Sweethearts (candy)

Sweethearts (candy)
Sweethearts Box
Necco Sweethearts

Sweethearts are small heart-shaped candies sold around Valentine's Day. Each conversation heart is printed with a message such as "Be Mine", "Kiss Me", "Call Me", "Let's Get Busy", and "Miss You". Sweethearts are made by the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco. A similar type of candy is sold in the UK under the name Love Hearts. Necco manufactures nearly 8 billion Sweethearts per year.

Sweethearts are now available in a variety of assortments to choose from including chocolate, tart, and smoothie flavors.[1]

Contents

History

Oliver R. Chase invented a machine in 1847 to cut lozenges from wafer candy, similar to Necco Wafers, and started a candy factory.[2] Daniel Chase, Oliver's brother, began printing sayings on the candy in 1866. He designed a machine that was able to press on the candy similar to a stamp. The candy was often used for weddings since the candies had witty saying such as: "Married in pink, he will take a drink", "Married in White, you have chosen right", and "Married in Satin, Love will not be lasting".[3]

The heart-shaped conversation candies to be called Sweethearts got their start in 1901. Other styles were formerly produced such as lozenges, postcards, horseshoes, watches, and baseballs. As of 2010, the classic pastel candy formula is being abandoned. Sweethearts will be softer candies with vivid colors and all new flavors. Line extensions carrying the Sweethearts brand include chocolates and sugar-free hearts.[3]

In the 1990s, Necco vice-president, Walter Marshall, wanted to update some of the sayings and retire others, including "Call me", "Email me", and "Fax me". The romantic expressions continue to be revised for young Americans. Necco receives hundreds of suggestions a year on new sayings.[3]

Necco produces the hearts from late February through mid January of the following year. Approximately 100,000 pounds of hearts are made per day, which sells out in about six weeks.[3]

Criticism

The drastic changes to the flavors and messages were unpopular with some fans.[4][5]

As of October 2011, Necco has announced that the switch to natural flavors and colorings has led to a significant decline in sales, and so they will be returning their products to the original artificial flavors and colors. [6]

In popular culture

  • In the classic book Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, Gilbert attempts to give a pink candy heart with the words "You Are Sweet" to Anne, who promptly grinds it under her heel.
  • In Friends, Janice makes special hearts for Chandler that say 'Chan and Jan forever'.
  • The World of Warcraft online game has Heart Candies with eight different romantic sayings during the Love Is In The Air seasonal event. These can be used to flirt by giving them to other player characters.

See also

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sweethearts — may be: *Sweethearts (game show)::Sweethearts (TV series), British version hosted by Larry Grayson:Sweethearts (US game show), American version hosted by Charles Nelson Reilly *Sweethearts (musical), an operetta by Victor Herbert *Sweethearts… …   Wikipedia

  • Mary Jane (candy) — Mary Janes Mary Jane is a peanut butter and molasses flavored taffy type candy with peanut butter in the center, originally made in 1914 by The Charles N. Miller Co., later by …   Wikipedia

  • LOL — For the computer game and other uses, see League of Legends and LOL (disambiguation). Modern usage example of LOL (for laughing out loud ) on a …   Wikipedia

  • Necco — (New England Confectionery Company) Type Private company Industry Confectionery Predecessor Chase and Company, Ball and Forbes, Bird, Wright and Company Founded 1901 Headquarters …   Wikipedia

  • List of minor characters in Beavis and Butt-Head — The following is a list of characters appearing occasionally on the MTV cartoon series Beavis and Butt head , each with a description. (Please note that other characters with smaller and/or less significant roles in the series sometimes bear the… …   Wikipedia

  • Honberg-Sommer — Der Honberg Sommer ist ein Open Air Festival, das seit 1995 jedes Jahr im Juli auf dem Honberg, oberhalb der Stadt Tuttlingen, stattfindet. Zum Festivalgelände, inmitten der Festungsruine der Burg Honberg, gehören neben einem großen Musikzelt… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mack Sennett — En 1910 Données clés Nom de naissance Michael Sinnott Surno …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Micheal Sinott — Mack Sennett Mack Sennett Mack Sennett, de son vrai nom Michael Sinnott, (17 janvier 1880 à Danville, Québec 5 novembre 1960 à Woodland Hills, Californie) est un …   Wikipédia en Français

  • The McGuire Sisters — Origin Middletown, Ohio, United States Genres Traditional pop Years active 1952–1968 Past members …   Wikipedia

  • Popeye — Infobox comic strip title= Popeye (Thimble Theatre) caption= The cover of Popeye #50 (Oct. Dec. 1959), featuring Popeye with his characteristic corncob pipe and single good eye, and his girlfriend Olive Oyl. Art by Bud Sagendorf, who wrote and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”