From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sweethearts (candy)
Sweethearts (candy)
Hearts. Necco manufactures nearly 8 billion Sweethearts
per year.
Sweethearts are now available in a variety of assort-
ments to choose from including chocolate, tart, and
smoothie flavors.[1]
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 for-
merly produced such as lozenges, postcards, horseshoes,
watches, and baseballs. As of 2010, the classic pastel can-
dy formula is being abandoned. Sweethearts will be soft-
er candies with vivid colors and all new flavors. Line ex-
tensions carrying the Sweethearts brand include choco-
lates and sugar-free hearts.[3]
In the 1990s, Necco vice-president, Walter Marshall,
Sweethearts Box wanted to update some of the sayings and retire others,
including "Call me", "Email me", and "Fax me". The ro-
mantic 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. Approximate-
ly 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 un-
popular with some fans.[4][5]
As of October 2011, Necco has announced that the
switch to natural flavors and colorings has led to a signif-
icant decline in sales, and so they will be returning their
Necco Sweethearts
products to the original artificial flavors and colors. [6]
Sweethearts are small heart-shaped candies sold around
Valentine’s Day. Each conversation heart is printed with In popular culture
a message such as "Be Mine", "Kiss Me", "Call Me", "Let’s
• In the classic book Anne of Green Gables, published in
Get Busy", and "Miss You". Sweethearts are made by the
1908, Gilbert attempts to give a pink candy heart
New England Confectionery Company, or Necco. A simi-
with the words "You Are Sweet" to Anne, who
lar type of candy is sold in the UK under the name Love
promptly grinds it under her heel.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sweethearts (candy)
• In the Futurama episode "Love and Rocket". [2] NECCO History
• In Friends, Janice makes special hearts for Chandler [3] ^ New England Confectionary Comp (2010):
that say ’Chan and Jan forever’. Sweethearts
• In The Simpsons episode "I Love Lisa", Bart Simpson [4] Gray, Joe (January 26, 2010). "Pining for old
designs crude insult remarks for conversation Sweethearts". The Stew.
hearts, e.g. U Stink. http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/
• The World of Warcraft online game has Heart 2010/01/pining-for-old-sweethearts.html.
Candies with eight different romantic sayings during [5] Floyd, Jacquielynn (February 12, 2010).
the Love Is In The Air seasonal event. These can be "Conversation Hearts overhaul is tough for some
used to flirt by giving them to other player fans to swallow". The Dallas Morning News.
characters. http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/
• In the Arrested Development episode "Marta jacquielynn-floyd/20100212-Conversation-Hearts-
Complex" when George Michael digs through a bowl overhaul-is-tough-for-4779.ece.
of candy hearts looking for the one with the answer [6] "In with the old, out with the new". The Boston
he wants. Globe. http://www.boston.com/business/articles/
2011/10/25/
See also necco_goes_back_to_original_wafer_recipe.
• Love Hearts (the UK equivalent)
• Necco Wafers
External links
• Fortune cookie • Unofficial Statistics for Sweethearts
• NECCO’s website
References
[1] Necco Valentine’s Day Products Retrieved on
2008-03-26
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sweethearts_(candy)&oldid=463627695"
Categories:
• Holiday foods
• Necco brands
• Brand name food products stubs
• Confectionery stubs
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