the third-largest company in the global chocolate confectionery market and best known in the U.S. for Tic Tac breath mints, Ferrero Rocher pralines, Nutella hazelnut spreads, and the Fannie May and Harry London chocolate brands.
We know, Ferrara, Ferrero—the names can be a bit confusing. All you need to know is that this merger was massive for the candy industry and cemented Ferrara as one of the top companies in the space.
Today, Ferrara Candy Company still operates as a separate unit of the Ferrero selling all of its popular products like Trolli, Laffy Taffy, Nerds, Gobstoppers, Fun Dip, Runts, Lemonheads, Red Hots, Spree, Brach’s Conversation Hearts, Chuckles, and Fruit Stripes.
Did you know that you can get all of them right here in our digital aisles? That’s right! Go ahead and browse through the Ferrara category and grab some of your favorites and we’ll send them straight to your front door!
]]>This confection, with a history spanning over a century, has evolved from a regional specialty to a beloved treat enjoyed worldwide. Let's delve into the fascinating history of Turkish Taffy, tracing its origins, innovations, and enduring popularity.
The story of Turkish Taffy is a tale of accidental invention. It began in the early 20th century when Austrian immigrant Herman Herer started a small candy shop in Coney Island, New York. Herer's original intention was to create a nougat-style candy, but one fateful day, a mistake in his recipe led to the creation of something entirely different. The candy mix, which was supposed to be soft and chewy, became hard and brittle.
Rather than discarding this unexpected result, Herer saw potential in the crunchy candy. He started selling it under the name "Turkish Taffy," capitalizing on the exotic allure of the word "Turkish" and marketing it as a unique novelty. The candy quickly gained popularity among beachgoers and visitors to Coney Island.
The true transformation of Turkish Taffy came when a young candy maker named Victor Bonomo purchased the recipe and rights to Turkish Taffy from Herman Herer in 1944. Under Bonomo's guidance, Turkish Taffy underwent significant improvements, including a change in recipe and packaging.
One of the key innovations was a formula tweak that made the taffy more pliable. This made it easier to break into bite-sized pieces, a feature that became iconic for Turkish Taffy. Additionally, Bonomo introduced a new marketing strategy that involved freezing the taffy, then smashing it into bite-sized pieces before consumption, creating a delightful and memorable eating experience.
The iconic blue and white Turkish Taffy bar, complete with a comic strip inside the wrapper, became synonymous with the candy. The comic strip featured the adventures of "Whistle and the Turk," characters that added a playful element to the candy's packaging. This marketing approach not only appealed to children but also made Turkish Taffy a collectible item.
The 1950s and 1960s were the heyday of Turkish Taffy. It was not only a popular candy but also a cultural phenomenon. Kids and teenagers flocked to candy stores, purchasing Turkish Taffy bars for just a few cents. The freezing and cracking ritual became a fun and social activity, with friends and siblings sharing the crunchy delight.
As the popularity of Turkish Taffy soared, the candy underwent further expansion. New flavors, such as chocolate and banana, were introduced to complement the original vanilla. The candy bars also became available in larger sizes, catering to those who simply couldn't get enough of the sweet, chewy crunch.
Turkish Taffy's meteoric rise was followed with challenges. Changes in consumer preferences and competition from newer candies in the market posed significant obstacles. In 1980, the original Bonomo family sold the brand to Tootsie Roll Industries, a candy conglomerate. This transition marked a shift in the production and distribution of Turkish Taffy.
The candy underwent several hiatuses and rebranding efforts in the following decades. However, the love for Turkish Taffy never truly disappeared. Nostalgic candy lovers, who cherished their childhood memories of the candy, sought to revive it. Online communities and petitions advocating for its return began to gain traction.
In response to this passionate fanbase, Tootsie Roll Industries re-released Turkish Taffy in 2018. The return of this classic candy was met with excitement and celebration. While the packaging underwent some modernization, the essence of Turkish Taffy remained unchanged, delighting both longtime fans and a new generation of candy enthusiasts.
Turkish Taffy continues to hold a special place in the hearts of those who remember its nostalgic heyday. It serves as a reminder of simpler times and the joy of discovering a delightful candy treat. The candy, with its unique combination of crunchy and chewy textures, remains a beloved classic.
Turkish Taffy's enduring popularity proves that some things never go out of style. It's a testament to the power of nostalgia and the timeless appeal of a simple yet satisfying candy.
For those who experienced the joy of cracking a Turkish Taffy bar on a warm summer day at the beach or sharing it with friends, this iconic candy will forever hold a cherished place in their candy-loving hearts.
]]>It’s the fourth largest privately held company in the world and responsible for some of the greatest candy creations of all time.
We’re talking about candy bars like the Milky Way, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Twix, and handheld candies like M&Ms and Skittles.
Mars Inc has been in the candy industry for over 100 years and in that time, has only become more popular as its product lines have expanded and it has taken over other food industries with recognizable brands like Combos, Uncle Ben’s, and Dolmio. Not to mention the brand also owns pet food companies like Pedigree, Whiskas, Nutro and Royal Canin.
We were curious how Mars Inc became a candy giant, so we dove into the history of Mars and came to find 9 sweet facts that you probably never knew. Check them out!
Mars candy has tried its hand at a few different names over the course of its 110-year history. In the early years, Frank Mars sold candy under his own name in both Minnesota and Washington. After moving back to Minnesota from Washington in 1920, he changed the name to “The Nougat House”. This name lasted only a year when he changed it to MAR-O-BAR. Named after Mars chocolate-dipped candy bar, this name was the inception of what would become Mars Inc. Due to fragility, the MAR-O-BAR struggled in transportation, leading to the creation of the wildly popular Milky Way candy bar.
Frank Mars' son wanted to find a way to take the full flavor of a milkshake and condense it down into a bite-sized candy bar. In 1923, he created the first version of the Milky Way candy bar and advertised it as “chocolate malted milk in a candy bar”. This confectionery innovation would catapult Mars into the mainstream and make it one of the most popular candy bars ever sold by the company.
Before you answer the question, let us just break it down so you know all the options.
On the chocolate side of things Nestlé offers some of the best confectionery treats to every grace store shelves. These include Butterfinger, Crunch, BabyRuth, 100Grand, Raisinets, Chunky, and OhHenry! On the hard candy side, Nestlé is responsible for SweeTarts, LaffyTaffy, Nerds, FunDip, PixyStix, Gobstopper, BottleCaps, Spree, and Runts.
Now that you know what your sweet tooth can snack on, we’ll ask the question one more time. What is your favorite Nestlé Candy?
Nestlé is one of the largest publicly held food companies in the world with over 2000 subsidiaries that range from the classic confections we know and love all the way to pet food, frozen food, and baby formula.
Nestlé is widely respected as one of the big 10 food conglomerates but spent its early years in Switzerland perfecting a product that catapulted the brand name to the top of the food industry.
We wanted to know a little bit more about the early years of Nestlé and how they got into the candy game, so we did what any good candy lover would do and took to the Nestlé archives to find out a little more.
Before there was Nestlé there was the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company founded by George and Charles Page in 1866. These two brothers are responsible for creating the infrastructure that would support the Nestlé brand for the next 100 years.
Around the same time that the Page brothers were forming their company, Henri Nestlé was creating a milk-based baby food in Vevey, Switzerland. This product was one of the first of its kind and was quickly picked up by other European countries. Within a year of launching his product, Nestlé partnered with chocolatier, Daniel Peter to create a milk chocolate product and manufacturing process that eliminated the need for water, helping the chocolate avoid mildew buildup in storage.
With the help of Daniel Peter and in collaboration with the Cailler family who owned a chocolate factory in Broc, Sweden, Nestlé began producing large quantities of chocolate that were sold in Europe. Before they knew it, the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company had become a major leader in the Swiss chocolate industry and could be found on store shelves all over Europe.
It was around the beginning of WWI that governments took notice of the Nestlé operation and offered contracts to the brand to supply troops with both condensed milk and milk chocolate. Production skyrocketed as the brand opened up operations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain. As the first World War came to a close, government contracts dried up and the brand experienced a massive lull where profits dropped.
During the years between WWI and WWII, Nestlé focused its attention on further developing its confectionery creations while also directing effort at other food industries. During the early 1930s, Nestlé introduced white chocolate to the world, which became a massive hit amongst both European and American taste buds.
When WWII hit, Nestlé once again hit a low period where profits dropped from $20 million down to $6 million, forcing the brand to look at other opportunities in the food space. This led to the development of Nescafe Coffee. This invention turned into one of the most popular product lines that Nestlé ever released. Without hesitation governments on both sides of the war contracted Nestlé to produce Nescafe Coffee on a large scale which was distributed to troops in MRE rations.
At this time chocolate remained one of the brand’s primary products leading to the development of new concepts like Butterfinger and Baby Ruth, both of which were originally created by Curtiss Candy Company and bought by Nestlé.
From the 1950s-70s Nestlé began to acquire other food brands under their name. The likes of Maggi, Findus, Libby, and Stouffers—you know them most famously for their microwave mac and cheese and lasagna. These moves propelled the brand forward into new markets and helped expand the company into the 1980s where it acquired other brands like Coffee Mate, Friskies, and British Confectionery Company Rowntree Macintosh, the creators of KitKat, Rolo, Smarties, and Aero.
When the 1990s rolled around, Nestlé was sitting atop the food chain and looking to expand even more. This led to the acquisition of companies like San Pellegrino (1997), D'Onofrio (1997), Spillers Petfoods (1998), and Ralston Purina (2002).
During this time, there were two major acquisitions that cemented Nestlé as a food giant. First was its merger with Dreyer's ice cream, then a US$2.6 billion acquisition of Chef America, the creator of Hot Pockets. For a moment it appeared as though Nestlé was also going to acquire Hersheys in partnership with Cadbury but the deal eventually fell through—this would have eliminated its top competitor and put Nestlé at the helm of confectionery production.
In January 2006, it took full ownership of Dreyer's, thus becoming the world's largest ice cream maker, with a 17.5% market share.
Over the next decade, Nestlé continued to grow across all different kinds of food industries acquiring brands left and right. At the same time, it also expanded its confectionery operations into more countries, making it one of the most recognizable brands in the entire world.
In 2018 Nestlé sold all of its confectionery business to Ferrara Candy Company for $2.8 billion. This included the rights to all Nestlé candy products including Butterfinger, Crunch, BabyRuth, 100Grand, Raisinets, Chunky, OhHenry! and SnoCaps, as well as local sugar brands such as SweeTarts, LaffyTaffy, Nerds, FunDip, PixyStix, Gobstopper, BottleCaps, Spree and Runts. The only dessert-type brand that Nestlé retained was its iconic Toll House brand.
All in all The Nestlé Enterprise is valued at about $397 billion and holds a place at the table of one of the most powerful, innovative, and industry-trending brands in the world.
While we were sad to see Nestlé get out of the candy industry, we’re incredibly grateful for all the amazing candy products they brought to the world. Many of which you can get right here in our digital aisles!
]]>Can you take a guess?
As it turns out it takes over 1000 licks to get to the gooey, chocolatey center of a Tootsie Pop.
But before there were Tootsie Pops, Tootsie Frooties, and Mr. Owl, there was Leo Hirshfield—the creator of Tootsie Rolls.
As you know, we’re all about candy history here, and since Tootsie Rolls is one of the most popular candies of all time, we thought we’d dive into the sweet history of how they came to be.
Check it out!
The concept for the Tootsie Roll came from Austrian-Jewish Immigrant Leo Hirshfield whose father was a candy maker. Hirshfield's history in candy is up for debate as some recognize that he started his own candy store in New York City in 1896, while others say that he was a long-standing employee of the famous confectionery company, Stern & Saalberg.
Before he created the first recipe for Tootsie Rolls, Hirshfield was credited with the creation of Bromangelon jelly powder—one of the first versions of what would become Jell-O. While working for Stern & Saalberg, Hirshfield wanted to find a way to create a chocolate-flavored candy that wouldn’t melt during the summer. (Sounds like another iconic candy that we know and love).
After much testing, he developed the Tootsie Roll—a chocolate and caramel pulled candy that had a unique texture, similar to that of a marshmallow but with more density. With support from his friends at Stern & Saalberg, Tootsie Rolls were introduced to the candy market in 1908, after earning a patent for the recipe and process.
With the initial success of Tootsie Rolls, Hirshfield merged with Stern & Saalberg which went public in 1922 and was called the Sweets Company of America.
Right out of the gate, these bite-sized treats were a hit amongst candy lovers who were intrigued by the unique flavor and small price tag of one penny. Little did they know that this invention would spawn a whole new era of sweets known as “penny candy” that would send candy-loving kids into a spiral every time they entered the store.
To this day, Tootsie Roll is credited with being one of the first penny candies on the market and is often found in the classic barrels you see in popular candy stores across the United States.
Source: https://tootsie.com/interactive-timeline/
After finding initial success with the sweet treat, Hirshfield wanted to expand the production of Tootsie Rolls so he bought a four-story building in Manhattan where the brand would start to sling larger amounts of candy. During this period, Tootsie Rolls were delivered to candy stores by horse and buggy which eventually turned into custom Tootsie roll trucks labeled with the famous logo.
In 1922, after Hirshfield’s suicide in the Monterey Hotel, the brand was left without leadership, and production of the candy started to slow.
In 1935, the Tootsie Roll was acquired by its packaging company, Joseph Rubin & Sons of Brooklyn, who wanted to keep the brand alive during the Great Depression.
Around this time, Tootsie Roll hit the NYSE of which a majority of the shares were purchased by businessman Bernard D. Rubin. Upon purchase, Rubin acquired a list of shareholders and approached them in person in order to purchase the remaining shares.
Under Rubin’s leadership, Tootsie Rolls started to find its footing in the candy market again. He focused on creating a new formula for the candy and also increased the size to make the product more marketable.
With sales on the rise, Rubin was looking for new ways to capture the attention of an audience who already loved the product. This led to the invention of the Tootsie Pop—a hard-shelled lollipop with a Tootsie Roll center. This invention would rock the candy world, with consumers flocking to stores to get their hands on the sweet creation.
Not long after the creation of Tootsie Pop came another famous invention: the flavored Tootsie Roll. These included a wide range of flavors, originally cherry, orange, vanilla, lemon, and lime, as well as a special Mega Mix bag that included specialty flavors like green apple, blue raspberry, and grape. Tootsie Frooties came after in numerous different fruit flavors, including strawberry, blue raspberry, grape, green apple, banana berry, smooth cherry, fruit punch, pink lemonade, root beer, cranberry, blueberry, watermelon, and mango.
Fast forward a few decades and Tootsie Roll made the move from Hoboken, NJ to Chicago, IL. Here it’s its massive production facility the brand started to make over 64 million Tootsie Rolls every single day. At the same time, Tootsie Roll Industries (name adopted in 1966) would go on to acquire a bunch of other candy brands including, DOTS, Crows, Cella's Chocolate Covered Cherries, Charms, Junior Mints, Sugar Daddy, Sugar Babies, Charleston Chew, and Concord Confections.
As the candy continued to grow in popularity, it was approached by the U.S. Army to create MRE rations that soldiers could consume on the front lines. This was a practice of many confectionery companies during this time, as demand for sweets was incredibly high and ingredient costs were at a premium.
Source: https://tootsie.com/interactive-timeline/
These government contracts helped maintain the production and funding of Tootsie Rolls throughout the war and kept the doors open while many other confectionery brands shut down.
When troops came back home, their cravings for Tootsie Rolls continued and were adopted by the families reintroducing the chocolatey treat to candy lovers across the United States.
Source: https://tootsie.com/interactive-timeline/
In the 1950s Tootsie Rolls began pushing its sweetness in advertisements of all forms. First in radio ads with America’s Cowboy Gene Autry and with famous celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lipp. It’s even rumored that Tootsie Rolls were Frank Sinatra’s favorite candy so much so that he was buried with a few of them.
Then the brand turned to television, buying up advertising slots during children’s shows and nightly TV. At the same time, it started its first comic strip called Tootsie Roll Hero featuring the hero Captain Tootsie along with his sidekick, Rollo, and three other young cohorts named Fatso, Fisty, and Sweetie.
These stories came in full-color one-page Sunday strips, black and white daily strips, and two issues of a comic book of the same title released by Toby Press. The comic strips were a hit among kids and found its way into many local and national newspapers across the U.S.
In August of 1970 Mr. Owl made his way to the TV screen, where he would go on to become the mascot for Tootsie Rolls moving forward. By the way, did you know that you can follow him on Twitter @MrOwl.
Today, Tootsie Rolls is recognized as one of the largest candy manufacturers in the world churning out millions of pieces of candy every single day. The recipe, which calls for the inclusion of the previous day's batch, still remains the same. As such, there's “technically” a bit of Leo Hirshfield’s very first Tootsie Roll in every one of the sixty-four million Tootsie Rolls that are produced.
Between its classic flavor and texture, as well as its hold on candy culture over the last 100 years, Tootsie Rolls continue to be sold at candy stores across the country, handed out at festivals and Fourth of July parades, and can be found right here in our candy aisles!
]]>The best month of the entire year is here and we want to know how you’re celebrating. If you haven’t indulged yet, do yourself a favor and check out these 5 Ways to Celebrate National Candy Month right now!
Have A Candy Movie Night
Everyone loves a movie night, but you know what makes it better? All of your favorite candy paired with some of the best movies featuring iconic candy! We’re talking about Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, ET, The Goonies, The Breakfast Club, and of course Caddyshack. All of these films feature famous candy like ET’s love for Reese’s Pieces, Sloth and Chunk’s devotion to Baby Ruth, and Allison Reynold's crazy sandwich concoction featuring Pixie Stix. Before you queue up your favorite candy flick, do yourself a solid and grab all the candy you need or even a Movie Theatre Gift Bucket and settle in for a night filled with sweet treats and movies.
Send Your Family & Best Friends Candy
Have you ever received an anonymous gift before? It’s like being a kid on Christmas again—you’re not sure what’s inside the box, but you know it will be something sweet. Well, this is your chance to do the same for someone you love or that friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Gifting candy is easy when you do it with us, and you can even customize a hand-written message to the recipient telling them just how much you love them and are looking out for their sweet tooth. Choose from thousands of sweet treats or take your candy gifting to another level by sending them a Decade Gift Box stuffed with 2 or 4 pounds of all the candy from a specific decade!
Put Together A Candy Potluck
Who said you can’t have a candy potluck party? Instead of opting for appetizers and snacks, make this candy party all about confections. Gather up your closest friends, neighbors, or co-workers and celebrate National Candy Month with everyone’s favorite treat. The more you invite, the more sweets to go around, and best believe you’ll be stocked up on candy that you can take home for a late-night snack!
Source: pinterest.com
Make Some Sweet Candy Art
We’ve been spending a lot of time on TikTok lately and discovered a candy trend that we’ve never seen before. People are taking M&M’s or Skittles and arranging them on a plate or tray in a patterned color order. Then they’re simply taking hot water and pouring it into the middle of the platter to create a psychedelic candy art piece that would make Picasso jealous. We’ve yet to try this one ourselves but think it’s the perfect way to take your candy obsession and mix it with some creativity. Check it out for yourself!
Source: hellolittlehome.com
Have An Ice Cream Sundae Contest
Since it’s summertime, we wanted to give you some ideas for cooling down on a hot day, while still satisfying your sweet tooth. One of them is an ice cream sundae contest. The first step is to head over to your local grocery store and grab a gallon of some sweet, cold ice cream. Then hop into our candy aisles and grab all of your favorite confections for toppings. From there the task is simple, make the most chaotic, candy-filled ice cream sundae you can imagine. Whether you have a judge or not, one thing is for sure, you’re going to cool down nicely and keep that sweet tooth very happy.
We hope you are enjoying this month of sweetness just as much as we are. If you’re finding yourself a little short on sugar, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Head over to our candy aisles and grab all of your favorite confections and we’ll ship them straight to your front door!
]]>One candy collector forked over a massive $7,000 for one single Pez dispenser!
Can you guess what that character was?
We’re going to save the sweet details for later in this story. Until then, we thought you might want to know a little more about the history of Pez dispensers and how they became an American candy icon that continues to captivate kids and collectors alike.
Check it out!
Pez was invented in 1927 by Eduard Haas III in Vienna, Austria.
Before the brand started slinging sweets out of its famous dispenser, Haas developed the Pez Drop—a peppermint lozenge that came in a traditionally rounded shape. This concept was short-lived and Haas pivoted creating the Pez dispenser. Designed to be an alternative to smoking, the idea for the Pez dispenser mimicked the same flick and served as a cigarette lighter but instead dispensed 12 peppermint hard candies.
The world got its first look at the innovative Pez dispenser at the Vienna Trade Fair in 1949. In 1952, Pez launched in the United States and started selling its peppermint-flavored hard candy in retail stores in New York City. The low price and refillable capability made it an easy and attractive product for candy lovers and cigarette smokers who wanted to kick their habit.
Source: pez.com
While the product was popular amongst adults, Pez struggled to break into the younger market, so the brand took a chance and created the first Pez dispenser character, The Witch in 1957. Soon after Pez released the first licensed dispenser character with Popeye. The character concept proved to be the perfect catalyst for children loving Pez and soon after the brand started producing other famous characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Santa Claus.
A year later, Pez hit the market with its Pez dispenser gun, a spacelike laser gun inspired by the 60’s space culture that had taken over American consciousness at the time. While this product was only on the market a short time, we’d be the first to tell you it was one of the best Pez dispensers ever made—just look at how sweet the thing looked!
Source: smithsonian.com
With all the success of the early character adoptions, Pez focused all of its attention on developing new characters that kids would love. This spawned the creation of Pez’s first and only historical figure collection featuring Besty Ross, Daniel Boone, and Paul Revere called the Bicentennial Series in 1970.
Around this time, Pez moved and opened its first factory on U.S. soil in Orange, Connecticut. Soon after, the brand got adventurous and started making new hard candy flavors like licorice, flowers, and chlorophyll—the first sounds great, but we’re not so sure about the other two.
In 1990, Pez made its big break with the release of the Star Wars collection of Pez dispensers. These included everyone’s favorite characters like Darth Vader, Yoda, Chewbacca, R2D2, and StormTrooper.
Source: pinterest.com
Kids went rampant for the Star Wars release selling out the limited collection across the United States. By the way, Star Wars is still one of the best-selling series of Pez dispensers the company has ever produced.
Fast forward to 1987 and Pez put the flat bottom base on all its dispensers helping it stand upright for display. These flat bottoms are what beloved collectors refer to as “feet” and are used to date the release of all dispensers after 1987. Less than 3 years later, Pez was featured on the cover of Forbes and coined an American pop culture icon.
The brand even entered the famous and reputable New York auction house, Christie’s where it held the first-ever pop culture auction featuring Pez dispensers and some of its most popular characters.
In the early 2000s, Pez released its first Fuzzy Friends dispensers that featured a collection of furry animals that covered the entire dispenser in plush cotton fur. These were a smash hit amongst consumers which led to a partnership between Pez and General Mills–you know, the cereal company—where they snuck a slew of different dispensers inside boxes of cereal that kids could find in their bowls.
Source: pez.com
This is where the wave of Pez started to turn into an ocean of opportunity. After the success of its General Mills partnership, Pez started producing hundreds of different characters and series that caught the attention of children and collectors all over the globe.
This included a 2007 limited edition Elvis series that reflected 3 of the musician’s different looks over his career, a 2008 Star Trek series featuring 7 of the characters from the crew of Star Trek Enterprise, a 70th anniversary of Wizard of Oz highlighting Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, Dorothy Gale, Toto, Glinda, the Wizard of Oz and the Wicked Witch of the West—of which only 30,000 were made, and a Snow White and the 7 Dwarves series of dispensers featuring a storybook that came with it.
And Pez didn’t stop there. The brand continued to pump out more characters connecting them with the youth of America including a limited set of Lord of The Rings that was released with Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gollum. This line had an exclusive partnership with Walmart where it swapped Bilbo for the Eye of Sauron and sold only 150k units.
Source: pezcollectorsstore.com
Then Pez turned around and capitalized on more cartoon success developing a Monsters University set with Mike Wazowski, James P. "Sulley" Sullivan, Scott "Squishy" Squibbles and Randall Boggs. In 2015, the brand went big creating a giant version of its product featuring the head of none other than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Raphael.
Today, the brand innovates new character ideas and partners with major motion pictures, popular toy products, superheroes, and even perennial favorites like Christmas ornaments.
Here’s the thing about Pez dispensers, chances are you've had at least one in your lifetime. Whether it was a famous movie persona, cartoon icon, or one of their 1,500 different tops that have been made since 1950, it’s become a staple in candy stores all over the world.
So much so that collectors clamor over them and are willing to pay top dollar to get their hands on the rarest Pez dispensers they can find. To give you an idea of how crazy these collectors are, the highest-selling dispenser on record was a $7k Mickey Mouse soft head between an Austrian dealer and a U.S. collector. This extremely rare find was a factory prototype and was never sold to the public.
Pez is so ingrained into American candy culture that President John F. Kennedy was known to be a beloved fan of Pez candy, making the brand’s Three Donkeys limited release the most expensive collection of Pez dispensers ever made—one of which Kennedy himself owned.
Hop on eBay and you’ll see bids as much as $485 for The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the psychedelic eyeball going for $500, and the astronaut helmet priced at a whopping $400. It’s even rumored that eBay founder, Pierre Omidyar, built the online store just so that his wife could collect more Pez dispensers. This is a wive’s tale that has been debunked, but we still like to believe this was the driving force behind the internet juggernaut’s growth.
All that said, Pez remains one of the most iconic candy products ever made and continues to capture the attention of children today.
Speaking of your inner child, did you know that we sell Pez dispensers?! Whether you’re a Star Wars fanatic, DC Comic lover, Hello Kitty enthusiast, or devoted Game of Thrones fan, we’ve got tons of different characters to choose from and an ungodly amount of Pez refills you can get right here!
]]>What about the Valentine’s Day treat, conversation hearts?
As it turns out, Brach’s Candy is the culprit for some of the most iconic and popular candies we know and love today.
But how did it all begin?
The story of this confectionery innovator is one that’s filled with triumph and tribulation, sweet treats and creative eats. Here’s the history of Brach’s Candy!
Source: brachs.com
Brach’s Candy was founded by Emil J. Brach in 1904 in Chicago, IL. An aspiring businessman and previous candy salesman, Brach left his job selling sweets on the streets to start his own candy storefront with the last $1,000 of his life savings.
With a single kettle and the help of his two sons Edwin and Frank, Brach’s began production of milk maid caramels that were sold for 20 cents, half the price of most caramel confectioners at the time.
Rightly named Brach’s Palace of Sweets, the storefront was an immediate success in the local community slinging sweets to the community members of the greater Chicago area. By 1911, Brach’s had become so popular that the brand was making over 50,000 pounds of candy every single week.
With sustainable sales in hand, Brach’s knew it was time to expand production into a full-time factory. The company built a $5 million factory that produced 127 different candy treats. From caramels and chocolates to pan candy–a staple of Brach’s products—the company experienced a surge in growth and popularity amongst the national market.
Source: brachs.com
In 1948, tragedy struck Brach’s production facility when a gas spark combined with corn start in the air caused a catastrophic explosion, eliminating nearly half of the factory’s production space. The blaze killed 11 employees and injured another 18. It’s said that it took over 2,500 firefighting personnel to put out the fire.
But in tragedy came triumph as Brach’s leveraged the opportunity to build a new factory space that covered a massive 2 million square feet. Each section of the factory was divided up into different areas of focus with dedicated machinery and employees who focused on specific products.
At this time Brach’s employed over 4,500 workers and was producing over 4 million pounds of candy every single year, making it the largest manufacturer of candy products in the entire world.
Fun Fact: When Brach’s closed shop on the gigantic Chicago-based factory, it was left abandoned. In 2003, it was used as a location for filming the blockbuster movie, The Dark Knight, and the infamous scene when the Joker (Heath Ledger) blows up Gotham General hospital. The rest of the building was demolished in 2014.
Source: thedieline.com
A decade later, in the 1950’s Brach’s made one of the biggest innovations in the modern candy market: Pick-A-Mix. Similar to all the local candy stores at the time who sold bulk candy in buckets and allowed customers to pick what they wanted, Brach’s borrowed the concept and brought it to their commercial partners who introduced the concept into supermarkets across the United States. Suddenly, consumers could choose all the candy they wanted just like the early days of Brach’s Palace Of Sweets, but in their local grocery stores.
Much of this decision came on the shoulders of the growing popularity of Halloween trick-or-treating, which was a staple of business for the brand credited with commercializing the sales of candy corn.
In 1966, long after the passing of founder Emil Brach, his sons sold the company to American Home Products Corporation, who continued the production of Brach’s products like caramel, jelly eggs, candy corn, mint bars, almond bars, and swing bars.
During this time, Brach’s earned a reputation for being one of the powerhouse players in the candy space accounting for over ⅔ of the U.S. market for bagged candy–nearly 7% of the $9 billion candy industry.
In 1986, American Home Products was purchased by Klaus Jacobs who would lead the brand down a tumultuous path that resulted in multiple buyouts and sales over the next 2o years. While the brand remained relevant it never achieved the financial success that it had during the period of ‘60s-’80s.
In 2003, under Barry Callebaut AG, Brach’s moved primary production out of Chicago and into Mexico. It still maintained operations in Chicago and Chattanooga, but most of its mainstay products were made in Mexico. Then in 2007, Brach’s and its subsidiaries were sold to Farley’s & Sathers Candy Company which merged with the Ferrara Pan Candy Company in 2012 to create the Ferrara Candy Company—the current owners and producers of Brach’s candy collections.
In the early years of the brand, Brach’s made caramel hard candy as well as a handful of candy bars including the Swing Bar—a combination of peanuts, chocolate, and honeycomb, Mint Bars, Almond Nougat Bars, Jelly Eggs, as well as a collection of bagged candy such as peppermints, candy corn, malt balls, double dipped peanuts, chocolate stars, almond supremes, and bridge mix.
Currently, Brach’s is recognized as the biggest producer of the Halloween-favorite, candy corn, as well as the Valentine’s Day classic, conversation hearts. The brand also dabbles in seasonal sweets such as candy canes, jelly beans, and peppermint stars.
You can find Brach’s products in a wide variety of food retailers including grocery stores, pharmacies, brick-and-mortar candy shops, and of course, in our digital aisles right here.
]]>Ok, so that hasn’t been proven by fishermen, but we like to think that some sea creatures crave a little extra sugar in their bait.
That being said, we know for a fact that Swedish Fish has caught the attention of candy lovers all over the world. The iconic fish-shaped candy has been a staple in candy stores and movie theaters for decades, which got us wondering, where did it even come from?
So we did some deep sea diving to find out more about Swedish Fish and its origin story.
Check it out!
Swedish Fish was first developed in the 1950’s by the Swedish confectionery company, Malaco.
The idea for the sea creature snack came from the widely popular fish dish “Surströmming” or “sour herring”—a pickled delight that will turn your taste buds upside down. It’s so sour in fact that major airlines like Air France, British Air, and Finnair banned it from in-flight options due to the overwhelming stench as well as its potential to explode in high pressure cabins, creating a safety hazard for patrons.
Malaco makes a variety of confectionery products, all of which are what most would consider gummi candy. Brio, a caramel candy bite, is one of its most popular products and can be found in candy stores across Sweden and Denmark. The brand also makes a complimentary product very similar to Swedish Fish called Pim Pim, a jelly-like raspberry candy that comes in the shape of a boat—fitting for a candy company that likes to sell fish.
As Swedish Fish grew in popularity amongst consumers in Sweden and neighboring countries the brand decided to enter into the North American market with its iconic product. With the help of American production company Cadbury Adams, Swedish Fish came to North American shores around the early 1960’s.
The fruity treat was an immediate hit amongst candy connoisseurs and quickly became a go-to in brick-and-mortar candy shops, movie theaters, and convenience stores.
Here’s the thing, if you’re in Sweden chances are you won’t find the colorful package of Swedish Fish that you love here in the States.
In most instances Swedish fish is sold as a “pick and mix” similar to that of barrel candy you would find here. The product is called "pastellfiskar", literally "pastel fish" and comes in a variety of colors including red, yellow, green, and orange. Malaco also makes another version of the snack that is flavored Salmiak–a salty licorice combination that imitates the pickled herring we mentioned earlier. It comes in a deep blackish color and is stamped with the Malaco name across the body.
In the United States, we’ve become very familiar with the bright yellow and blue packaging that Swedish fish is known for. The product tastes more like a cherry and raspberry combination similar to that of a jelly bean, and its recipe is different from its Swedish counterpart.
The U.S. version of Swedish fish consists of invert sugar—a mixture of glucose and fructose, modified cornstarch for shape, and carnauba wax that gives the product its shiny coating and retained moisture. That’s why every bite of a Swedish fish is filled with a juicy flavor that feels fresh.
As Swedish Fish lovers grew in North America, the brand started to produce additional flavors like yellow (lemon flavor), green (lime flavor), purple (grape flavor), and orange (orange). All of these flavors have been up for debate when it comes to whether or not the flavor truly matches the color, but we can all agree that they’re incredibly tasty.
Since its trip across the ocean, Swedish Fish has continued to hold its ground as one of the most popular gummi candies in the U.S. Market. So much so that in 2009, an Italian ice company by the name of Rita’s started making Swedish Fish flavored Italian ice—a smash hit amongst sugar lovers.
Fast forward to 2013 and the brand partnered with the massive gum company, Trident, to make a layered gum that consisted of the lime and raspberry Swedish Fish flavors. A year later, Trident released another version of the chewing gum with watermelon and orange flavors that caught the attention of gum and candy fans across the U.S.
While both of these Swedish Fish collaborations were successful, it was an out-of-the-box idea that catapulted Swedish Fish from another popular candy company to one of the most talked about brands on the market. With the help of cookie icon Oreo, Swedish Fish launched the first Oreo with a Swedish Fish center.
The collaboration puzzled consumers, with many of them thinking it was a fake product that was photoshopped for effect. To their surprise Oreo released the cherry and chocolate combination to Kroger stores in 2016, creating a wave of social media buzz that got people wondering just how tasty this treat could be. Upon release, the product was met with some scrutiny as consumers found the cherry flavor overwhelmed the chocolate and the texture was rather slimy compared to the classic filling of “Milks Favorite Cookie”.
As stated by Oreo in an interview with Time, “We know that consumers enjoy variety when it comes to snacking so we create all of our limited-edition flavors to provide surprising new twists people know and love and on occasion, create unexpected and unique flavor combinations that people may never have thought were possible, including our latest from the Wonder Vault, Swedish Fish Flavored Creme Oreo Cookies.”
While we do love ourselves some Oreos and milk, we have to agree this combination is better off separate, ensuring that your taste buds aren’t overwhelmed with too many different flavors.
All that said, we encourage candy fanatics to try out everything Swedish Fish has to offer. You can find a variety of Swedish Fish flavors including the classic red, assorted flavors, blue raspberry lemonade, and even jelly beans during the Easter season.
50 centimeters and 8 millimeters in diameter.
That’s over 19 inches wide!
The record is held by Alabama native, Chad Fell who broke the record in 2004 while chewing on three pieces of Dubble Bubble bubblegum.
Want to know his secret? Chew long enough so that all the sugar gets out, blow slow, and you’ll end up with a gargantuan bubble that covers your entire face!
We like to imagine a bubble as big as Chad’s could lift you off the ground and send you to space like the movie, UP!
All that to say, bubblegum is one of those confections that sends every person back to a time in their childhood when life was simple and the only thing you wanted to do was blow bubbles the size of a basketball.
As bubble gum lovers ourselves, we like to think we know a thing or two about what bubblegum is the best. So we decided to rally our team together and rank all the best bubblegum. Check out our list and let us know what you think!
Dubble Bubble is one of the oldest brands on this list which was founded in 1928. Originally made by the Fleer Chewing Gum Company, Dubble Bubble was the brainchild of Walter Demier, an accountant for Fleer. After watching his boss, Frank H. Fleer fail to create a bubblegum that wasn’t too sticky, he started to test his own recipe which he perfected in 1928. The only problem was that he never wrote it down. From there, it took him 4 months and hundreds of test batches to get it back, but when he did, it was the perfect formula for blowing bubbles. Maybe it’s the bright yellow wrapper or the wildly chewy texture that makes every kid think they can blow a bubble big enough to float away, but when it comes to the best bubblegum in the world, Dubble Bubble holds the top spot on this list.
2. Bazooka
Bazooka is a classic childhood bubblegum that has been around since 1947. A division of the famous sports card brand Topps, Bazooka was created to compliment the sports fanatics, specifically baseball fans, who would purchase the baseball trading cards. Topps sold the production rights for Bazooka to the sports juggernaut Fanatics in 2022. Bazooka is widely known for its iconic Bazooka Joe comic strips that came wrapped around every piece of gum, which were taken out of production in 2012 and replaced with brain-teasing puzzles instead. If you’re a sports fan who loves to chew on a sweet treat while watching your favorite team, Bazooka is the bubblegum for you.
3. Hubba Bubba
Hubba Bubba is a bubblegum produced by Wm Wrigley Jr. Company. Created in 1979, Hubba Bubba got its famous name from the military term “hubba hubba” which was used to express approval. Hubba Bubba is branded as the bubblegum that won’t stick to your skin when your big ol’ bubble explodes onto your face after it bursts. It’s also known as the rival gum to Bubblicious which was produced around the same time. When it comes to unique ways to sell gum, Hubba Bubba was made most popular by its Hubba Bubba tape which was six feet of bubblegum wrapped into a curricular tape dispenser making it incredibly attractive to youth who wanted to test their chewing ability by seeing just how much of the tape they could chew at one time—a challenge we’ve tried a few times here in our candy headquarters.
4. Bubblicious
Bubblicious is a bubblegum created in 1977 and produced by Cadbury Adams. This bubblegum brand was the first “soft” bubblegum to hit the U.S. market. Bubblicious is best known for its range of 28 different flavors over the years including classic bubblegum, strawberry, grape, blueberry, cotton candy, sour apple, tropical punch, and fruit twist. 2000’s kids will remember it most when NBA legend LeBron James partnered with Bubblicious to make his favorite flavor, LeBron’s Lightning Lemonade which was the athlete’s go to chew while he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Shoutout to our favorite basketball team!)
If you played baseball or softball as a kid, chances are you had your fair share of Big League Chew. The bubblegum brand, which was introduced in 1980 by left-handed pitcher Rob Nelson and bat boy Todd Field, was originally pitched to Wrigley gum as a healthy alternative to chewing tobacco for baseball players—hence why it’s conveniently packaged the same way as chewing tobacco. This bubblegum is a common confection amongst professional athletes, all the way down to the little leagues and has become a staple in sports. There’s just something about throwing in a fat lip of bubblegum that makes you feel like a pro, not to mention Big League Chew now flexes a slew of flavors including Big Rally Blue Raspberry, Ground Ball Grape, Slammin’ Strawberry, and Swinging Sour Apple.
Everyone remembers the childhood classic candy, Blow Pops. But did you know that it also makes a gum ball? Yes, you read that correctly, Blow Pops makes its own bubblegum. Just imagine your favorite Blow Pop sucker, but inside out, with the chewy center as the star of the show. It comes in three distinct flavors, cherry, watermelon, and blue raspberry. Our personal favorite is the blue raspberry, but if you’re a true bubblegum fan we recommend taking one of each and chewing all of them at the same time to get the best of all three flavors in every single bubble.
What if you could mix bubblegum with your favorite sour candy? That was the mission of Cry Baby when it set out to create Cry Baby Bubble Gum Balls. Cry Baby is most popular for its hard candy that would make your mouth pucker up with its insanely sour flavors, so when they launched a variation that was bubblegum based, you know that kids all over the country flocked to their local candy shop to get their hands on a few. And if you’re wondering just how sour Cry Baby Bubble Gum Balls are, let’s just say that it’s rather hard to blow a world record bubble when your mouth is zapped of all moisture thanks to the overwhelming sour flavor that coats every bit of your taste buds.
8. Fruit Stripe
If you’re an older gum fan, then you’ve definitely heard of Fruit Stripe. The five-flavored gum was invented by James Parker in 1969 and produced by the Beech-Nut Company. This candy is recognized as the first multi-flavored pack of gum which consisted of melon, cherry, orange, lemon, and peach flavors. For all the flavor that Fruit Stripe packed, it only lasted for a matter of minutes, leading you to pick up another piece and try something new. It might not be the perfect piece of gum for blowing bubbles, but best believe it holds its own as one of the most iconic gums of all time.
9. Quench Gum
Quench Gum is unlike any other gum on this list as it was developed by Mueller Sports Medicine in the 1970s to aid athletes in performance. We’ve all seen athletes of different disciplines chewing gum while they play, so Mueller decided to make a gum that was packed full of electrolytes to enhance performance. The bubblegum company made a significant pivot in 2021 to rebrand with the hopes of finding new popularity and has continued to grow its reputation in the sports industry. You can find Quench Gum in double raspberry, orange fruit punch, strawberry watermelon, lemon, fruit punch, orange, and grape. If you’re an athlete, or you just like to pretend you’re one on the weekends, Quench might just be what you need to take your performance to another level.
10. Bubblegum Cigars
For those of you who remember Candy Cigarettes, Bubblegum Cigars are considered the close cousin to the retro candy. These were the bubblegum treats every kid wanted to chew back in the day because it was the closest thing you could get to dad’s evening cigar that he’d have after dinner. Bubblegum Cigars were made famous in brick-and-mortar candy stores where you could grab a pack for a few cents and knaw on them all day. While they might lack the flexibility that is needed to blow massive bubbles, it holds a special place in bubblegum history, making it a must have on this list.
Checkout our bubblegum category and grab all of your favorites from this list!
]]>Ever wonder how the iconic candy from E.T. made it's way into the world?
As it turns out the special sweet made by Hershey's has quite the interesting history that we never knew about. Here's 5 confectionery facts about Reese's Pieces you should know
1. The original concept for Reese’s Pieces was derived from another Hershey’s Product called Hershey-Ets.
Before there were ever Reeses Pieces there were Hershey-Ets. A small chocolate delight that was about the size of a dime, Hershey-Ets was Hershey’s first attempt at making a bite-sized “panned candy” which was essentially a sugar-coated seal that would help contain the chocolate in the middle of the candy.
Hershey-Ets were developed during the 1950s but found little to no popularity amongst U.S. candy consumers as it was a near duplicate of M&Ms without the colorful shells. So Hershey’s set out to develop a new recipe that would help them stand out amongst the crowd of chocolate lovers which led them to swap the chocolatey center for a peanut butter center instead.
2. Hershey’s had to hire a private group of scientists to make the peanut butter filling for Reese’s Pieces.
Making this new peanut butter center proved to be no easy task. Initially, Hershey's thought it could simply take the wildly popular peanut butter center from Reese’s candy and swap it into the middle of the hard chocolate shell. They were wrong.
When it came to the panning process, the heat used to shape the outer chocolate shell would melt the peanut butter to the point of oozing out the sizes, leaving the small snack looking like a deformed sort of kibble rather than the clean, crisp, and colorful Reese's Pieces that we know and love today.
After much trial and error, Hershey’s hired a private group of scientists to find a new peanut butter recipe that could withstand the heat from panning and maintain the iconic shape that would become Reese’s Pieces. Through months of research and testing, scientists developed a peanut-butter-flavored penuche—a fudge-like candy—filling that held up against heat and helped maintain the shape of the Reeses Pieces.
Source: AdWeek
3. Reese’s Pieces was not the original candy pitched in the blockbuster hit E.T.
Remember the 1982 blockbuster hit film, ET? Can you remember what candy Elliot shared with his alien friend? Well, as it turns out, Steven Spielberg didn’t intend to put Reese’s Pieces in the legendary film.
Matter of fact, the original pitch for the candy used in those scenes was M&Ms. After pitching the concept to M&Ms, the brand turned down the opportunity citing a desire to distance itself from the alien concept. So Speilberg turned to Hershey’s with the same and the candy brand came back with a resounding yes.
Hershey’s accepted an offer to be in the movie via trade promotions, consumer promotions, and exclusive displays featuring ET and in return, an exclusive in the confectionery field for promotion and advertising. When ET hit theaters on June 11, 1982, it was a smash hit and Reese’s Pieces was all the rage from the film. As a result, sales for Reese’s Pieces increased by over 300%.
Source: Delish
4. Hershey’s expanded the Pieces line after the wild success of the Reese's Pieces.
With the help of ET as well as the expanding reputation of Hershey’s Reese’s Pieces became a critical part of the candy cultural zeitgeist. Anywhere you went you could find Reese’s Pieces. Candy stores, groceries, convenience stores, movie theaters—the handheld peanut butter treat was omnipresent and on the minds of candy lovers all across the United States.
With this newfound popularity, Hershey’s saw an opportunity to double down on Reese’s Pieces success with additions to the “Pieces” line of products. This included York Peppermint Pattie Pieces, Hershey's Special Dark Pieces, and Almond Joy Pieces. Then in 2010, they premiered another smash hit candy, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almond Pieces.
5. Orange is the most popular Reese’s Pieces color for a reason.
If you’ve ever put away an entire pack of Reese’s Pieces–which most of us have, let’s be honest—then you might have noticed a little bit extra of one specific color. No, this wasn't by chance, it’s actually intentional on Reese’s part.
The candy brand is known for its iconic orange color, so when it comes time to produce the bite-sized candy, almost 50% of the entire run is orange accompanied by 25% yellow and 25% brown. So next time you look at your hands at the end of a snack session, just know that the orange tint is there on purpose and you shouldn’t try your luck at the lottery that day.
Grab yourself a pack in our digital aisles and enjoy the childhood treat that you remember!
]]>Fun Dip is a beloved candy that’s been around for more than 70 years.
The famous multi-flavored confection has stocked candy store shelves for decades, attracting children of all ages with its radiant packaging and unique combination of sugary powder and candy sticks that color your tastebuds with flavor.
As people who absolutely adore sugar, we had to know where the idea for a lick-and-stick candy like Fun Dip came from and who was responsible for bringing one of the most popular candies into the mainstream.
So we set out to uncover the history of Fun Dip and here’s what we found.
1. The concept for Fun Dip candy came from a famous soda called Fruzola Jr.
Before there was Lik-M-Aid or Fun Dip there was Menlo Smith. Smith, an avid soda and candy lover, moved to St. Louis, MO in the 1940s to start making his own confections.
At the time, Smith and his father made a powder drink packet called Fruzola. This powder was meant to be mixed with water to create a soda that packed sour and sweet notes.
Smith noticed that most children were ignoring the directions and pouring the powder straight into their mouths resulting in a powerful punch of flavor and texture that they loved.
During this period, Fruzola was one of the only “penny candies” that kids could buy in the 1940s and 50s as most candy manufacturing was dedicated to supplying WWII efforts.
2. Sunline Inc was the first brand to produce the sugary powder that would become Fun Dip.
Sunline Inc was an offshoot of Smith’s father’s candy company and produced many of the famous candies that we know and love like Pixy Stix, Sweettarts, Spree, and Lik-M-Aid.
Sunline Inc, which would later be renamed Sunmark Corporation, is responsible for the invention and growth of Lik-M-Aid and Pixy Stix.
3. Before there was Fun Dip or Lik-M-Aid, there was Pixy Stix candy.
Armed with the knowledge that kids loved the soda powder Smith set out to develop his own sugar powder recipe that could be packaged individually and sold at local candy stores as penny candy.
As a result, Pixy Stix was invented in 1952 with flavors like Grape, Orange, and Strawberry and was served in short straws ready for consumption.
4. Lik-M-Aid was the original name for Fun Dip.
Lik-M-Aid was trademarked by Smith under Sunline Inc in 1952. The name came from the act of licking the packaging clean in an effort to taste every bit of sugar.
The powdered mixture was a combination of sugar and flavorings that candy lovers could consume on the spot simply by pouring the powder into their mouths just like Pixy Stix.
The only difference was that instead of sucking down straws of sugar, kids were now ripping apart packets that contained more of the tasty substance. These packets were sold individually and we’re a smash hit amongst candy lovers who craved them.
At the time, it came in flavors like Cherry, Grape, Strawberry, and Orange.
Note: Today Fun Dip can be found in a variety of flavors including cherry, grape, and orange as well as raspberry/apple—which goes from green to blue when it gets wet with saliva or water.
Fun Dip also makes Sour and Tropical flavors like watermelon, sour apple, sour lemonade, sandía, mango, and strawberry.
During Easter, it offers a Springtime Fun Dip that mixes watermelon and strawberry together.
5. The name Fun Dip was coined when Lik-M-Aid added sugar sticks to their famous powder packets.
Fast forward to 1973, Lik-M-Aid was rebranded into what we now know as Fun Dip. This transition came on the shoulders of another candy invention called Lik-A-Stix, a candy stick used to capture extra layers of sugar powder and deliver it straight to your taste buds.
Fun Dip consisted of two flavored sugar packets (originally Cherry and Grape) stitched together containing two Fun Dip sticks.
Fun Dip was embraced by candy lovers immediately, especially children who were drawn to the colorful packaging and unique combination of flavored sticks and powder.
6. Four different candy companies have produced Fun Dip.
Since its inception, Fun Dip has been produced by four different confectionery companies at one point or another.
Originally founded by Sunline Inc (which eventually became Sunmark Corporation), the brand was acquired by UK-based Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery in 1983.
Five years later, Nestle would buy out the brand and renamed it The Willy Wonka Candy Company, after the famous confectionery movie.
In 2018, The Ferrero Group purchased The Willy Wonka Candy Company and all its subsidiary bands including Fun Dip, Pixy Stix, SweetTarts, and Spree, which continues to produce them today.
7. Fun Dip, Pixy Stix, and SweetTarts have the same base recipe.
Yes, you read that correctly all three of these iconic candies are made with the same base recipe. The only difference is that SweetTarts has an ingredient that turns the powder into a solid for the shape molding.
It makes you wonder, what other candies are made with the same recipes but come in different forms?
Some might say the classic milk chocolate M&M is the best.
Others will tell you it’s Peanut M&Ms for life.
And of course, you’re going to run into someone who absolutely adores M&M Minis as both a snack and dessert topping.
Whatever M&M candy tickles your taste buds, one thing’s for sure, this sweet treat is a staple of American culture and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of all those who truly love candy.
This led us to one question: where did M&Ms come from and how have they continued to reign supreme in candy stores for decades? So we did some secret candy research and found out everything there is to know about M&Ms and their sweet history.
Let’s dive in!
The idea for M&M came from Forrest Mars Sr. (son of Frank C. Mars, founder of Mars Candy Company) in the 1930s. During this time, he noticed British soldiers eating Smarties—chocolate pellets with a hard shell.
This hard shell was created by panning or hardening sugar which kept the chocolate center on the inside of the candy intact. After doing some research and development, Mars patented his own panning process and began production of the first M&Ms in 1941 in Newark, NJ.
The name M&M came from the two M&Ms that collaborated on the project: Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie (son of Hershey’s President William F.R Murrie). Because Hershey’s controlled a majority of the chocolate in the United States at the time, Mars gave Murrie a 20% share in M&M with the arrangement that M&Ms would be made with Hershey’s Chocolate exclusively.
In 1949, M&Ms introduced their iconic tagline, “melt in your mouth, not in your hand” which would go on to remain their tagline to this day.
The first major customer of M&Ms was the U.S. Army which used it as a way to give chocolate to soldiers without it melting in the field. It was seen as a quick pick-me-up and dessert for soldiers that were on the go, living in often hot conditions.
It was common for many confectionery companies during this time to produce candy for the army, but during WWII, M&Ms were exclusively sold to the Army. You couldn’t find them on a store shelf or checkout counter as the Army had contracted out the entire production of all M&Ms.
Source: NJ Advanced Media
After WWII, M&Ms were widely popular amongst the American people which spawned the counterfeiting of M&Ms from a variety of other confectionery companies. This led to the development of the iconic M that you see on M&Ms today.
Originally the M was black and stamped on every piece of candy in the package. Then in 1954, they switched the M to white to give it a distinct and recognizable look that counterfeiters couldn’t replicate. From there, M&M partnered with The Midwest Research Institute, who worked on behalf of Mars to perfect the candy-coating process which resulted in 3,300lbs of chocolate centers getting coated every hour.
Yeah, you read that correctly, 3,300lbs every hour!
During the same year that they began the ultimate mass production of M&Ms, the brand also debuted their second-ever product, Peanut M&MS. The chocolate-coated candy added the crunchy and salty flavor of peanuts to the center of every piece of candy. Originally these peanut M&Ms were exclusively tan to represent the color of the roasted peanuts being used in the product. Then in 1960, they added green, yellow, and red colors.
Fun Fact: The famous red color was swapped for orange due to the Red Dye scare during the ‘70s—a time when Red Dye #2 and #4 were evaluated to be carcinogenic in nature.
Though M&M’s used Red Dye #40, which had no link to carcinogens, people were still spooked by the thought, leading the brand to put a pause on red production. Then in 1987, the red color was re-introduced to the public for consumption.
Source: jayski.com
Fast forward to 1960, when M&Ms debuted another peanut product, this time with almonds. This was short-lived and then brought back in 1988 in a limited release. Then in 1990, it became a standard product in their collection.
In the ‘80s M&M launched holiday candies for Easter and Christmas and swapped the classic M for other seasonal symbols on the chocolate cover like bunnies, eggs, pines, and candles. These symbols were replaced with the M again in 1993.
Rolling into the ‘90s, M&M decided to shrink their classic candy into Mini bites called M&M Minis. A spitting replica of their iconic milk chocolate candy, these tiny treats looked like their older brother but packed a whole new chocolatey flavor into the smallest bite-sized candy on the planet.
As the brand continued to grow in popularity, fans of the candy started to see the M&M logo everywhere. From Times Square ads in NYC to the hood of famous Nascar Drivers, the sweet was a symbol of America’s love for candy.
When the 2000s hit, M&M stepped full stride into research and development with the goal of finding new products that their customers would love. This led to the creation of a slew of different products over the next 10 years including:
Source: foodandwine.com
One thing that stands out about M&Ms and their iconic candy is the color variation and characters. As you’ve now read, colors were an important part of the history of M&Ms, but few folks truly know where these characters came from.
As it turns out, the idea for the characterization of the candy came from artist and animator Will Vinton, in 1995. The brand had already been using the two talking characters, represented by regular M&M and Peanut M&M, but few iterations had been made from the original inception in 1954.
Vinton took it upon himself to not only animate these candy characters but also give them a more grown-up feel by injecting personalities into each character.
Today, you can find all kinds of M&M products on store shelves and checkout counters. From their classic flavors to combinations with ice cream, marshmallows, and honey graham, if you love chocolate, you’re bound to find an M&M to match your taste buds.
Speaking of snacking on some sweetness…
Did you know that you can get all your favorite M&M treats right here in our digital aisles? That’s right, all you have to do is tap right here and we’ll arm you with everything you need to be the ultimate M&M fan!
]]>It’s a question that’s been asked by many candy lovers across the world. And while most of us have a grip on which candy we would choose as our favorite, it’s hard to pick the top 10.
That’s why we took it upon ourselves to come together as a team of candy crazies and rank the best peanut butter candy according to a retro candy company.
Sure this list might look different than yours, and that’s ok, the important thing is that we all understand peanut butter is one of the best candy flavors/ingredients of all time and there’s no debate about that.
Now, where were we?
Ahh yes, the list of the 10 best peanut butter candy.
Since 1928, Reese’s has been slinging their elite peanut butter candy to PB lovers all over the world. While there are older peanut butter candies on this list, Reese’s has continued to hold its place as one of the most popular candies of all time. Not to mention the iconic peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio is unmatched by any other peanut-based candy, this treat can be eaten solo, served up in a dessert dish, or even broken down into a delicious topping, covering your favorite flavor of ice cream.
This list wouldn’t be complete without this peanut butter candy bar. The Butterfinger, first invented in 1923, was developed by Otto Schnering at the Curtiss Candy Company in Chicago, IL. The unique name actually came from the mind of a local Chicagoan who submitted the idea to the candy naming contest held by Curtiss Candy Company. After settling on a name, the team then decided it was a good idea to drop Butterfingers from the sky with hopes that people would love them—and love them they did! Today, you can find Butterfingers at every single grocery store, gas station, and candy shop, just be careful to not get it all caught up in your teeth.
We already talked about Reese’s once, but we cannot ignore the amazing Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs that sell out instantly during Easter. Unlike the classic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, this peanut butter candy consists of double the peanut butter, with a thin layer of chocolate that coats the outside. This sweet treat made its premiere in Reese’s product line in 1967 and has been a coveted candy ever since. With Easter right around the corner, you might want to keep your eyes peeled for all places to purchase them as they go insanely quick!
Clark Bars were one of the first peanut butter candies to hit the mainstream market in the United States. Developed in 1917 by Irish immigrant Daniel L. Clark, this peanut butter candy was the first of its kind to take chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel, and combine them into an 8-inch candy bar ready for consumption. Americans loved this candy so much that the U.S. Army contracted Clark to make them for the troops during WWI and WWII. While there was a period of time you couldn’t get your hands on Clark Bars, as they went bankrupt multiple times between 1990 and the mid-2000, they’ve made an amazing comeback and can be found on our shelves as well as some local candy stores.
Zagnut is a fellow Pennsylvania-native company that’s been crafting tasty peanut butter candy for almost 100 years. What makes them stand out amongst the rest of the peanut butter sweets on this list is that when everyone started covering their peanut butter with milk chocolate and caramel, Zagnut went in another direction and sided with coconut. This candy bar is loaded down with a thick layer of peanut butter, complimented by a layer of toasted coconut that brings an added crunch you cannot get in any other candy bar. If you like Almond Joys and love peanut butter, this is a confection you might want to get your hands on.
When it comes to retro peanut butter candy, Abba Zaba holds it down as one of the best in the candy game. Developed in 19922 in the hills of California, Abba Zaba was one of the first peanut butter candy bars to be produced on the west coast. What also makes Abba Zaba different from the rest of the treats on this list is that it’s an exclusive peanut butter candy, meaning the only primary ingredient is peanut butter itself with a light layer of taffy to keep it intact. Throw in the iconic taxi-cab style wrapper, and this peanut butter candy is one you can’t ignore once your eyes catch sight of it.
Buckeyes are a peanut butter candy consisting of peanut butter fudge dipped in a thin layer of milk chocolate. The origin recipe for this tasty treat is slightly fuzzy, but rumor has it that a woman named Gail Tabor was messing around with peanut butter balls and milk chocolate in the 1960s when she decided to dip them into the chocolate, creating the first-ever Buckeye. If you know a thing or two about Ohio,—home to our candy company we might add—you know that The Ohio State University’s mascot is a Buckeye, hence why the candy was given such an important name.
Originally made by Robert O. Lord's candy company, Mary Jane first debuted in 1914 and was named as a tribute to Lord’s favorite aunt. This peanut butter candy combines peanut butter and molasses into a bite-sized confection bursting with flavor. Since its inception, this confection has been produced and packed by a slew of different candy companies including Charles N. Miller Company, Stark Candy Company, NECCO, Spangler Candy Company, and now Atkinson Candy Company. While this is a more rare peanut butter candy, you can get your hands on it in our digital aisles right here.
Now that you’ve read the entire list, would you agree with this ranking? If not, which ones would you have included on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts with us on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and we’ll consider switching it up next year when we come back for our annual re-rank.
And while you’re debating this list with family members, do yourself and your tummy a favor and grab all of your favorite peanut butter candy right here and we’ll ship it straight to your front door.
Stay Sweet!
]]>Actually, there are about 15 different “holidays” celebrating the delectable treat, but it’s become so widely loved that we had to dedicate an entire month to honor its delicious legacy.
And while there are some that would rather cure their sweet tooth with other treats, there’s a large sum of the population that loves themselves a good chocolate bar.
There’s just something about taking that first bite into a fresh chocolate bar that can take you to another dimension filled with sweet memories of childhood—you know what I’m talking about, right?
Recently, we spent some time snacking on our favorite chocolate candy bars, thinking of ways we could expand our palates, and came up with the perfect idea to celebrate National Chocolate Lover’s Month.
Take all the chocolate bars that we love, and turn them into finger-licking desserts that will take your taste buds on a rollercoaster ride of flavor.
Sounds sweeter than Mary Poppins spoonful of sugar, right?
So if you’re someone who’s in love with chocolate as much as we are, and you’re thinking, “I definitely need to celebrate National Chocolate Lover’s Month right now” grab your recipe notebook and jot down these 7 delectable chocolate desserts made from candy bars.
Do you like KitKat bars? What about cheesecake? How about brownies? Now imagine all three of those ingredients combined into one cohesive dessert that sends your taste buds into another dimension.
That’s what you get with this KitKat Cheesecake Brownie recipe from Chocolate Moosey. This thing is packed full of chocolatey goodness and KitKat crunch that is unmatched by any other brownie dessert. Grab a few KitKats from us, peep the recipe above, and enjoy the next time you’re craving a KitKat treat.
Ever heard of a caramel cookie bar? We hadn’t either until we stumbled upon this recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod. It takes everything you love about a Twix candy bar and reimagines it into a cookie bar that would put any baked goods sale to shame.
Made with common household ingredients and some chopped-up classic Twix bars, this chocolate dessert is perfect for your next big party or family gathering that requires some extra sweetness.
Mississippi Mud Cake is an iconic chocolate dessert made with soft chocolate cake, gooey marshmallows, and topped with chopped pecans. Sounds pretty amazing, right? We thought so too, until we found this 3 Musketeer Mississippi Mud Cake recipe from Chocolate, Chocolate, And More, that rocked our world.
Similar to the traditional mud cake, this recipe includes chocolate cake and sweet marshmallows, but instead of the regular pecans, they doubled down on chocolate and added creamy nougat courtesy of 3 Musketeers. If you’re a fan of this candy bar, best believe you’re going to be a fan of this chocolate dessert.
Almond Joys always bring a smile when you bite into them, but we smiled harder than we had in years when we tasted this Almond Joy Cookie recipe. Shoutout to Nums The World for this amazing recipe that combines one of our favorite chocolate candies with another dessert classic, cookies. This recipe is insanely simple and serves 12 delectable desserts, bringing together the incredible flavors of coconut, chocolate, and cookie goodness that we could all use next time we’re craving something sweet.
Get the recipe here.
In the spirit of chocolate candy bars, we had to find a Hershey’s recipe that takes their classic candy to another level, and let’s just say, we did.
This Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar Cake is better than your grandmother’s bundt cake (sorry Nana step aside) and might become your new favorite dessert recipe. Usually, we like to lean on the professionals—real bakers and dessert makers—for their expertise when it comes to concocting desserts, but the people over at Hershey’s nailed this one.
The recipe is super easy to make, takes little to no time, and delivers big on the gooey, chocolatey flavor you won’t find in any other dessert cake.
Grab the recipe for yourself right here.
You know why they wait for dessert at the end right? Because the best things come last and that includes this final chocolate dessert recipe that might just blow your taste buds right out of your mouth.
Introducing Reese’s Monkey Bread: chocolate and peanut butter delight that could put the cookie monster in a sugar coma.
Some of you might be familiar with monkey bread, but if you’re not we’ll be the first to tell you it’s addicting. Think of how addicting mini M&Ms can be, then multiply that by 100 and that’s just a taste of how addicting this loaf of sugary goodness actually is.
When we found a monkey bread recipe with Reese’s, we almost dropped to the floor in disbelief that someone could think of something so delicious and keep it all to themselves.
Luckily Sarah over at The Gold Lining Girl hooked us with the best Reese’s monkey bread recipe on the internet, and you can grab it for yourself right here.
There’s liking chocolate and then there is loving chocolate. If you’re like us and you really LOVE chocolate, celebrate National Chocolate Lover’s Month with us and check out one of the six recipes above, grab all the candy you need in our digital aisles, and prepare your sweet tooth for a dessert of epic proportions.
Conversation hearts are a Valentine’s Day candy that is known for stamping iconic love sayings on small, heart-shaped confections. Originally created by NECCO, conversation hearts come in a variety of flavors including apple, cherry, orange, vanilla, and sweet mint.
Conversation hearts are widely known as one of the most popular Valentine’s Day candies on the planet, serving up over 13 million pounds of mini hearts in the six weeks leading into the holiday.
Conversation hearts were invented by the New England Candy Company (NECCO) in 1902. Originally called Sweethearts, this tasty and chalky treat was stamped with sweet sayings and sold throughout the Valentine’s Day holiday season.
But before there were Sweethearts there were lozenges courtesy of Oliver Chase—the inventor of the machine that pulverized sugar and cut out the lozenge shape.
With this machine, Oliver Chase and his brother, Daniel, launched the New England Confectionery Company, NECCO, home of the original NECCO Wafer.
This combination of compressed sugar and artificial flavorings yielded a chalky candy that was beloved by children, adults, and even the GIs in WWI and WWII. Soon after the creation of the wafer came other shapes like horseshoes, watches, baseballs, and postcards.
Conversation hearts were created after Daniel Chase conceptualized the idea of cutting their candy into hearts and stamping short messages on the bottom of the heart-shaped candy with red vegetable dye.
It started with phrases like, “Married in white, you have chosen right” or “Married in pink, he’ll take to drink.” Later these outdated phrases would be abandoned for shorter, more loving thoughts like “Be Mine”, “Kiss Me”, and the most famous, “Marry Me.”
It’s rumored that a man once used only “Marry Me” conversation hearts to propose to his girlfriend. Can you even imagine how many bags of candy it took to make that?
Nonetheless, conversation hearts quickly catapulted to the top of the Valentine’s Day gift list as people fell in love with the cute sayings stamped across each piece of candy. By the mid-1900s, conversation hearts had become one of the most popular candy products sold during the month of February, establishing it as a Valentine’s Day staple.
As the years progressed conversation hearts continued to add new sayings to their product collaborating with the movies series Twilight, using phrases like “Bite Me” and “Live 4 Ever”. They even opened it up to the public asking anyone to submit their ideas for new sayings.
Speaking of conversation heart sayings, here are the best of the best from last year.
Here’s the thing about conversation hearts, they weren’t always so popular. They had an amazing 100+ year run that lasted until 2018. During that year, NECCO declared bankruptcy, sold off all of its candy recipes and closed its doors.
That’s where Spangler Candy came into the picture and picked up the recipe for conversation hearts. That same year, Spangler announced they acquired conversation hearts and would resume production of the iconic candy in 2020.
Fast forward to the first months of the global pandemic in 2020 and conversation hearts were back on the market with the original flavors created by NECCO. And boy did they explode off the shelves.
Let’s be honest, conversation hearts aren’t the best-tasting candy in the world or even the second. But there’s something about them that captures the hearts of consumers of all ages.
Ask the older generation and you’ll likely hear them refer back to a time as a kid when their middle school crush gave them a pack of conversation hearts on Valentine’s Day. Or maybe their grandmother always kept a few boxes stashed away at her house for a special occasion when a grandkid needed a pick-me-up.
Ask the younger generation and you’ll find that it’s a combination of nostalgia from childhood and expression of themselves today. Who doesn’t want to snack on a few positive affirmations as they go throughout their Valentine’s Day?
If there’s one thing to take away from conversation hearts besides the messages printed on the bottom it would be this: love.
Whether you love candy, love nostalgia, or love people, love with all your heart and you’ll come to find that the world is pretty sweet after all.
And if you’re thinking to yourself, I could use a few conversation hearts this Valentine’s Day, go ahead and grab some right here and we’ll ship them straight to your front door.
]]>Stop what you are doing, close all those Amazon tabs, and keep those eyes moving down this page.
Valentine’s Day is around the corner and your sweetheart deserves something special this year. So instead of settling for another bouquet of boring flowers or even worse, a gift card, check out these 10 Valentine’s Day candy that will send your significant other’s taste buds straight back to childhood.
If you really love your sweetheart, you’ll get them all of their favorite treats in one Valentine’s Day Decade Gift Box. This 2lb or 4lb present is packed in a custom box with all kinds of Valentine’s Day candy straight from your childhood days!
Conversation hearts are another Valentine’s Day classic that you have to get your hands on before the big day. These traditional treats came out in 1866 and stopped production in 2018 at the hands of Necco. Then in 2020, they came back and folks have been clamoring for them ever since!
Nothing says “I love you” better than the perfect combination of pristine peanut butter and creamy chocolate. This Valentine’s Day, show someone how much you care by getting them the best kind of Reese’s in the entire world and watch their eyes light up with love.
You know the Sour Patch tagline, right? “First they’re sour, then they’re sweet.” This couldn’t be more true for their Sour Punch Hearts. Imagine all the great flavors of regular Sour Patch Kids, reimagined into a bigger juicier heart-shaped, exploding with sweet and sour flavoring. Talk about falling in love all over again.
Do you have a cutie in your life that loves M&Ms? Stop what you are doing and grab them at least 3 packs of the M&M Valentine Minis. 1 for your significant other, 1 for yourself, and one to share between the two of you. Be careful, these little bites pack a punch that will have you finishing the entire bottle.
Who needs a Valentine’s Day card when you can give your sweetheart some Hershey Conversation Kisses? These chocolate treats are covered in a festive foil and stamped with messages on the bottom ready to spread love to whomever you share them with.
Everyone loves flowers—except when they start to wilt and eventually die. So we decided to do something about that for all your flower-givers this Valentine’s Day. Introducing the Chocolate Roses Bouquet. Choose your Valentine’s favorite color or grab an assortment and keep the flowery tradition going in a new way this year!
We’re not sure who made the decision, but we’re sure glad that someone added cherry to the approved list of Valentine’s Day flavors. And what better way to cure that cherry craving this year than with some Cella’s Milk Chocolate Cherries? If your sweetheart has a hankering for a little tartness in their life, this is the perfect treat for them this year.
If you like to live on the more luxurious side of life, Lindt Lindor Truffles are a great Valentine’s Day gift to give your sweetheart. These sweets are stuffed with premium milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate flavoring that oozes out the middle with each bite. Let’s just say you can taste the luxury as soon as it hits your tongue.
There are cute Valentine’s Day gifts and then there’s so-cute-you-just-want-to-cry- kind of cute. This is that kind of cute. The Love Bug Gift Box was made for those Valentine’s who absolutely adore confections, but lack the large sweet tooth needed to down a Decade Gift Box. It’s got all of your childhood favorites, including Butterfinger, Heath, and Hundred Grand bars, and it all comes perfectly packaged in a cute little beetle bug car.
There you have it, 10 Valentine's Day treats you can gift your sweetheart this year. And if you want to check out the rest of our Valentine's Day candy collection tap right here!
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American Chicle first opened its doors in 1899 and has been producing gum ever since. Over the course of time, it developed some of the most important gum innovations that humans have put in their mouths.
It started with the creation of its first product Black Jack—the first stick-chewing gum to be put on the U.S. Market. While most gums during this time were shaped into cubes and blocks, this move by American Chicle put it in a category all its own.
Shortly after the release of Black Jack, American Chicle launched another iconic stick gum called Beemans. Beemans, though similar to Black Jack, was known for its bold wintergreen flavor that stimulated the taste buds and freshened your breath.
It became so popular amongst consumers that the U.S. Army contracted American Chicle to produce an exclusive version of Beemans gum made for the military. Some even say it had caffeine in it, giving soldiers that extra boost needed while serving.
When the wars were over and American Chicle steered its attention back toward the American public, new gum flavors and brands had already hit the market. Dentyne and Wrigley’s were making serious headway in the competition, and it was time to step it up.
The standard spearmint, peppermint, and cinnamon flavors were old news, and consumers were craving something new.
In 1975, American Chicle delivered Freshen Up: the first gum to have a gel inside with flavoring.
Freshen Up was a gum with a liquid center unlike anything anyone had ever masticated with. Its hard outer shell encased a small gel-like fluid that was filled with an intense minty flavor that burst open when you bit into it.
In an attempt to unite both young and old gum lovers, Freshen Up paid tribute to the old days of gum by returning back to the original cube shape, but added a new innovative twist that drew the attention of the younger consumers who had never seen or tasted gum like this before.
Combine this with an intentional name like Freshen Up and the tagline, “the gum that goes squirt” and you have yourself quite the marketing play that would lead to some rather “unique” commercials
Freshen-Up came in 4 staple flavors: bubble gum (pink), spearmint (green), peppermint (blue), and cinnamon (red). While each flavor stood distinct from one another it was rumored that spearmint was widely known as the best flavor of Freshen-Up on the market.
As Freshen-Up continued to grow in popularity in the U.S. American Chicle took it to new markets in Canada and the United Kingdom where it could be found on convenience store shelves everywhere.
It’s important to note that during this time, American Chicle was changing ownership. First it merged with Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Co in 1968, then Pfizer bought Warner Lambert in 2003. From there Cadbury purchased the rights to all Pfizer candy production in 2003, which led eventually to the buyout of Cadbury by Kraft Foods in 2010.
In 2019, Kraft Foods discontinued the production of Freshen-Up to focus on other projects. There are rumors that you can still find original Freshen-Up gum at some small town candy stores, but don’t be fooled by someone online–people have bought packs on eBay that are not made by the original brand.
It’s tough to hear that your favorite food, snack, or gum is no longer being made. Nobody likes making the jump to a new thing when they love their old favorite.
But it begs a bigger question: if gum brands are discontinuing products, is it because people aren’t buying?
Turns out the answer is yes. According to stats, gum sales are down 14% in the last year across the board.
As the gum legend,William Wrigley, once said, “Anyone can make gum. The trick is to sell it.”
Here’s the problem…
Back in the early ‘50s and ‘60s, gum was seen as an endearing treat–something that was chewed by movie stars, musicians, and GI’s at war. That’s why all the kids were gung ho on chewing the stuff back then.
As time progressed into the ‘70s and ‘80s gum became a symbol of defiance. Most high school students were told to keep it out of their mouths and rebels like Greasers and Punks chewed it in rebellion.
Just go back and watch the blockbuster Grease and you’ll see Frenchy chewing on some bubble gum the whole film. It’s actually rumored that the cast of that movie chewed over 100,000 pieces of gum during filming.
Nonetheless, gum was part of the cultural zeitgeist during that time making it a widely popular item for young teens and adults to chew on not only for its taste but also for its status.
Here’s where things start to go downhill.
Around the mid-2000s we started to see the “sugar-free” movement in the U.S. This is when Americans start to realize that the old school food pyramid is no longer accurate and a new wave of alternative eating options start to present themselves to consumers.
That’s where “sugar-free” gum starts to take over and brands shift their approach toward this new health-conscious consumer who could care less about innovation and packaging design and more about ingredients.
Speaking of ingredients, this is also when many major gum brands start to realize consumers aren’t too keen on chewing artificial plastic either.
In case you didn’t know, some gum in fact is made from a type of rubber called polyvinyl acetate. Thus, as consumers became more aware of what they were putting into their bodies and the environment, gum lost some of its appeal.
Fast forward to now and we start to see more consumers stepping away from big brand gum and toward other alternatives. Some brands have emerged with “natural” gum that goes back to the original sap ingredients that are pulled from sapodilla trees called, where the name "chicle" comes from.
These brands flaunt both a healthier alternative gum that is also eco-friendly to the environment.
All that to be said, there are still plenty of gum chewers out there masticating away on their favorite flavors.
And while we might not be able to get our hands on Freshen-Up gum anymore, there are still plenty of old school classics and new wave tastes that we can try out when we feel the need to chew.
]]>It’s 2023 and everyone is trying to keep up their New Year’s resolutions, meanwhile, we’re trying to decide what new candies came out and which we are going to try first.
Nobody said you had to give up candy this year, so instead check out these 10 new candies that we’ve acquired in 2023!
You remember the chewy taffy covered in a black and yellow checkerboard wrapper, right? It’s hard to mistake Abba Zaba for any other kind of candy as it’s been serving up one of the most iconic taffy treats in the world since 1922.
Fast forward 100 years and they continue to tease the taste buds of candy lovers with their newest release: Abba Zaba Mystery Flavor. Unlike other Mystery Flavor candy, this one comes in a pack of 24 different mystery flavors that you get to try. Each individual Zaba is loaded with a completely different flavor that you have to find for yourself.
If you’ve never tried the original Hi-Chew before, we’ll be the first folks to tell you you’re missing out on some serious flavor. Imagine a juicer version of a Starburst with unique flavors like strawberry, green apple, grape, blue raspberry, rainbow sherbert and more.
While you can never go wrong with the classic, Hi-Chew recently released a Sweet and Sour Mix that combines three new flavors never done before: watermelon, lemon, and grapefruit. If you’re tired of the same boring chewy candy, grab yourself a pack of the new Hi-Chew Sweet and Sour and send your taste buds into another realm with these treats.
Everybody wanted to eat those gummi burgers, hot dogs, and pizza as a kid. Something about swapping the real meal for a gummi is one of those childhood fantasies that tempted all of us when we walked into any candy store.
The maker of all those classic treats is eFrutti and they’ve got a new treat that fruit lovers are going bananas for—literally! Introducing the Bunch of Bananas. A perfectly packed bag of soft, chewy, gummi candy covered in sugar that brings all the flavors of the classic banana hard candy everyone loves.
When you think of Rocky Road most folks go straight to the ice cream, but there’s another sweet treat that bears the same name with drastic difference: it’s a candy bar. Rocky Road has been making double chocolate dipped marshmallow candy bars for decades and this year they decided to bring something new to the table: Rocky Road with Sea Salt.
Usually their savory candy bar is loaded with marshmallows and roasted cashews, but this time around they threw in additional sea salt. If you’re in the market for something sweet, savory, and slightly fluffy, this is a great new candy to try.
Moon Pie is one of those treats that fits into many categories. Some call it a candy, others a baked good, and there are even a few who might even consider it a midday snack.
Whatever time of day you choose to eat Moon Pie, the real decision to be made is between some new flavors they’ve released to the public including Vanilla and Banana Double Decker. Yes you read that correctly, these aren’t just another Moon Pie, these are double decker meaning double the puff, double the sweetness. Try one for yourself!
If you’re one of those people who craves sour candy, this is for you. Cry Baby is known for producing some of the most sour candy on the market and in 2023 they’re adding a sweet flavor into the mix. Similar to the iconic Sour Patch Kid, Cry Baby figured that not everyone wants their mouth to feel sour for an entire day so they created the Cry Baby Sour and Sweet Gumballs.
These gumballs hit with a big sour flavor up front and as you chew, it turns into a sweet gum that lasts longer than most packs of Trident. Definitely a first pick for anyone who loves to snack on hard candy but doesn't want to eat the entire package.
Speaking of sour sweets there’s one more new candy that you have to get your hands on if you love sending those taste buds into the sour dimension. Toxic Waste, another notoriously sour candy brand just released their Sour Gummi Worms. Imagine the classic childhood candy gummi worm and elevate it with a sour tang that is unmatched in other gummi candy. It’s a sure fire way to tingle your tongue with sugary goodness.
Go to any small-town America candy store and chances are you’re going to find maple dipped peanuts. Just like chocolate covered, these little nuggets are dunked in a thick and creamy maple coating and served up in a gargantuan 2lb bag. Great for bringing to a party or binging on your couch while watching Netflix, these double dipped peanuts will have you thinking about maple syrup in every bite.
There you have it: all the new candies you need to try in this new year. And if you’re someone who likes to stick to the childhood favorites, chances are we have it in our digital aisles.
Just tap right here to start exploring!
]]>While some people will be frolicking from party to party, there will be others who keep it low-key at home this holiday. If you are one of those people, let us be the first to congratulate you on making the greatest decisions ever—nothing beats spending the whole day relaxing on Christmas.
So while you’re sitting at home enjoying some time with your friends, family, or whoever it is you celebrate with, why not make it a Christmas movie marathon?!
There are tons of Christmas classics out there, but there are just a few that can really bring you back to childhood, so we went ahead and pulled them together in a nice list for you.
This wouldn’t be a classic Christmas movie list if we didn’t put A Year Without Santa Claus at the top. As one of the early stop-motion pictures from this time period, this holiday film has held a place in the heart of Christmas for decades and is still broadcast by Warner Brothers every year during December.
This 1974 flick based on Phyllis Mcginley’s book tells the tale of a sickly Santa that’s decided to take his own holiday and not deliver gifts. Mrs. Claus thinks otherwise and enlists the help of some faithful reindeer and fellow Christmas characters to get the big man back on track for Christmas. With song appearances from the Snow Meiser and Heat Meiser, this is one of those movies you’ll never forget and always enjoy when it comes on.
To honor the two iconic brothers from this flick, why not kick back with some Hot Tamales and Peppermints?
For those of you who like to stick to tradition around this time of year, there’s really no question about what movie needs to be on deck for Christmas Day celebrations, A Charlie Brown Christmas!
This film, which premiered in 1965, is one that most hold dear to their hearts during the holiday season. The story of Charlie and his journey to finding the true meaning of Christmas is funny, adventurous, and most of all shines some light on what we all should really be thinking about this time of year.
Ohh, and let us not forget the Christmas classic soundtrack that comes during the entire Peanut performance—this might be the best Christmas soundtrack of all time. So don’t miss out on this one and if you really want to take your Christmas movie night to another level grab some chocolate-covered peanuts to eat while you watch.
Is it really Christmas time if you didn’t watch Bob Clark’s A Christmas Story? This is one that should be on constant repeat if you’re a fan of nostalgic Christmas classics.
Nothing beats watching Ralphie’s endless pursuit to get his hands on a coveted Red Ryder BB Gun with a compass in the stock, while his little brother Randy follows his every move in an oversized snowsuit. Between the tongue stuck on the light pole, soap in the mouth, and Ralphie’s daydreams of shooting robbers, this film has all the feels for childhood.
Not to mention the iconic scene when Ralphie spills the nuts from the car wheel and lets out a big old “FUDGE”. This scene was so popular they even made a fudge based on the film that is perfect for snacking while you watch.
Who didn’t want to be Kevin McAllister at one point or another in their life?
Just imagine what it was like to be left alone to your own devices during the Christmas season? Not too bad if you like to spend the holidays alone, right? As we all know, he had to put up with some rather wet and sticky bandits that were trying to break into his home resulting in a full fledged war between him and two grown robbers—we know who won.
This Christmas cult classic created by Chris Columbus, starring Macaulay Culkin was a smash when it hit the theaters in 1990 and earned itself a much-deserved sequel that once again blasted the box offices during Christmas.
Make sure you grab yourself some ice cream and all your favorite candy treats so you can snack on a sundae just like Kevin while you watch.
This 1964 stop-motion film based on the 1949 Johnny Mark’s song Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, is one of those Christmas movies you can’t help but enjoy on Christmas eve right before bedtime.
The story of Rudolph follows his journeys with the aspiring elf dentist Hermey, his love Clarice, and some other interesting characters like Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snowman as they venture through the island of Misfit Toys. In the end he’s tasked with the massive responsibility of leading the pack of Santa’s reindeer through the snowstorm with his signature red nose to help find homes for the lost toys and save Christmas.
Between the song itself and the movie, this is one you have to make sure you watch during the Christmas weekend. If you do, grab some signature Red Vines licorice in honor of Rudolph’s Red nose.
It’s a rule that you cannot watch a Christmas movie without some candy, so before you get all comfortable on the couch, why don’t you go ahead and grab yourself a few of your favorite movie treats by clicking right here!
]]>We recently shared our Ultimate Christmas Candy Gift Guide, and as we were writing it, we realized just how many Christmas confections are out there. From chocolate to hard candy, peppermint to Christmas combo boxes, there’s so much to choose from this time of year.
There are tons of holiday candies out there that will tickle your taste buds and have you feeling giddy about the festivities, but there are a few we need to kick off as contenders on the Christmas candy list.
We’re talking about that Christmas candy that people tend to avoid—the stuff that gets handed out at Santa buffets and the mall, the sweets that get stuffed into stockings never to be consumed by children.
We’re not saying these candies should be cast into the abyss never to be tasted again, but they definitely need to be taken off the guest list at your next Christmas party.
While Christmas is usually the time for highlighting the sweetest things of the season, we thought it would be fun to venture down a different path and see what some people (we like to call Scrooges) have to say about which Christmas treats are the worst of all time.
Here’s what we found…
You’re probably wondering what Reindeer Snot and up until this Christmas season, we had never heard of it either. Turns out that apparently reindeer produce some type of slimy snot that tastes like a mixture of sour apple and Christmas—we’ve yet to confirm this truth.
While it might come in some tempting packaging and look like some of the classic gummy candy you would eat as a kid, there’s just something wrong about eating something with the name snot. Sure some of us might have picked our noses as kids, but now it’s best we stay away from snot altogether.
Yes, they talk about spiced gumdrops a lot during Christmas, especially when Buddy the Elf ventures through the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops, but we’ve had it with them. Yes, they’re packed full of fruity flavor that takes your taste buds right back to childhood, but they’re so sticky and so gooey, that we still have some stuck in our teeth from last Christmas.
If you’re going to eat spiced gumdrops you mine as well side with something a little more teeth-friendly like Sour Patch Kids so that you can snack freely without having to worry about the lingering leftovers.
When you think of iconic Christmas candy flavors, it usually falls in line with peppermint, gingerbread, and cinnamon. But would you ever consider marshmallows to be in that category? Though they can make great shapes like Christmas trees and snowmen, there’s just something about the taste and texture of marshmallows that don't quite fit the vibe of Christmas candy.
Sure, we’re totally fine with marshmallows on top of hot chocolate, but when you turn it into a giant green, glittery Christmas tree on a stick, we have to gladly look the other way and opt for a Christmas cookie instead.
You probably remember these little sweets from your grandma’s stash of Christmas candy tucked over by her rocking chair next to the tree. Usually, she saves these for a pre-Christmas eve dinner snack, telling you not to spoil your meal with this strange collaboration between fruit and chocolate.
A throwback to older days, these two candies have been around since the mid 1800s and earned massive popularity in the mid 1900’s. Sure, they’ve earned their spot as a valid tasty treat for candy lovers, but covering some everyday fruits in chocolate and calling it Christmas candy is not going to cut it here.
When we first came across this concoction, we were puzzled. It read Christmas Cotton Candy with sparkles of red, white, and green scattered across the cloud of candy contained inside the packaging. Was this meant to be eaten, or used as some type of colored decor around your Christmas tree? The only time we’ve ever seen cotton candy at a gathering is the circus, so this was new to us.
There’s just something about snacking on cotton candy while watching a Christmas movie that just sounds a little weird, but maybe that’s just because Buddy the Elf doesn’t include cotton candy in his four main food group lists. Nonetheless, we hopped on the bandwagon and started stocking up on cotton candy snowballs ourselves, so you can grab them right here and try for yourself.
If you said yes, do you know the story behind it?
Allow us to do some quick educating…
The Christmas pickle tradition is said to be a German-based practice in which families will hide a Christmas pickle ornament inside of their tree after all the children have gone to bed. The next day whoever finds the pickle ornament will receive one special gift from St. Nicholas and be blessed with good luck for the entire year.
It’s a cute tradition that many American households have adopted, but did you know that Germans have never even heard of this?
Over 2,000 of them were asked if they had ever encountered a Christmas pickle ornament before and 91% of them said no.
So what is the Christmas pickle tradition and where did it come from in the first place?
We did some salty searching and found out that it’s quite the story. Check it out!
The Innkeeper theory goes a little something like this: Legend says that during medieval times two Spanish boys were on their way home to celebrate Christmas when they stopped at an inn for the night.
After arriving at the inn, a malicious innkeeper trapped the boys inside a pickle barrel leaving them for dead. That was until St. Nicholas came upon them, tapped the barrel, and released them to freedom. From there, the boys went home to their families with the story and the pickle tradition was born.
Unfortunately, this story cannot be corroborated by anyone and there are no written accounts of the boys interacting with an innkeeper let alone St. Nicholas himself.
So we move on to theory number two…
The second pickle theory comes from an American man named John Lower. John Lower was the son of a Bavarian immigrant born in 1852 in Pennsylvania. After joining the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War, he was captured by enemy forces in Andersonville, Georgia where he was held prisoner.
Upon falling deathly ill around Christmas time, Lower asked the guard of the encampment to spare him one pickle—that’s right one pickle. This one pickle would prove to be the medicine Lower needed to not only survive through the winter but eventually escape the grasp of enemy forces and return home. (We are not sure how this is humanly possible considering a pickle is only 7 calories)
After arriving back in Pennsylvania, Lower decided that it was time to start a new Christmas tradition—one that would bring favor and good luck to his family. So he started placing a single pickle on the Christmas tree and whoever found it would be the recipient of said good fortune.
From there, the tradition was handed down for generations in the Lower family, which would go on to become widely popular in midwest states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and more.
Here’s the problem with this theory—Lower was released before the end of the Civil War which wrapped up in 1865. It was until 1880 that glass ornaments had become popularized in the United States, making it unlikely that Lower and or those connected to him would have had access to glass pickle ornaments during this time.
There are rumors that Lower’s father was around German glass blowers long before they started making Christmas pickle ornaments, and possibly got his hands on a few pieces.
But when you really consider the chances of him getting a pickle ornament at that time, bringing it home to his children, handing it down to them, only for his son to return from war and use the pickle as a good luck ornament on his own tree, it’s tough to imagine it happening.
This leads us to theory three…
Source: wanderingermany.com
The third and final pickle ornament theory comes from the glassblowers of Germany. Since 1597, the small town of Lauscha has been known for its immaculate glassblowing. Whether it was glass cups, bowls, or containers, this region of Germany (called Thüringen) was the go-to producer of all things blown glass.
Now it’s believed that in the mid-1800s, somewhere around 1847, these German glass blowers started making ornaments shaped like fruits, vegetables, and nuts to commemorate some of the food eaten during the holidays.
From there, these ornaments were distributed across different parts of Germany and Europe and sold as traditional Christmas decorations, without any connection to a particular tradition or practice.
In 1880, F.W. Woolworth Company—a popular spot for Christmas decor—started selling these German-made ornaments in their stores across the United States. They were an immediate hit with midwest families who not only farmed for a living but also were fond of the foodie ornaments.
Once these pickles infiltrated the ecosystem of the U.S. market, there was no stopping this salty snack from becoming a Christmas classic that would be handed down for decades to come.
This is where you can imagine a lot of crossover between John Lower’s story and the sale of German food ornaments in the midwest, especially the pickle.
If in fact Lower’s story was handed down to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it’s possible that the spread of this practice combined with the influx of pickle ornaments hitting the national market created a wave of new Christmas tradition that was adopted by midwesterners and continued to this day.
Just to give you a grasp on how popular this tradition is in the midwest United States, there’s actually a town in Michigan called Berrien Springs that prides itself on being the “Christmas Pickle Capital of the World”.
Here, they celebrate this tangy tradition by hosting an annual Christmas Pickle Festival filled with tons of local pickle vendors, a pickle recipe contest, pickle flinging, and even a pickle decorating competition.
(Yes, we want to know what a pickle decorating competition looks like.)
In case you were wondering, the Christmas pickle ornament is still going strong in the modern era. Ask almost any American family if they’ve heard of the Christmas pickle and chances are they or a friend has one on their tree during the holidays.
That being said, you can find Christmas pickle ornaments almost anywhere these days including popular shopping sites (aka Amazon).
But since we're a fan of supporting small businesses, here are three places where you can grab a Christmas pickle for your tree:
And if you already have your hands on a few Christmas pickle ornaments, we’ve got a new holiday tradition you might want to start this year: stuff the stockings with pickles!
No, we’re not talking about real pickles here, we’re talking about Sour Pickle Pops. These things pack all that classic dill flavor into a candy pop that sends your taste buds into another dimension.
Grab a few for yourself by tapping right here!
]]>The search ends here!
We love to celebrate Thanksgiving and what better way to give thanks than to show up to the party with some sweet treats! Instead of settling for the standard Thanksgiving desserts this year, how about you try something different?
Something that might land you a spot as a permanent dessert deliverer.
These 5 desserts take some of your favorite childhood confections and combine them with Thanksgiving classics that everyone loves. Check them out!
Source: inthekitchenwithmatt.com
If you go crazy for adorable Thanksgiving desserts, you’re going to love this DIY treat that’s perfect for a family party. These Thanksgiving Chocolate Candy Turkeys combine the best fall candies together to create cute tiny turkeys that will rock your sweet tooth.
All you need are some Oreo Cookies, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Malted Milk Balls, and a small pack of Candy Corn to create an entire rafter of turkeys ready for eating. We suggest gathering a group of family members together to make these because doing it alone may lead to some candy disappearing before the final product is finished.
Source: iheartnaptime.com
What’s your go-to snack for watching Thanksgiving football games? For us, it's a combination of sweet and salty that hits the spot when it comes time to watch our favorite teams take the field on turkey day. When it comes to a sweet and salty Thanksgiving combo it’s tough to beat the Mayflower Munch Mix.
Now if you’ve never heard of Mayflower Munch Mix, we’ll be the first to tell you that it’s whatever you want to make of it—there’s no set recipe. The important thing to do is pick out two of your favorite chocolate candies—we love M&Ms and Reese’s Pieces—then combine them with two of your favorite crackers—like pretzels and Bugles—toss in a handful of raisins and any other ingredients you like and boom, there’s your custom Mayflower Munch Mix.
Source: sallysbakingaddicition.com
It wouldn’t be a Thanksgiving dessert list if we didn’t include something with some pumpkin. Instead of sticking to the traditional pumpkin pie or offering up pumpkin spice lattes after dinner, we wanted to give you something that would turn heads at Thanksgiving this year. That’s where these Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes come into the picture.
This recipe takes everything you love about pumpkin spice and stuffs it into a single-serve cupcake that is topped with cream cheese frosting and a pumpkin mellocreme candy. Trust us when we tell you that if you bring this Thanksgiving dessert to dinner this year, you will be on the hook to serve it for many years to come.
Source: hersheyland.com
Did you ever make those paper pilgrim hats back in elementary school? Well, this is a little bit of a sweeter take on that idea. This Thanksgiving dessert recipe combines mini Reese’s Mini Cups, Reeses’s Pieces, and Fudge Stripe cookies into the iconic pilgrim tophat that we all know and love. If you’re a fan of chocolate overload, we suggest opting for the Dark Chocolate Fudge Stripes and using chocolate frosting to adhere the Reese’s Cup to the top of your pilgrim hat.
Source: sweetsugarbelle.com
Corn is making a serious comeback this year. With its massive virality on Instagram in recent months, people are searching for all kinds of corny snacks and desserts to try. While we love corn just as much as the next person, we figured we’d keep this list full of desserts you can make with candy ingredients, which leads us to the most innovative treat that we could find: Indian Corn Cookies.
This dessert takes a simple vanilla cookie and elevates it with a buttercream frosting that is topped with fall colored candies, in this case Peanut M&Ms. Note: this is a dessert that requires a bit of an artistic approach as you’ll have to create the corn pattern using Peanut M&Ms, but rest assured it’s well worth it for this photo-worthy snack.
]]>The tradition is so ingrained into American culture that most of us just assume turkey has been at the helm of this holiday since the beginning, but the truth is it wasn’t.
As it turns out this bird took its time becoming an American holiday icon and here’s how it happened.
Source: sugarpiefarmhouse.com
The first Thanksgiving meal was served in 1621 between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. While most think that turkey was served most historians believe the big bird was not on the table that day.
As it turns out the protein of choice was a mixture of venison, fish, geese, and even duck. These animals were then stuffed with vegetables and other spices that added flavor and roasted over the fire.
What's shocking is that the Pilgrims missed some of the best Thanksgiving food on the menu including mashed potatoes! The Spanish had yet to bring their pillowy potatoes to England so when the time to set sail came, potatoes were not on the boat. Instead, it’s believed that they roasted root vegetables like Indian turnips and ground nuts.
Source: flickr.com
The turkey on Thanksgiving scenario happened organically. The North American bird is native to the region of the colonies and at a time when farming was sparse, turkeys were abundant and easy to hunt. Over time as eastern colonies continued to develop, turkey became part of the regular diet including the Thanksgiving holiday.
It took years for this eastern U.S. tradition to be handed down through generations and spread across the United States. One major supporter of the turkey on Thanksgiving movement was Sarah Hale, an American author, who wrote about making Thanksgiving a national holiday and maintaining traditions including the infamous turkey dinner.
After years (we're talking decades) of celebrating Thanksgiving with no official date, President Abraham Lincoln finally made Thanksgiving an official holiday in the fall of 1863.
Upon this announcement, Alexander Hamiltion was noted saying, “No citizen of the U.S. shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day.” On that fateful day in 1863, Thanksgiving and turkey were cemented in history.
Source: vintageholidays.tumblr.com
All this turkey talk probably has you wondering how many turkeys are sold during the Thanksgiving season. To our surprise, over 46 million turkeys are sold every Thanksgiving.
That’s right, 46 million turkeys.
Of that 46 million Butterball, one of the largest turkey suppliers, accounts for almost 30% of the market or roughly 13.8 million turkeys a season.
While that is the standard for most thanksgiving turkeys, this year is looking a little different. Between tight supply chains and a rise in bird flu, fresh turkey costs are 112% higher than in previous years, coming in at almost $1.99/lb.
So what does that mean for all of us who love turkey? We will still be able to eat it this year, chances are that you might just have to stick to a single serving instead of going back for seconds, thirds, or fourths.
Now if you’re a fan of turkey stats, check out these 5 Thanksgiving facts most people don’t know.
1. Philadelphia is home to the oldest thanksgiving day parade.
The Philadelphia Gimbel Brothers Department Store parade in 1920 had less than 50 people and a fireman suited up as Santa Claus. This was the first officially documented Thanksgiving Day parade in the U.S. Now, it’s called the 6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade and packs some of the largest crowds in the country. As a matter of fact, it was the inspiration behind the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade which started in 1924.
2. The Detroit Lions have the longest-standing Thanksgiving NFL game
George A. Richards, a former owner, purchased what was the Portsmouth Ohio Spartans in 1934 and brought them to Detroit. With a new logo, colors, and named George decided to host a Thanksgiving Day game against the world-champion Chicago Bears in hopes of attracting fans. It was a smash hit that became an immediate tradition that has withstood over 85 years. Note: They did miss Thanksgiving 1933-34 due to WWII but have played every year since.
3. Two turkeys are pardoned by the president of the United States every year.
This tradition started with George H.W. Bush back in 1989 after noticing the bird looked nervous during his Thanksgiving address. Since then, it’s been a tradition for the president to pardon two turkeys every Thanksgiving and send them off to perform other duties such as honorable grand marshalls in Disney Thanksgiving parades.
4. TV Dinners were invented courtesy of Thanksgiving turkey.
In 1953, Swanson ordered a massive amount of turkeys (260 tons) that they couldn’t sell out. Inspired by the food served on airplanes, salesman Gerry Thomas suggested cooking all the turkey and serving it with cornbread dressing, gravy, peas, and sweet potatoes on a to-go aluminum tray. It was an immediate hit at 98 cents in households that were busy.
5. Colchester, CT actually canceled Thanksgiving one year.
This small Connecticut town did in fact postpone Thanksgiving in 1705 because they didn't have enough pumpkin pies. So the city came together and officially moved the holiday from Thursday to Saturday in order to ensure there were enough pumpkin pies to go around.
There you have it, the short history of Thanksgiving Day turkey and how it became a staple for the holidays. We hope that you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with joy and gratitude.
]]>With Halloween around the corner, we’ve been diving into the history of some of this holiday’s iconic treats and next on the list is candy corn.
This tri-colored treat has always been associated with Halloween, but for what reason? We wanted to find out so we did some digging and found some rather interesting facts about the history of candy corn.
Check them out!
Let’s go back to the 1880s when confectionery companies were experimenting with new types of candy including the famous mellocreme. Mellocreme is a mixture of corn syrup, food coloring, honey, and sugar that is beaten and heated in large kettles to produce an ultra-sweet syrup that can be molded into any shape.
This creamy and rich texture was something that mimicked the feel of chocolate but had the sweet taste of honey and sugar that people loved in hard candy. The best part about it was that you could put the liquid mellocreme into a mold to create any sugary shape you wanted out of the candy, including corn.
The person credited with creating candy corn in the first place is George Renninger, an employee from the Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia, PA. While most confectionery companies were making mellocreme shapes at this time, his company was the first to layer different colors of corn.
At this time, over 50% of the U.S. workforce was farmers living in rural parts of the United States, and confectionery companies wanted a way to target them as customers. Hence, they molded their mellocreme mixtures into pumpkins, gourds, corn, turnips, and other agricultural products that were common amongst potential consumers.
People were immediately drawn to the fall color combination they had never seen before and quickly candy corn was becoming a popular item amongst candy lovers.
This caught the attention of the Goelitz Candy Company (now known as Jelly Belly) in 1898 where they then picked up the recipe and started marketing it as “Chicken Feed”. With the backing of a major confectionery brand candy corn skyrocketed on the sales charts selling year around under term penny candy.
In the early 20th century “penny candy” was the candy you’d find in the big barrels in your local candy shop. These candies were incredibly cheap and could be bought in bulk and carried around by kids.
As a penny candy, candy corn was eaten by most farmer kids and adults year round because Halloween was still a growing tradition in the U.S., hence people craved it all the time.
In the early 1950s, confectionery companies started bulking up their marketing budgets and pushing products like candy corn during specific seasons, one of which was Halloween.
Obviously, Halloween is one of the most popular candy holidays of the year so you can imagine how candy corn inserted its name into the mix rather convincingly and started to gain massive seasonal attraction.
Once candy corn was brought mainstream on the Halloween scene, it became a staple at parties and in trick-or-treat bags across the entire country.
There’s been a long-winded debate about candy corn and whether it is actually good or not. Some say that it’s just a nostalgia play for people that love Halloween. They claim it’s an old candy that grandparents have kept alive for generations because it is so closely associated with childhood and Halloween and therefore, people still consume it.
Others say the candy is outdated and should be shelved permanently for better-tasting treats. But the reality is that candy corn sales are holding strong averaging around 35 million lbs of production every single year.
Yeah, you read that correctly: 35 million pounds of candy corn.
Brach’s, the largest producer of candy corn in the United States estimates that it crafted roughly 3 billion pieces of candy corn in 2019, making almost $73 million on the product alone. If that doesn’t tell you candy corn is still kicking, just look at the viral TikTok video of corn kid, and you’ll realize it’s not going anywhere any time soon.
We also forgot to mention the fact that 5 states (Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and South Carolina) put candy corn at the top of the favorite Halloween candy list too—talk about some serious cravings.
Although it would be quite interesting to watch people eat candy corn the same way they eat regular corn, there is a technique to eating candy corn. Or at least some would say that.
In a survey done by the National Confectioners Association, they found that 33% of people eat candy corn layer by layer instead of eating it all in one bite. That’s a third of people who eat candy corn basically saying they prefer to eat it like an animal in the woods, taking small bites one at a time.
Nonetheless, candy corn’s popularity is only growing with the day before Halloween being deemed National Candy Corn Day—which just so happens to also be Sugar Awareness Day.
Ironic? We thought so too.
There you have it, the sweet history of candy corn and why everyone’s sweet tooth comes calling for it during Halloween.
Now what are you waiting for?
The classic fall taste of candy corn is waiting for you in our digital aisles and you can get it right now for a special price. Check out all the flavors right here and we’ll ship them straight to your front door.
]]>This might be your first one or you might be the seasoned veteran who’s been celebrating the spookiest night of the year in style for decades.
Whatever the circumstances might be, you’re reading this because you need a few helpful tips to spook up your Halloween party and make it that much better.
Lucky for you, we like to consider ourselves experts on all things Halloween including candy consumption and party throwing. So without further ado, here are three easy ways to make your Halloween party the best one on the block this year.
Here’s the thing, everyone’s taste buds crave different candies. Some folks love chocolate, others crave sour sweets, and we all know someone who only eats peanut butter candy. That’s why covering all of your bases for this party is important—starting with chocolate.
As one of the most popular Halloween candy choices, there are a few chocolate staples that you should have if you are hosting. The first is Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin. This is a party classic and perfect for those folks we just talked about who are obsessed with peanut butter.
The second is Hershey’s Miniature Bag. Inclusivity is important so stocking up on a pack of all the best Hershey's chocolates is the best way to ensure that each party-goer finds one chocolate treat they like on your table.
Now let's talk about sour candy…
While many might think that sour candy is exclusive to children, we’ll be the first to tell you there are plenty of adults out there who love sour candy.
To guarantee those people get their sweet tooth satisfied you’re going to want to grab three sour candies in this order: Sour Patch Kids Zombies, Sour Punch Spooky Straws, and Sour Jelly Pumpkins. This combination of sour snacks will send those candy cravers straight into a sugar coma and make your party the talk of the town for weeks to come.
Did you think we forgot about other classic candies?
The last types of candy to round out your Halloween party are gummi and hard candy. Whether it be the sour gummi worms we all grew up eating or iconic Halloween treats like candy corn, these are the treats that bring back the nostalgia from most people’s childhoods.
Start with stocking up on a few packs of classic Candy Corn and Autumn Mix to fill the bowls sitting around your party.
Then grab some Oozing Eyeballs and Twizzler Twists to round out the gummi side of your party and now you’re set to serve sweets!
Source: PurpleClover
This portion of the night is entirely up to you and what you think your ghostly guests will enjoy the most. We like to suggest a combination of engaging games that the entire group can participate in as well as some smaller, more low-key activities that people can do in their leisure time.
One of our personal favorites is a caramel apple bar. This is a great activity for those people who want to sit and relax and simply relish in all the sweet treats. Grab some of your favorite caramel apple toppings like nuts, sprinkles, and some candy from our digital aisles, and let people go wild with their own caramel apple creations. You’ll be shocked at some of the ideas people come up with.
If caramel apples aren’t your thing, there are a few other activities that will spook your party into having a silly good time.
Start with a pumpkin ring toss—this is like horseshoes but with pumpkins instead of iron hooves. It’s simple, all you have to do is toss rings over the top of pumpkins and land it on the stem. Play until one team lands it 10 times and make the losing eat a handful of candy corn.
Once you’ve tossed a few rings, gather around for a mummy sack race. Similar to the sack races from school days, this race consists of wrapping your partner in a layer of toilet paper and sending them around the pumpkin patch hoping they come back first.
Since this will likely be in your backyard or house, be sure to cover the sharp corners to keep folks safe, and make sure you have a sweet prize, like a 2lb Halloween Decade Box, for the winners.
After the major movement activities are done, it’s time to turn up the Halloween Trivia. This is always a smash hit at parties and will get all attendees involved, especially if you have a great set of questions. We did some looking and found this epic 75-question Horror Movie Trivia (for kids and adults) that will spawn some Halloween childhood memories for everyone who plays. Give it a try!
It’s not a real Halloween Party without some spooktacular tunes and scary movies!
So while your party is in full swing, make sure you tune your party into a Halloween playlist that encourages singing and dancing. We found this Halloween Classics Playlist with all the songs you’ll need to throw a terrifyingly-fun party.
While that’s going on, turn on a Halloween movie that everyone knows and loves to really set the tone for the night. We suggest starting with the iconic, It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, then transitioning to Hocus Pocus, and finishing the evening strong with The Nightmare Before Christmas.
If those Halloween movies don’t fit the vibe you are looking for, check out this list of the Best Halloween Movies of all time and you’ll be sure to find something that will spook you and your party.
There you have it, everything you need to throw one of the spookiest and sweetest Halloween parties your neighborhood, workplace, or family has ever been to!
Don’t forget to get creative with your costume and enjoy a few sweet treats for yourself while throwing this gathering of ghouls!
And if you need to stock up on sweets for this party, grab everything you need in our digital aisles right here.
]]>If so, stop settling for those boring packs of mini snacks that everyone shares with trick-or-treaters.
Nobody wants to open up their candy stash to find mini candy bars and loose candy corn strewn about their pillowcase! They want king-sized treats that stimulate their taste buds!
To help make that happen we pulled together a list of 10 Halloween candies you should share with trick-or-treaters this year. Check it out!
Imagine 4 pounds of all the classic Halloween candy stuffed into one spooky box! We figured that settling for a few of your favorite treats wouldn’t be enough for the big night, so we pulled all the best Halloween treats together and put them into a box that will scare your sweet tooth.
Whether you’re an ‘80s kid who wants to taste their childhood favorites or you want a combination of old and new Halloween candy, the choice is yours when you pick a Halloween Decade Box.
Tap right here to get one for yourself!
The Reese’s Pumpkin is one of the best Halloween candies of all time—yeah, we said it. There’s just something about the perfect combination of peanut butter to milk chocolate that is unmatched by any other Halloween treat. We even tested this theory and ranked all Reese’s products that we carry, and Pumpkins found themselves at the top of that list! If you’re going to be handing out Reese’s this Halloween, make sure you are doing it the right way with Reese’s Pumpkins.
Grab a stash for the big night right here.
What’s better than a regular KitKat bar? KitKat Breaking Bones! With the spooky season upon us, it’s only fitting that KitKat changed it up and threw some skeletons inside of their classic KitKat.
Instead of going with the traditional milk chocolate, KitKat took it upon themselves to swap it for a white chocolate creme that looks just like the limbs of spooky, scary skeletons and tastes fantastic. If you’re a fan of white chocolate and crispy wafers, you’re going to want to get your hands on these right away.
You can do that right here.
Did you carve your pumpkins this year? If you missed out, don’t worry Snickers has you covered with their Jack-O-Lantern edition bars!
Similar to their iconic 2 piece candy bar, this Halloween edition candy bar doubles down on milk chocolate, nuts, and nougat. This is everything you love about Snickers, molded into the perfect size pumpkin for snacking or sharing with the trick-or-treaters on the block.
Taste one for yourself right here.
Casper the friendly ghost stopped by our candy headquarters at the beginning of the month to share his favorite Halloween candy with us. Can you guess what it was? Ghost Dots!
These cute little ghouls are perfect for sitting back and watching some of your favorite Halloween films and snacking on a sweet treat instead of going out into the cold. Not to mention they are also great for those of you who are hosting a Halloween party and need a few extra side snacks for your guests and goblins.
Snatch a box or two by tapping right here.
Everyone knows that zombies have a sweet tooth! That’s why Sour Patch kids decided to take their sweet children to the dark side and make them Halloween zombies!
Never did we imagine that Sour Patch would find the perfect combination of sweet, sour, and scary, but they have and both the living and the dead love them! This Halloween This Sour Patch Zombie pack is filled with a deadly sour taste and delicious little demons that will send your taste buds into another dimension.
Try it for yourself by tapping right here.
The Caramel Apple Pop is unlike any other sucker or lollipop in that it combines the best of both worlds: creamy caramel flavor blended with the tart taste of apple underneath. One could say this tang is so tangible it takes you back to sweet memories at the cider mill picking apples with your family.
While it might not be an iconic Halloween Candy, it is a fall treat that we’ve all come to know and love and for that reason, it must be handed out to the next generation of trick-or-treaters!
Stock up on Caramel Apple Pops right here.
We all know a trick-or-treater who loves sour candy. When they sit down with their freshly-hauled stash from the night, all they want to do is trade every bit of chocolate for sour sweets that will make their mouth pucker.
If that is you, you’re going to want to get your paws on a few packs of these Sour Punch Spooky Straws. This seasonal flavor flaunts 3 spooky tastes (apple, grape, and tangerine) that can only be consumed in this limited edition pack. So if you love Sour Punch Straws or simply want to stock up on sour candy, grab these for your stash!
What if you could eat a puffy pumpkin that tasted just like a sugar-covered marshmallow? Peeps is making that happen with their Marshmallow Pumpkins! Just like the classic Peep treats we see during the Easter season, these puffs are covered with a bright orange powder and stamped with a pumpkin smiley face ready for consumption.
Did I forget to mention they also have Marshmallow Frankensteins and Skulls too? If you’re craving some puffy goodness this Halloween, Peeps has you covered.
Grab some right here.
While most Halloween candy lists would have some type of candy corn on them, we decided to change it up and give you something we had never seen before. Red Vine Candy Corn Twists!
This is just like the Red Vine Candy that we all grew up with except they swapped the licorice flavor for candy corn! It’s by far one of the most unique combinations we’ve seen in Halloween history and makes for quite the conversation around the candy exchange table at the end of a night of trick-or-treating.
Try them for yourself by tapping here.
Remember, Halloween is all about the treats so make sure that you’re handing out the spookiest of sweets to all your trick-or-treaters this year!
It just so happens that we carry a killer amount of Halloween candy that you can get your hands on and we’ll ship it straight to your front door.
Take a look for yourself and prepare your sweet tooth for a scary night of snacking!
]]>We were craving some chocolate, but not just any kind of chocolate—international chocolate!
So we scoured our archives searching for the best pieces of international chocolate that we have on the shelves and found 5 that you should get your hands on if you’re a fan of the good stuff.
When Rodolphe Lindt and his brother August bought two Swedish, fire-damaged factories and a few pieces of old confectionery machinery in 1879, they had no idea what they were about to discover.
At the time, chocolate was rather bitter in taste, and nobody had yet mastered a way to make it more appealing to the pallet. That was until August suggested that they harvest the extra liquid from the chocolate paste that would normally crystallize, and turn it into a flavor-packed “melting chocolate”.
This was done through a process known as “conching” in which the chocolate is heated over 160 F to allow the lactose crystals to transition into amorphous lactose. This in turn yielded the silky, smooth, and rich milk chocolate that could be filled inside the famous Lindt chocolate shells.
One could argue that without the help of the Lindt brothers, milk chocolate might have tasted a little different than it does today, so for that we thank them! And if you really want to say thank you the sweet way, grab some Lindt Milk Chocolates right here.
As the second-largest confectionery brand in the world, Cadbury has been making sweets since 1824. The founder, John Cadbury, originally sold tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate (hot chocolate) in Birmingham, UK. In 1905 they invented the first Dairy Milk Bar and by the time his sons took over the family business in 1914, milk chocolate had become the most popular item they offered.
Over the next 100 years, the Cadbury clan expanded their chocolate empire beyond Buckinghamshire and across all of Europe. Their milk chocolate was loved by everyone, including British soldiers who ate it during both WWI and WWII.
It was between these two wars that Cadbury sent packages of test chocolate to school children, asking for their opinions—one of which was Roald Dahl, the writer of the famous novel Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
Today, Cadbury holds one of the most elite collections of chocolate confections on the planet, flaunting classics like the original Dairy Milk and Dark Chocolate, along with the iconic Cadbury Caramello.
Originally named Caramilk, this sweet treat was created in 1968 by combining milk chocolate with a smooth caramel center. This would be one of many flavors created by Cadbury during this time including dark chocolate, maple, and cappuccino.
You can give the original Cadbury Caramello a try right here.
Speaking of Cadbury, we couldn’t ignore another classic chocolate treat that they offer. The Cadbury CurlyWurly was created just two years after the Caramello when long-time confectionery research developer David John Parfitt was experimenting with toffee from another project.
He thought to himself, “imagine if you could take serpentine strings (overlapping pattern) of chocolate and caramel, and interweave them in such a way that it would send your taste buds into a spiral?”
After some testing and further research, he found that hardened caramel was the perfect component to create the visual aesthetic he was looking for in such a candy bar. With a recipe in hand, it was time to start crafting their iconic Curly Wurly packaging.
As you can see, Curly Wurly has seen some eye-popping wrappers cover their product and people continue to snack on the treat when their caramel cravings come calling. If that’s you right now, go grab a few Curly Wurly bars for yourself right here.
Do you love toffee and chocolate? Then you are going to be obsessed with the Skor Bar! Produced by the American staple, Hershey’s, Skor was heavily marketed in Canada upon release in 1983. The name refers to the Swedish term meaning, “shoes”, and the crown that appears in the product's logo is identical to that found in the Swedish national emblem.
Did you say, “shoes?” Yes, we don't really understand this either.
Nonetheless, this candy bar consists of a thin and flavorful toffee center that is wrapped in milk chocolate and was created to rival the popular Heath bar at the time, which was made by Hershey's competitor, Leaf Candy Company.
In 1996, Hershey bought Leaf Candy Company and the rights to Heath bars, which they continued to produce in tandem with Skor. Today, Skor is still a widely popular chocolate candy bar across the United States and Canada, selling millions of bars every single year.
You can snag yourself a Skor right here if your sweet tooth is calling for one.
We’ve all been in a candy shop or grocery store and stumbled upon the great geometrical phenomenon that is the Toblerone packaging. While most of us have seen, few know how this Swedish treat came to be.
It was started in 1908 by Emil Baumann & Theodor Tobler who wanted to create a candy consisting of milk chocolate, nougat, almonds, and honey. After mixing together the perfect combination of ingredients, their focus shifted to the presentation and packaging.
Many tried and true Toblerone fans think the idea came from Theodor’s love for the Swiss Alps and this was his attempt at recreating them on his candy. The truth was that Theodor wanted something that emulated the shapes of Folies Bergères dancers at the finale of a show, which he loved dearly.
Once he had his shape and packaging ready, Toblerone hit the shelves 1909 and has been a massive hit across all of Europe and in the U.S. ever since.
One thing most people don’t know about Toblerone is that The interior of the Tobler factory in Switzerland was the location where the title sequence of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was filmed—pretty sweet, right?!