Sweethearts (candy) facts for kids
Sweethearts are small, heart-shaped candies often called conversation hearts. You usually see them around Valentine's Day. Each candy has a short message printed on it, like "Be Mine," "Kiss Me," or "Miss You."
For a long time, Sweethearts were made by the New England Confectionery Company, known as Necco. In 2018, another company called Spangler Candy Company bought the brand. Before Necco, the Stark Candy Company also made them. Necco used to make about 8 billion Sweethearts every year! Other companies like Brach's also make similar candies. In the UK, a candy called Love Hearts is very similar.
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The Sweet History of Sweethearts
The story of these fun candies began in 1847. A person named Oliver R. Chase created a machine. This machine could cut out small pieces of candy, similar to Necco Wafers. He then started his own candy factory.
Oliver's brother, Daniel Chase, had a cool idea in 1866. He started printing sayings on the candies! He invented a special machine that could press words onto the candy, almost like a stamp. At first, these candies were popular for weddings. They had funny sayings like "Married in pink, he will take a drink" or "Married in White, you have chosen right."
The heart-shaped candies we know as Sweethearts first appeared in 1901. Before that, the company made other shapes too, like lozenges, postcards, horseshoes, and even baseballs. Over time, they also added other Sweethearts products, such as chocolates and sugar-free hearts.
In the 1990s, a manager at Necco, Walter Marshall, decided to update the messages. Some old sayings were removed, and new ones were added. For example, phrases like "Call me" and "Email me" were changed. The company always tried to keep the messages fresh and interesting for young people. Necco even received hundreds of ideas for new sayings each year!
Necco made these hearts all year long. But they would really speed up production in September. This was to make sure they had enough candies for the huge demand around Valentine's Day. They made about 100,000 pounds (about 45,000 kg) of hearts every day! This large amount would usually sell out in about six weeks.
Changes to Flavor and Look
In 2010, the way Sweethearts tasted and looked changed. The classic light pastel colors were replaced with brighter ones. The candies also became softer and had new flavors. These new flavors included sour apple, strawberry, and "spring fresh." However, some fans were not happy with these changes to the flavors and messages.
Sweethearts' Big Comeback
In 2018, Necco, the company that made Sweethearts for so long, had to close down. Their candy brands were sold to other companies. The Spangler Candy Company bought the rights to Sweethearts. Because Spangler needed time to set up production in a new factory, Sweethearts were not available for Valentine's Day in 2019.
But don't worry, Sweethearts returned in 2020! They even brought back the original flavors from before Necco's 2010 changes. However, there were some problems with the machines. This meant that many of the familiar sayings on the candies were either incomplete or missing entirely.
What Are Sweethearts Made Of?
The main things used to make Sweethearts are corn syrup, sugar, gelatin, and different types of food coloring to give them their bright colors.
