Mike and Ike

In 1940, Mike and Ike was first introduced to consumers, who instantly feel in love with the candies. It was created by the company Just Born, who also produced the famous marshmallow Peeps of Easter and those spicy Hot Tamales.

Sam Born is the founder of the Just Born company. Born first came to the United States from Russia in 1910. He made quite an impact in the candy making world- he invented the machine allowing for the automatic insertion of lollipop sticks into lollipops. Born was even given the key to San Francisco for such an accomplishment. He also is the great inventor of chocolate sprinkles!

Born moved to New York City to open his own little retail shop. In only six years, he became so successful that he was able to start his manufacturing business.

The fruity and chewy Mike and Ike candies are available in cherry, lemon, lime, orange, and (my favorite) strawberry flavors.

Now I know what you’re thinking- Mike and Ike was probably named after the owners or creators of the candy, right? Well… not exactly.

Although that is one theory, there are definitely a few other possibilities. One is that it is reference to Dwight Eisenhower. Another is that it is reference to a very popular vaudeville song at the time called “Mike and Ike (The Twins).” There was also a comic strip by Goldberg called “Mike and Ike (They Look Alike)” which was extremely famous around 1920, but faded away by the early 1940’s.

Some people even believe that the name alludes to the Matina brothers. These three brothers come from Hungary and were cast as three munchkins in the Wizard of Oz. Two of the three men were known as Mike and Ike and some suggest they were actually popular enough to have candy named after them.

Mike and Ike is my absolute favorite fruity candy of all time. The experience is unbeatable. With each chew, a burst of juice is spread around your mouth as the sweet yet tart flavors fill your senses. These yummy treats are at the top of my father’s list of favorite candies too.

Fun Fact: Mike and Ike is the best selling non- chocolate candy in movie theaters. Some theaters even sell individual 1.5 pound boxes of Mike and Ike candies!

If you love juicy, fruity candies, then you would surely love Mike and Ike!

 

Sources

https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/who-are-mike-and-ike

https://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/food/sns-dailymeal-1866147-eat-who-are-mike-and-ike-20180110-story.html

http://mentalfloss.com/article/69293/10-sweet-and-colorful-facts-about-mike-and-ike

http://visionlaunch.com/who-invented-mike-and-ikes/

Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers candy bar was introduced back in 1932 as the third candy created by the Mars Company. The original package contained three different flavored pieces of candy: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. At the time it cost only a nickel for all three pieces.

During World War II, the United states decided to ration sugar. Because it was so expensive to make all three chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavors, the company decided to make only one. Starting in 1945, three Musketeers was sold as a single bar made with only the delicious chocolate nougat. The candy was marketed as so big that it was able to be shared with two friends.

On the 75th birthday of Three Musketeers, the company decided to come out with a limited edition mint flavor. This flavor, released in 2007, became such a hit that it is still being sold today.

Some of the other flavors experimented with in the early 2000’s include mocha, strawberry, cappuccino, French vanilla, cherry, orange, and raspberry. These were not as successful, however, and were only sold for a short period of time.

The two key components of the candy are chocolate and nougat. To make the special nougat, egg whites are whipped until they have a light texture with a specific frothiness. Sugary syrup is added to keep the foam maintained to a certain degree. Other flavors are then added to this frapp and the nougat is done. After this stage, it is shaped and dipped in a delicious chocolate coating.

Nougat was originally put into candy bars so it resembles the flavor and texture of ice cream. In fact, this is why, in the past, candy bars that contained nougat were often served frozen.

This yummy candy was always one of my favorites. Three Musketeers were always put inside  goodie bags after parties when I was a kid. I just could never get enough of the chocolates! I do have to admit, they may never have made it to the first place on my list of favorite candies, but they stayed a consistent second place all throughout my childhood. (The first place would always be taken by my beloved Milky Ways.)

Fun Fact: Outside of the United States and Canada, a Three Musketeers is called a Milky Way!

 

 

Sources:

https://foodimentary.com/tag/history-of-3-musketeers/

https://www.leaf.tv/articles/the-history-of-the-3-musketeers-candy-bar/

https://www.oldtimecandy.com/collections/walk-the-candy-aisle-3-musketeers

The York Peppermint Patties

In York, Pennsylvania, Henry Kessler opened the York Cone Company  around 1920. Twenty years later, in 1940, peppermint patties came about. The new product was introduced to consumers in the northeastern United states, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio.

In 1972, the York Cone Company was bought by the Peter Paul Company and three years later the York Peppermint Pattie was nationally launched. In 1988 the company merged with Hershey to deliver customers the delicious peppermint and dark chocolate combination known and loved by all.

When the original cone company was founded in the early twentieth century, ice cream cones were a relatively new thing in the United States. In Europe, ice cream cones have been around much longer. They date back to the eighteenth century. The exact date of the ice cream cone’s in America is unsure. But, it was popularized at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.

Before York Peppermint Patties were invented, peppermint covered with chocolate was not very popular. The quality was less than ideal and the peppermint was always mushy and soft. However, Kessler was able to figure out how to prevent the peppermint center from becoming gooey. His peppermint was always firm and crisp. In fact, each pattie would be tested and if they did not split evenly in the center when broken in half, the batch was not sent out to be sold to consumers.

Peppermint Patties are definitely at the top of my mother’s list of candies. She just can’t get enough of the dark chocolate and delicious cool tasting peppermint. When I was younger, I just couldn’t stand the candies. I always felt that the peppermint was too strong and it always hurt my mouth. I would have much rather have been eating a Milky Way! Every Halloween, after Trick or Treating, I would go through my huge bag of candy, taking out the Peppermint Patties and giving them all to my mother.

As I have gotten older, Peppermint Patties have grown on me. Although they are not my first choice of candy, I think they taste pretty darn good. If someone were to hand one to me, I would gladly pop it right into my mouth!

Fun Fact: National Peppermint Pattie Day is February 11th.

 

Sources:

https://www.hersheys.com/york/en_us/about.html

https://www.oldtimecandy.com/collections/walk-the-candy-aisle-york-peppermint-patties

http://www.truetreatscandy.com/the-story-of-the-peppermint-pattie-via-the-ice-cream-cone-plus-junior-mints-and-a-quick-peek-at-the-john-birch-society/