Updated: 2/13/2020
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and elementary schools and corporate offices alike are gearing up for the sugar-fest. We may sell dental plans here at 1Dental, but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying a good dose of candy here and there. In fact, we’re pretty big fans of sugary desserts, as long as we brush our teeth afterward! Here we compiled some fun facts about candy to prepare you for tomorrow.
Conversation Hearts
Valentine’s Day often seems synonymous with those chalky little odd-tasting candy hearts. Many people find the sayings printed on them to be amusing. This website talks about those familiar Sweethearts Conversation Hearts from NECCO:
If you miss some of the old sayings, or would like to see some of your own, you can have them custom-made. The catch is that you’ll have to buy a full production run, or about 1.7 million candy hearts. But you’ll have plenty of time to eat them—they should stay fresh for at least five years…
Conversation hearts were invented in the 1860s by the brother of NECCO’s founder. These first hearts had printed paper notes tucked inside. The lengthy, old-fashioned sayings included such wistful thoughts as “Please send a lock of your hair by return mail.”
Ah, the good old days…
Retro Candy
Speaking of old times, CandyFavorites.com has an extensive list of retro candy trivia. Here are some of our favorite facts from their site:
- 1854 The first packaged box of Whitman’s Chocolate hits the scene
- 1894 Milton Hershey creates what is known as the first “American” candy bar, although his famous Milk Chocolate Bar won’t be invented for a few more years
- 1902 New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) makes the first Conversation Hearts which are still a thriving Valentine’s tradition
- 1907 After the great success of the Milk Chocolate Bar, Hershey introduces the beloved Hershey’s Kisses. The original Hershey’s Kiss were called Silvertops and sold as individual units (this first incarnation was discontinued in 1931)
- 1928 An important year for any candy lover as the beloved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are first marketed. They are still one of the best-selling candy bars of all time
- 1942-1945 To help maintain wartime morale, women at the Whitman’s Candy Company slipped notes to soldiers in boxes of Whitman’s Chocolate Samplers set to ship to the troops. The notes resulted at least a few friendships and even a couple of marriages
- 1960 Looking to create a healthy candy, M&M Mars introduces Starburst Fruit Chews, which are later fortified with Vitamin C
- 1976 Herman Goelitz Company introduces individually-flavored jelly beans called Jelly Belly
Regardless of your relationship status, candy is a fun byproduct of Valentine’s Day. Sugar on your teeth can lead to plaque and tooth decay, though, so enjoy your candy – just make sure to brush your teeth afterward!
What is your favorite Valentine’s Day candy?
For me Valentine’s Day is not complete without a beautiful big box of chocolates!
Great blog post that makes me hungry! Interesting to read about the retro candy. Happy valentines day and yes, remember to brush!