York Peppermint Pattie facts for kids
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A circular pattie with a soft mint center coated in dark chocolate.
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| Product type | Confectionery |
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| Owner | The Hershey Company |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1940 |
| Related brands | York Miniatures |
| Markets | United States United Kingdom Canada |
| Tagline | Get The York Sensation Get The Sensation |
The York Peppermint Pattie is a popular candy. It has a cool, minty center covered in rich, dark chocolate. This tasty treat was first made in 1940. Today, it is produced by the Hershey Company.
Contents
History of the York Peppermint Pattie
The Beginning in York, Pennsylvania
Around 1920, a man named Henry Kessler started the York Cone Company. This company was in York, Pennsylvania. At first, they sold ice cream cones and waffles. But Henry Kessler wanted to create a new candy. He wanted it to be a mix of chocolate and mint.
Many news stories say the York Peppermint Pattie was first made in 1940. However, a special document called a trademark application tells a different story. This document was filed in 1949. It shows that the candy was actually first sold on January 28, 1922. This was soon after the company started.
What Made York Patties Special?
Chocolate-covered peppermints existed before the York Peppermint Pattie. But the York candy was different. It was firmer and had a crisp "snap" when you broke it. Other mint patties were often softer and gooey.
A former employee, Phil Kollin, remembered a special test. Before leaving the factory, each candy had a "snap test." If the candy did not break cleanly in the middle, it was not sold as a perfect pattie.
The company started selling its candy in more places. It grew beyond just the local area. Without much advertising, the York Peppermint Pattie became popular. It was sold in the Northeast, parts of the Midwest, and Florida.
The Peanuts Connection
On August 22, 1966, a famous cartoonist named Charles M. Schulz created a new character. This character was named Peppermint Patty. She appeared in his popular comic strip, Peanuts.
Changes in Ownership
In 1972, the York Cone Company was bought by the Peter Paul company. Peter Paul then started selling York Peppermint Patties all across the country in 1975.
Later, in 1978, Peter Paul joined with another company called Cadbury. This was a big deal, costing $58 million.
Then, in August 1988, the Hershey Company bought the candy businesses from Cadbury Schweppes in the U.S. This included popular candies like Almond Joy, Mounds, and the York Peppermint Pattie. Hershey paid a lot of money for these brands.
In 2009, after 23 years, the production of the York Peppermint Pattie moved. It moved from Reading, Pennsylvania, to Mexico.
Promoting the York Peppermint Pattie
Famous Slogans
In the 1970s, Peter Paul started a very famous advertising campaign. The main slogan was "Get the Sensation." This catchy phrase is still used today. A TV commercial in 1979 also used this "Get The Sensation" theme.
In 1982, Peter Paul launched another ad campaign. This one used a theme similar to "I Love New York." It was to tell people that the candy now had 10% more chocolate.
National Peppermint Patty Day
Did you know there's a special day for this candy? National Peppermint Patty Day is celebrated every year on February 11.
York Peppermint Pattie Products and Flavors
How the Candy is Made
In the candy world, "enrobing" means covering a candy or snack with chocolate. The York Peppermint Pattie has a strong mix of flavors. It has a slightly bitter dark chocolate outside. Inside is a sweet center with a strong peppermint taste.
Different Kinds of York Patties
Over the years, many different versions of the York Peppermint Pattie have been made:
- Sugar Free Peppermint Patties – This is a version without sugar.
- Chocolate Truffle Mint – Introduced in 2004, this one had a brown filling.
- Limited Edition Pink Pattie – This special pink-filled pattie came out in October 2005. Money from its sales helped breast cancer research. It supported the Young Survival Coalition.
- York Mints – These came out in 2007. They were small mints in a tin. They had a mint shell, chocolate inside, and more mint.
- York Peppermint Bites – Introduced in 2003, these were small, round candies.
- Peppermint Batties – These were bat-shaped patties made for Halloween. They were later replaced by pumpkin shapes.
- Peppermint Patties Pumpkins – These pumpkin-shaped patties with orange filling came out in October 2007 for Halloween.
- Peppermint Patties Miniature Hearts Heart Box – These heart-shaped patties were made for Valentine's Day.
- Peppermint Pattie Snowflakes – These snowflake-shaped patties were made for Christmas.
- Egg-Shaped Patties – These were made for Easter.
- York Chocolate Peppermint Pattie Easter Bunny – A bunny-shaped treat for Easter.
See also
In Spanish: York Peppermint Pattie para niños
