Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Candy Bar History

Although it wold be impossible to present an exact history, at which the candy industry developed, sixty five percent of American candy bars have been around longer than sixty years. In 1854 the first packaged box of Whit man's chocolate debuts, thus being the advent of boxed chocolates as we know them today. In 1868 Richard Cadbury introduced the first Valentine's Day box of chocolate

In 1847, Joseph Fry discovered a way to mix some melted cacao butter back into defatted or "Dutched" cocoa powder, along with sugar to create a paste that could be pressed into a mold. The resulting bar was such a hit that people soon began to think of eating chocolate as much as drinking it, the inventor of chocolate for eating is unknown.

John Cadbury added a similar product to his range in 1849, and by today's standards these original chocolate bars would not be considered very palatable. The early eating bars of chocolate were made of bittersweet chocolate, Milk chocolate was introduced in 1875 when Henry Nestle, a maker of evaporated milk and Daniel Peter also a chocolate maker, got together and invented milk chocolate. In 1879 Rodolphe Lindt thought to add cocoa butter back to the chocolate, adding the additional cocoa butter helped the chocolate set up into a bar that "snaps" when broken as well as melting on the tongue.

It was at the 1893 Worlds Fair that Milton Hershey, a successful carmel candy businessman, first became fascinated with the art of chocolate making. While at the fair he had purchased some German machinery and began producing chocolate coatings on carmels, aware of the growing demand for chocolate itself, he soon started the Hershey Chocolate Company. In 1900 he sold his carmel company for $1 million and devotes his attention to making chocolate. The same year he introduces the original Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Today we know the variety that the Hershey company produces such as; milk chocolate bars with almonds , dark chocolate bars, big block and king size bars, Hershey's cookies'n'cream bars and in 2004 they introduces Limited Edition bars ans etc.. With the death of Milton Hershey in 1945, the company, town and institutions that bear his name were well positioned to continue to grow.

Other Americans began mixing in other ingredients to make up new candy bars throughout the end of the 1890's and early 1900's. But it was World War I that really brought attention to the candy bar. The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps commissioned various American chocolate manufactures to provide 20 to 40 pound blocks of chocolate to be shipped to quartermaster bases. The block's were chopped up into smaller pieces and distributed to doughboy's in Europe.

20 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Margaret, what a lovely bit of history on my favorite confection, chocolate!!!! I enjoyed reading this very much. Thanks for the share. Funnily enough I had a craving for chocolate yesterday and have written about it in today's post.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Very interesting about chocolate, we have Cadburys and we used to have a Frys factory until they merged with cadburys, Frys used to do a bar called 5 boys.I gaave up chocolate a few years ago to try and shed some pounds.
Have fun.

Yvonne

Judy said...

This was so interesting and I have such a sweet tooth. I have been making cakes today! I just love chocolate, too. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter.

ancient one said...

My very favorite is Three Musketeer's chocolate bars... but I will eat most chocolate bars... You know everyone who reads this will have to go get candy, don't you...LOL

Good Post!

Gigi Ann said...

I agree with Ancient One, now I have to go get me an Almond Joy bar. LOL That was a fun post today, I love candy! To much.

Forever Foster said...

You have whetted my appetite good and proper! Yum! Have a lovely Easter:)

The Raggedy Girl said...

I was just stopping by to see what you were up to. For some silly reason my hand, which was so much better, is really hurting today so I am not up to typing. So I made this little message to let you know I still came by...and I loved your post because I always do!

Roberta Anne...The Raggedy Girl

Andrea said...

I love Mounds!! Any chocolate covered coconut is my favorite. I am allergic to nuts so I can't have any with almonds or walnuts!! I never knew the chocolate bar was so old!! :)

Patty said...

Oh boy, oh boy, chocolate, how I love it. In fact Abe once said he thought if they chocolate coated dog poo I would probably eat it, I told him, no, I'm not quite that bad.

But I do love chocolate now I'm suppose to watch my sugar intake, so I have to limit it. I like chocolate pie, chocolate cake, chocolate muffins, chocolate chip cookies, hot fudge sundaes. Now my mouth is watering.

Have a good evening.

Patty said...

P.S. Thanks for always stopping by my place, I appreciate it very much.

Renie Burghardt said...

Interesting history of chocolate, Margaret. Though I also love chocolate, I rarely indulge in it these days. But on Easter Sunday, I might just have a few bites of a Cadbury chocolate egg, just to make the Easter Bunny happy! :-)

Happy Easter.

Renie

Us4 Cats said...

oh no now i am gravn it and maw says no chocolates for us kittys. we said you eat it then and blow it in our face *geeesh*.

Us4 Cats said...

that shoulda read Cravn it (above) .
i tell ya maw and her non proofreadn lately.

Margaret Cloud said...

I want to wish all you friends a very happy Easter. I appreciate you all coming by, I thought it would make all your mouths crave a piece of chocolate in some way.

My Littel Island said...

My sweet lady iam so glad you did not post this blog befor your story lol iam fat now but my lord i just put 10 more pounds And thank you for your beautiful story but it brings tears to my eyes knowing it has come to the end i will miss it this is the beast book i have read in yers and i do a lot of reading LOL (Audio books)thank you now i want to see the babys thanks and god bless LOA

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Hi Margaret,
That was very interesting learning about my favorite FOOD GROUP!!! Chocolate!!
HAPPY EASTER TO YOU!!
Warmly,
Deb

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

You are simply wonderful. You fill my life with so much history. I love reading each one and whenI come here I do just that. Thank-you. Have a very Blessed Easter..m.

A New Beginning said...

that's a delicious post indeed:)
http://aspaceofonesown.blogspot.com

Lilly said...

Margaret that was really interesting. And to think I never had any chocolate at Easter at all! First time in my whole life. We jsut got too busy and it didnt happen! Now I am craving some though strangely after reading your post. He he!!

Margaret Cloud said...

I enjoyed writing about this delicious and yummy candy. I also liked your comments, thank you for coming by.

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