Candy map

Alabama’s favorite Halloween candy has changed since last year, according to a report recently released by candystore.com.

“Last year’s report saw Hershey’s mini chocolate bars as the top candy in Alabama,” the release said. “We joked about ‘bama’s Choctaw roots. … Choctaw, chocolate.”

Candy corn has risen above the chocolate and become top candy in Alabama — more than 55,000 pounds worth of candy corn, to be exact.

“It makes sense since they look like little A’s. Roll Corn!” the report said. “If you live in this state, it might be wise to cut your candy corn offering with a healthy dose of Hershey’s chocolate anyway.”

Hershey’s mini chocolate bars finished second (54,369 pounds purchased), while Tootsie Roll Pops finished third (42,533 pounds purchased).

Tootsie Roll Pops were the preferred candy in Tennessee with 59,837 pounds purchased. Salt Water Taffy finished second, while Skittles finished third. Georgians preferred Swedish Fish (No. 1) over Hershey’s Kisses (No. 2) and Jolly Ranchers (No. 3). Milky Way was the preferred candy in Mississippi, followed by Snickers and Butterfinger.

A sweet year

The National Retail Federation estimates shoppers will spend $2.7 billion on Halloween candy this year. In 2015, online candy sales increased by 15 percent.

“People are realizing they can save time and money by skipping the store and purchasing from the comfort of their home,” the release said.

To determine the popularity of candy in each state, candystore.com examined 10 years’ worth of sales data, looking at particular months leading up to Halloween. Those numbers were then broken down by state.

“We also have relationships with major candy manufacturers and distributors – all of whom contributed and helped us verify that our data is on point,” the release said.

A sweet history

Humans have loved their sweets for centuries. The word “candy” is derived from the Arabic “quandi,” meaning “made of sugar.”

Early human beings made candy out of honey by drying it and forming a taffy-like confection, while many modern incarnations of candy involve dissolving sugar into water or milk to form a syrup. Candy is then made by varying the temperature of the syrup and the sugar concentration to achieve desired textures.

Candy also often refers to chocolate bars and other treats that people find so delectable. Ancient Mayans and Aztecs were the first to experiment with the cocoa bean, the cornerstone of chocolate confections, in the 1500s. However, their chocolate drinks were bitter and not the sweet delights we’ve come to associate with chocolate.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that innovators began mixing cocoa with sugar to create chocolate bars. Joseph Fry is credited with making the first chocolate bar in 1847, using bittersweet chocolate. Milk chocolate came later, in 1875, when it was introduced by Henry Nestlé and Daniel Peter. Milton Hershey began producing sweet chocolate in 1894.

Hershey bars, Nestlé bars and many other original candies are still in production today. Tootsie Rolls and Charleston Chews are other classic candies still produced. Good & Plenty debuted in 1893, making it the oldest branded candy in America. NECCO company Wafers were officially branded in 1901 and are another classic treat consumers can still find in the candy aisle of their nearest grocery store.

Smarties is another candy that’s bound to show up in trick-or-treat bags this Halloween. Smarties have been owned and operated by the same family since 1949.

The Ce De Candy Inc. factory opened up in August 1949 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and produced a candy that would not melt in the heat. Smarties are now a favorite all over North America and elsewhere.