Giving gifts and treats to a loved one on the 14th of February started in the 17th century for Saint Valentine. It has grown in popularity and is now a reason for large companies to make extra products and money around the season. These companies take their current product, tweak them, and redistribute them with a theme of pink, red, and hearts for Valentine’s Day. Fan favorites of these sweet treats have emerged.
1. Conversation Hearts
Even with their poor quality and worse taste, these bites of sugar still come in at number one. Conversation hearts are small chalk-like candies that come in a variety of different colors with messages on them like “text me” or “bae” which makes them a fun and enjoyable gift.
“We both love the bad candy and it’s a tradition that we get each other conversation hearts,” senior Abigail Issa said, talking about sharing candy with her mother.
2. Chocolate
This can range from simple Hershey kisses to high-end chocolates with fillings and designs. When chocolate was rare and expensive, this gift was seen as a way to show love, luxury, and indulgence. Over the years the types of chocolates have grown and people have started adding other flavors like cherry or peanut butter. Getting your loved one their favorite type of chocolate is a way to show thoughtfulness, love, and care.
“My number one candy would have to be Lindor truffles,” senior Dylan Dickerson said.
3. Fun Dip
These candies are bags of sugar, dye, and flavor, popular among kids and teens. A Valentine’s special for this candy includes an inscription of “luv–a–ble” printed on the sugar stick and red packaging with hearts.
4. Lollipops
The most popular are Charms Valentine Pops, Jolly Rancher, and Dum Dums. These hard candies are old classics but still quite popular. Most companies change the shape of the candy into a heart while others keep their current design and change the packaging so consumers can write on the wrappers, to give to their Valentine.
“Honestly you can never go wrong with a lollipop, like a little heart one,” Issa said.
5. Gummies
Gummies are a popular candy all year long, but like many other treats, they have popular spin-offs with the Valentine’s branding. The Brand Haribo seems to be most popular during this time of year with many mixes featuring red and pink colors or heart shapes.
