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Hershey bar facts for kids

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Hershey's Milk Chocolate
Hershey company textlogo.svg
Hershey chocolate bar.jpg
Type Chocolate bar
Owner The Hershey Company
Country United States
Introduced November 11, 1900; 125 years ago (1900-11-11)
Related brands
Markets Worldwide
Ambassador(s) Milton Hershey
Tagline
  • The Great American Chocolate Bar
  • There's a smile in every Hershey Bar.

The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar is a super popular chocolate bar made by The Hershey Company. Many people just call it the Hershey Bar. Hershey's even calls it "The Great American Chocolate Bar"! This yummy chocolate bar first hit stores way back in 1900.

The Sweet Story of Hershey's Chocolate Bars

How Milton Hershey Started His Chocolate Dream

The story of Hershey's chocolate bars began with a man named Milton Hershey. He had a very successful candy business called the Lancaster Caramel Company, which he started in 1886.

In 1893, Milton Hershey visited a big fair in Chicago called the World's Columbian Exposition. There, he saw amazing German machines that made chocolate. He was so inspired that he decided he wanted to make chocolate too!

From Caramels to Chocolate Bars

Milton Hershey bought the chocolate machines and first started adding chocolate coatings to his famous caramels. Soon after, in 1894, he created the Hershey Chocolate Company. This new company began making its own special chocolate treats.

He worked hard to find a way to make lots of chocolate for everyone. This special method became known as the "Hershey process." In 1899, he developed this process for mass production. In August 1900, he sold his caramel company to focus completely on making chocolate. That same year, in November, the very first Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar was sold to the public!

Discovering Different Hershey's Chocolate Bars

Hershey's makes many kinds of chocolate bars, each with its own special taste! Here are some of the most popular ones:

  • Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar: This is the classic bar that started it all! It's made with creamy milk chocolate and is often called the "original" Hershey's bar. It first came out in 1900.
  • Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar with Almonds: This bar takes the classic milk chocolate and adds crunchy almonds for a delicious combination. It was introduced in 1908.
  • Hershey's Special Dark Bar: If you like a slightly less sweet chocolate, this one is for you! It's made with a darker chocolate that has more cocoa. It first appeared in 1939.
  • Hershey's Special Dark Bar with Almonds: This bar combines the rich taste of Special Dark chocolate with crunchy almond pieces.
  • Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme Bar: This unique bar is made with white creme and crunchy chocolate cookie pieces. It's a favorite for those who love a creamy, crunchy treat! It was launched in 1994.
  • Hershey's Gold Bar: This bar is a bit different! It features caramelized creme with crunchy peanuts and pretzels mixed in. It was introduced in 2017.
  • Hershey's Milk Chocolate & Reese's Pieces Candy Bar: This exciting bar combines the classic Hershey's milk chocolate with colorful, peanut-butter-filled Reese's Pieces candies. It came out in 2018.
  • Hershey's White Creme with Almonds: This bar offers a creamy white chocolate taste with whole almonds for a satisfying crunch. It was introduced in 2019.

The Special Taste of Hershey's Milk Chocolate

What Makes Hershey's Chocolate Unique?

Hershey's milk chocolate has a very special taste, thanks to something called the Hershey Process. Milton Hershey himself developed this method to make chocolate in large amounts for everyone to enjoy. This process uses fresh milk from nearby farms.

This unique way of making chocolate gives Hershey's bars a flavor that many people in the United States and the Philippines know and love. Some people describe it as a slightly "tangy" taste. It's a secret recipe, but it helps keep the milk fresh and gives the chocolate its distinct flavor.

Changes in Ingredients Over Time

Over the years, companies sometimes update their recipes. For example, in 2006, Hershey's started using an ingredient called polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) in some of their chocolates. This ingredient helps make the chocolate smoother.

Later, in 2015, Hershey's decided to remove PGPR from most of their chocolate bars. They also stopped using artificial vanillin, choosing to use only natural flavors instead. However, they later brought PGPR back into some bars, like the Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds full size bar and plain milk chocolate bars, to keep them tasting just right.

More Fun Facts About Hershey's Bars

Other Popular Hershey's Flavors

Besides the classic milk chocolate, Hershey's makes other delicious bars like:

Did You Know?

  • All Hershey's chocolate bars are approved as Kosher food, which means they follow special dietary rules for people of the Jewish faith.
  • You can find some really big Hershey's bars! The largest one you can buy weighs about 5 pounds (that's over 2 kilograms)! Imagine sharing that with your friends!
  • For its 100th anniversary, Hershey's even sold a special gold-colored bar that had pretzels and peanuts inside.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hershey bar para niños

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