Chocolate-coated raisin

Chocolate-coated (or chocolate-covered) raisins are a popular bulk vending product. They consist, as the name suggests, of raisins coated in a shell of either milk chocolate or dark chocolate. They have a reputation in many countries of being food eaten in movie theaters, and are an item familiar from the concession counter. The supermarket chains also sell them in bags and they were traditionally sold by weight from jars in candy stores.

Production process

The raisins are coated with oil and spun in a hot drum with chocolate to cover them.

Varieties and brands

In some countries, they are also known as Raisinets, which is the earliest and one of the most popular brands of the product, currently made by Nestlé. Raisinets were introduced in the United States in 1927 by the Blumenthal Chocolate Company. Nestlé acquired the brand in 1984. A large number of other brands also exists. A popular brand in the UK is Paynes Poppets which are sold in small boxes.

The Promotion in Motion Companies, Inc, the candy company that make Welch's Fruit Snacks, also creates a Sun-Maid brand of chocolate-covered raisins.

Vegans have a non-dairy equivalent made of sugar (non-refined), cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and vanillin.

A similar food, also commonly sold at movie theaters, is the chocolate-coated peanut.