Candy Bars To Consider For Your Holiday Festivities

For most of its history, candy has been sold by weight. Early Americans could visit their local general store and pick up a pound of peppermints or nonpareils. These sweet treats were usually unwrapped, which made them relatively cheap. But as automation increased and the number of candy factories grew (there were over 400 of them in the U.S. by the middle of the 19th century), it became possible to wrap each candy individually. Of course, it did not make much giveaways sense to wrap most candy at the time, since it was so fragile. The candy bar changed all that.

First Candy Bar

Though it was more expensive than the loose or bulk variety, wrapped candy was far more convenient. It could be transported in pockets or in lunch, boxes and it would not make a mess. And because it was much larger than the early "pieces," it made for a more satisfying snack.

The first candy bar was created in 1847 by Fry's Chocolate Factory in Bristol, England. It took them nearly two decades to get the recipe just right, but their bars were finally ready for public consumption in 1866. Chocolate products of all kinds flourished during the last quarter of the 19th century. There were chocolate candy boxes, Easter eggs, and peanut brittle. But the original candy bar did not catch on.

Background!!

It wasn't until a company on the other side of the Atlantic took a chance on chocolate bars that the public finally embraced it. The Hershey Company introduced their first candy bar in 1900. Encouraged by strong sales of the original Hershey Bar, most chocolatiers started working on candy bars of their own. The first half of the 20th century is generally seen as the Golden Age of Candy in America, especially with regard to the candy bar.

Interesting!!

Americans consume nearly 3 billion pounds of chocolate each year, which is around 11 pounds for each man, woman and child. Not surprisingly, the United States is the world leader in chocolate production. Shoppers spend about 7 billion dollars on chocolate treats each year, and most of them are purchased for the holidays.

The candy bar and Christmas have never has a particularly strong association. Candy canes and loose chocolate treats are far more common during the holiday season. However, there are a few candy bars that have made the leap and have become popular holiday treats. Let us take a moment to discuss them.

Advent Calendar

Most kids count the days to Santa's visit; and an advent calendar make the experience even sweeter. Traditional calendars have twenty-four cardboard doors that can be opened to reveal a treat and a secret message. Oftentimes, they educate kids on the history of the holiday. The most common treats found in advent calendars are miniature chocolate bars giveaway wrapped in festive holiday foil.