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]

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 the Futurama episode "Love and Rocket".

• In Friends, Janice makes special hearts for Chandler that say 'Chan and Jan forever'.

• In The Simpsons episode "I Love Lisa", Bart Simpson designs crude insult remarks for conversation hearts, e.g. U Stink.

• 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.

• In the Arrested Development episode "Marta Complex" when George Michael digs through a bowl of candy hearts looking for the one with the answer he wants.

See also

• Love Hearts (the UK equivalent)
• Necco Wafers
• Fortune cookie

References

1. ^ Necco Valentine's Day Products Retrieved on 2008-03-26
2. ^ NECCO History
3. ^ ^{a b c d} New England Confectionary Comp (2010): Sweethearts
4. ^ Gray, Joe (January 26, 2010). "Pining for old Sweethearts". The Stew. http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2010/01/pining-for-old-sweethearts.html. 
5. ^ Floyd, Jacquielynn (February 12, 2010). "Conversation Hearts overhaul is tough for some fans to swallow". The Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/jacquielynn-floyd/20100212-Conversation-Hearts-overhaul-is-tough-for-4779.ece. 
6. ^ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/10/25/necco_goes_back_to_original_wafer_recipe

External links

• Unofficial Statistics for Sweethearts
• NECCO's website