Valentine’s Day is coming here, and it’s celebrated across the United States on February 14th every year. Valentine’s Day has a shockingly long history: The first Valentine’s Day was celebrated in the year 496! While Valentine’s day may have you thinking about love and friendships, it probably also has you thinking about candy. So, what was the first Valentine’s Day candy?
It isn’t Valentine’s Day without candy.
Today, Valentine’s Day has a strong association with candy. By far, the most popular Valentine’s Day candy is chocolate. It’s common to see treats like milk chocolate roses, M&Ms, Hershey’s kisses, and gourmet chocolates like truffles and bonbons in stores. However, many people also celebrate Valentine’s Day with conversation hearts, cookies, and other treats. There are so many options to choose from. Where did these sweet treats come from, and what was the first Valentine’s candy?
Heart-Shaped Boxes of Chocolates
Richard Cadbury, the son of Cadbury founder John Cadbury, had the idea to create fancy-looking boxes of chocolates to increase their sales. He decorated the boxes using drawings of his family and Alpine scenes. In 1861, he created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates designed specifically for Valentine’s Day.
Over the years, the popularity of the boxes has only grown. Today, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are still the most popular Valentine’s Day candy. Each year, over 36 million heart-shaped boxes are sold around the world.
Conversation Hearts
The second Valentine’s Day candy to gain popularity was the Sweethearts candy conversation hearts. In 1866, Daniel Chase developed a machine that could press food dye letters onto candies. These originally gained popularity as wedding candies. However, in 1902, conversation hearts evolved into the ones we know today. Although conversation hearts didn’t become associated with Valentine’s Day until nearly 40 years after heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, this sweet staple earns its place on the list of best-selling Valentine’s Day candy.
Everybody Wants Chocolate
Chocolate is the most popular candy for Valentine’s Day for a reason. According to CandyStore.com, 37 out of 50 states in the U.S. prefer some kind of chocolate to any other sort of Valentine candy. Chocolates make the perfect gift to go alongside flowers or stuffed animals. You could also give them as a dessert after a nice dinner, or to go with a fancy bottle of wine. No matter how you give them, it’s clear that chocolates are the most favored Valentine’s Day candy each year.
This Valentine’s Day, try Sanaa Chocolates!
Sanaa Chocolates offers premium confections that make the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Made with 100% fair trade cocoa and organic ingredients, these premium treats are also visually stunning works of art that taste even better than they look. We offer elegant bonbon boxes, dipped fruits, mendiants, peanut butter cups, and chocolate caramel pecan turtles. With so many unique flavor options, we’re confident you’ll find something they’ll love this Valentine’s Day! If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
