The Hershey Kiss is on its way to becoming Pennsylvania’s official state candy. But is it the right pick?
Last month, Pa. legislators approved the passage of House Bill 1030, by a vote of 150-52. Getting here was no small feat. The bill, which was originally written by eighth-grade students, has taken four years to make it this far.
The Hershey Kiss is certainly a respectable, safe choice for Pennsylvania’s favorite candy. According to Hershey, the brand pumps out over 80 million Hershey Kisses every day. It was a featured candy for years in the U.S. Senate candy desk (before Pa. lost control of that drawer in 2023). The chocolate is not only popular around the country, but – let’s face it – the Hershey Kiss has style.
There is something supremely satisfying about unwrapping a Kiss from its foil packaging. Milton Hershey himself introduced the candy in 1907. Back then, makers used to individually wrap each little bite. The Kiss’ paper plume adds whimsy and flair to the delectable little treat, while the candy’s iconic shape gives it a distinctive feel as it melts in your mouth. Plus, the Kiss has one of the best names in the business.
A drawback about choosing the Kiss – one that the 52 naysayers likely had in mind – is that Hershey Kisses aren’t exactly made from high-end chocolate. Sure, we’re always excited to pop one in our mouth, but not everyone loves them. When it comes down to it, the candy is really just a piece of pretty pedestrian chocolate with a really good outfit.
Certainly, there are other choices that need to be considered. So, before the Hershey Kiss becomes our official candy – let’s suss out all the options.
We’ve rounded up some other candy contenders below. Check them out and vote on your favorite or add your own suggestion in our poll at the end!
Peeps
Pros: Peeps are certainly a contender when it comes to recognizable Pennsylvania candy icons. The colorful marshmallows are an Easter staple, and come from Bethlehem. Not only do they have a similarly whimsical vibe to the Hershey Kiss, but they congregate adorably – a bunch of baby chicks all snuggled in a row. They also inspire DIY versions, come in many flavors, and even get dropped from a tall height for New Year’s Eve.
Cons: Peeps’ sugar-forward, marshmallowy taste is not for everyone. Some may find them too sweet. Plus, while some eat them year-round, for most of us they’re really a spring-time or Easter treat.
Tastykakes
Pros: Tastykakes Butterscotch Krimpets have reached icon status while maintaining their local cred – for the most part, unlike Kisses, you have to be a local to be in the know. Tasty Baking Company’s headquarters is right here in the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the company is a featured partner with the Phillies – in other words, a true symbol of local pride.
Cons: Alas, Tastykakes, too, have some drawbacks. For starters, do they actually count as candy? As “kakes” they push the boundary of the category. So, while they are a perfect treat that also inspires homemade versions, they might not actually fit the criteria. Alas, they might only be “sweets.”
Twizzlers
Pros: Just because Hershey is known for its chocolate doesn’t mean chocolate products are the only opinion. Twizzlers are a classic candy, perfect for movie theater-watching, and we would choose them over Red Vines any day. They are brightly colored and fun to eat. Twizzlers could certainly stand tall representing Pennsylvania.
Cons: Twizzlers aren’t an original Hershey product. They hail from Brooklyn, N.Y. The Hershey company bought them back in 1977, and moved their production to the Young & Smylie Confectionery Company factory in Lancaster. Still, nearly 50 years of Pa. history may not give them the bonafides to be our state candy
Peanut Chews
Pros: Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews have a cult-like following and the Pennsylvania roots to be a strong contender. Peanut Chews began as ration bars for U.S. troops during World War I and were invented in Philadelphia. What a great candy to represent our state! The bar is also an official partner of the Philadelphia Eagles. Plus, legendary diva Barbra Streisand shouted out her love for the candy in her memoir!
Cons: Peanut Chews, while delicious, are not the first choice that kids are clamoring for on Halloween.
Hershey Bars
Pros: The bar that started it all. Hershey Bars are arguably the most American of any chocolate bar. Milton Hershey sold the first bar all the way back in 1900. Each chocolate bar is wonderfully designed, with 12 mini-bars fused together and the maker’s name stamped on it. Plus, they are essential to s’mores-making. If you’re building a s’more and you aren’t using Hershey, it’s simply incorrect.
Cons: The Hershey bar might be too safe of a choice. Plus, the bar suffers some of the same weaknesses as the Kiss. If we want to buy a chocolate bar, there are other brands we might gravitate towards first.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Pros: Reeses’ Peanut Butter Cups are one of the most popular items that Hershey sells, making it a strong option to beat the Kiss. The candy was created by H.B. Reese, a dairy farmer and shipping foreman in Hummelstown, Pa., in 1928. He made the candy in his basement using Hershey chocolate. The peanut butter cup is an innovation that Hershey says ranks “high on the list of modern marvels, like electricity and the internet.” The candy has become so beloved that Hershey has created over 100 spin-off products, including Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Puffs and, more recently, Reese’s PB&J Cups.
Cons: None. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a perfect candy.
