Did You Know: Chocolate covered peanuts and raisins were a hit in movie theaters during the Depression era. In fact, movie theater owners couldn’t make enough money from tickets alone, so they made up the difference in candy sales. You could say chocolate covered raisins and nuts saved the movie industry.
Did You Know: Chocolate Covered Raisins were made from sultana grapes - a variety of pale green grapes that originated in Persia and were popularly called ‘Sultanina.’ Today , they’re called Thompson Seedless after William Thompson 19th century by an agricultural worker who introduced the grape to Americans.
Did You Know: It takes 90 minutes to coat peanuts and raisins in milk chocolate, and another 60 minutes to polish the candies by putting them through a combination of mixing and polishing pans.
Did You Know: The success of Raisinets and Goober at movie theaters had to do with three things: 1.They were branded, with memorable and fun names. Previously, they were simply called chocolate covered fruit and nuts. 2.They were packaged in boxes that presented well in vending machines and concession stands in movie theaters. 3.They were easy to eat, quiet to eat, and neat to eat…and replaced crunchy, noisy popcorn at Depression era theaters.
Today, movie goers enjoy both.
Not the first ever – really popular in late 1800s, sent to WWI soldiers from family at home
Goober is a southern word for peanut, and also slang for a silly, goofy or foolish person that originated from a Congolese name that is similar as peanuts were arriving on ships carrying enslaved laborers. The Blumenthals, before moving to Philadelphia, were raised down south in North Carolina, where they were familiar with the term.
Word for peanut – Congolese nguba
38 Explain that Goobers are the first-ever chocolate covered peanut. Can you describe the candy and its taste?
Goobers are the first-ever chocolate covered peanut. Using freshly-roasted deshelled peanuts, the candy is salty and sweet.
Not the first ever – really popular in late 1800s, sent to WWI soldiers from family at home
39 How new are deshelled peanuts in America at this point? (cite Planters recent creation of them)
Deshelled peanuts are still a relatively new treat in America, with companies like Planters having only recently started producing them.
