What Do Candy Hearts Tell Us? Be Clever. Be Current. Be Mine. (Published 2023) (2024)

Food|What Do Candy Hearts Tell Us? Be Clever. Be Current. Be Mine.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/07/dining/valentine-candy-hearts.html

What Do Candy Hearts Tell Us? Be Clever. Be Current. Be Mine. (Published 2023) (1)

The sweet messages on those valentine hearts require careful planning and editing from year to year. And they speak volumes about the state of our lives and loves.

The messages on Sweethearts, produced by the Spangler Candy Company, have come to be a cultural and social barometer.Credit...Cole Wilson for The New York Times. Prop Stylist: Kounthear Kuch

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Of the many siblings in the seasonal candy family, candy corn is the quirky breakout star. The jelly bean is the reliable one. The candy cane is perpetually cheerful.

But the conversation heart? It’s always been emotional and a bit needy.

The chalky little treats require annual tending. Months before each Valentine’s Day, candy companies begin pondering new messages and editing out the dated ones. (Looking at you, “On Fleek.”) The dozen or so fresh sayings must be both current and inoffensive, charming and clever. And they can’t overshadow classic expressions of romantic love, like “Kiss Me,” that were first inscribed in 1902 by the Boston company that had invented the Necco Wafer.

After more than a century of expressing emotion in the vernacular of the moment — “Call Me” became “Fax Me” became “Page Me” became “Email Me” became “Text Me” — the candy heart has become something of a barometer. If the former Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams can stage her comeback with a song about candy corn, maybe the nation can gauge the state of love through its candy hearts.

For 2023, the Spangler Candy Company — one of two manufacturers that dominate the conversation-heart market — has chosen an animal theme for its Sweethearts line. Phrases like “Big Dog,” “Love Birds” and “Purr Fect” are a nod to all the people who have acquired pets during the pandemic.

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What Do Candy Hearts Tell Us? Be Clever. Be Current. Be Mine. (Published 2023) (3)

Last year, as the nation was still recovering, the company introduced 16 supportive slogans like “Youda Best,” “Fear Less” and “Good Job.” The idea, the company said, was to give people a lift.

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What Do Candy Hearts Tell Us? Be Clever. Be Current. Be Mine. (Published 2023) (2024)

FAQs

What Do Candy Hearts Tell Us? Be Clever. Be Current. Be Mine. (Published 2023)? ›

“These candy hearts are yet another expression of this huge societal change since the pandemic,” she said. “It's this theme of attachment. Much of the world is going to settle down, and along with that they're looking not only for romantic love but also for deep, long-term attachment.

What do candy hearts tell us? ›

Each heart is printed with a message such as "Be Mine", "Kiss Me", "Call Me", "Let's Get Busy", or "Miss You". Sweethearts were made by the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco, before being purchased by the Spangler Candy Company in 2018.

What are the new candy heart sayings? ›

Alongside classics like "Be mine," "Hug me," and "Cutie Pie," celebrants who pop open a box in 2021 will find a load of new sentiments including "Proud of U," "Youda best," "Fear less," "Super star," "Big fan," "Don't quit," "Be you," "Crush it," "Go 4 it," "Chin up," "Push thru," "Way to go," "Good job," "U got this," ...

Why did they stop making candy Hearts? ›

According to The Boston Globe, Necco, the brand that makes them, had its factory suddenly shut down after being sold to another candy manufacturer. In May, Necco was bought out by Round Hill Investments LLC during a bankruptcy auction for 17.3 million dollars, per The Globe.

What did the original candy Hearts say? ›

Some of the original conversation heart sayings include Marry Me, Luv U, Be Good, Kiss Me, and Sweet Talk.

What do candy hearts tell us to be clever, be current, be mine? ›

“These candy hearts are yet another expression of this huge societal change since the pandemic,” she said. “It's this theme of attachment. Much of the world is going to settle down, and along with that they're looking not only for romantic love but also for deep, long-term attachment.

What year did candy Hearts come out? ›

He took that idea and made it his own by finding a way to print directly onto the candy. Although the conversation candies were not heart-shaped until 1902, they were a big success throughout the next century.

What did the 1902 candy Heart say? ›

In 1902, the Sweethearts candy brand was created, with original sayings that are still popular today, including "Be Mine" and "Kiss Me." Over the next several decades, Sweethearts continued to grow in popularity.

What are the sayings on Brach's conversation hearts? ›

In addition to classic messages like "Be Mine" and "Luv U," the hearts would also have some more modern messages like "Bestie," "Bae," "YAAAS," and "GOAT" (which means Greatest of All Time, for those who don't know).

What font are candy hearts? ›

Most likely it is old typewriter font made into a die. So that the machine can stamp the words all day long. The rough chalky look is because the words are being stamp on to sugar mixture surface. Helvetica should work just fine.

Is Brach's candy going out of business? ›

Brach's Confections was sold to Farley's and Sathers Candy Company. Ferrara Pan merged with Farley's and Sathers to form Ferrara Candy Company, where Brach's is still produced.

What is the oldest candy? ›

The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger. The historical roots of licorice are found in the early years of man's appearance. In particular, many licorice were eaten by Pharaohs and Prophets. The licorice comes from a plant called “Glycyrrhiza” which in Greek means «sweet root».

Are candy hearts healthy? ›

Heart-shaped candies, the ubiquitous Valentine's Day sweet treats, may contain potentially problematic food dyes – likely at levels that are harmful to health.

Are Necco Wafers the same as candy hearts? ›

Sweethearts might have been made by Necco, but they tasted a bit different than the well-known wafers. In recent years, the colorful hearts were updated to be bolder and fruitier, with flavors like orange, grape, strawberry, and green apple.

What does necco stand for? ›

Necco (or NECCO /ˈnɛkoʊ/ NEK-oh) was an American manufacturer of candy created in 1901 as the New England Confectionery Company through the merger of several small confectionery companies located in the Greater Boston area, with ancestral companies dating back to the 1840s.

What was the original use of candy hearts? ›

The History of Conversation Hearts

Chase's lozenge cutter is credited as the first American candy machine. He started off making medicinal lozenges for sore throats and bad breath, but later turned to creating candy. These candy lozenges would go on to become the Necco Wafers that are still around today.

What is the story of candy Hearts? ›

Legend has it that Oliver's NECCO wafers were carried by Civil War soldiers, and some speculate that the tradition of sending loving greetings to the troops morphed into the conversation heart, but those claims are hard to verify.

What does Lymy mean on candy Hearts? ›

“Some of the newer sayings on Brach's Conversation Hearts include TTYL (Talk To You Later), Adorbz, H&K (Hugs & Kisses), and LYMY (Love You Miss You).” Next, find out the most popular candy from the year you were born.

What are the heart-shaped candies with messages? ›

Candy hearts (aliases: love hearts, message hearts, Sweethearts) are a centuries old, endearment-embossed sweet that have become synonymous with shoeboxes full of Valentine's Day cards and a chalky, (potentially tooth-shattering) texture.

What candy symbolizes love? ›

Richard Cadbury is largely credited with coining chocolate as the symbolic candy of Valentine's Day since he began selling his chocolates in heart-shaped boxes in 1861.

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