The Sweet History of a Valentine’s Day Classic

Today, many people seek out roses and chocolate for Valentine’s Day, but it’s nearly impossible to forget a classic: candy hearts. You may remember signing boxes of these morsels on Valentine’s Day only to rip them open and eat them hours later. Reflecting on these times, candy hearts tend to stand out from other candies. Many share a core memory of sorting and reading every heart, but few people know the history of these delights.

The sweet story of candy hearts dates back to 1847 when a pharmacist named Oliver Chase created a machine designed as the world’s first lozenge cutter to commercialize the production. However, Chase’s creativity did not end there, and he soon realized his design was perfect for creating candy morsels.

For the first 19 years of Chase’s career, Necco wafers were his primary creation. These grew popular during the Civil War because they were simple to transport and store and did not risk melting or perishing. The Chase family did not seize to impress the world in 1688 when Oiver’s brother, David Chase, found a way to stamp letters onto these sweet treats using vegetable dye, which introduced the company to a whole new world of possibilities.

Although we fondly remember the sane candy hearts, the romantic novelties are a modernized version of Chase’s original candies. The classic shapes featured a variety of shapes, including postcards and sea shells, with much longer phrases, including “Married in White, you have chosen right.” However, in 1901, a fan favorite was created: heart-shaped candies with sweet phrases including “be mine,” “kiss me,” and even “fax me.”

Despite increased market competition and various company changes, over 150 years later, you can still find this classic holiday candy on store shelves today!