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True Treats Candy

Caramels in a Traditional Heart-Shaped Box

Caramels in a Traditional Heart-Shaped Box

Regular price $22.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $22.00 USD
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SKU:400000031088

This candy box does it all. Tucked into the traditional heart-shaped box originating in the 1800s, it’s filled with caramel and nut turtles and chocolate covered caramels. How can you lose when chocolate and caramel are the nation’s two most popular candy flavors? The caramels are the perfect balance of flavor and texture with a rich outer layer and smooth caramel center. As for the turtles: blend of warm milk chocolate, caramel and nuts bring the best of flavor and crunch.

A Bit About Caramels 
From Susan’s Book “Sweet as Sin

Caramels are an American invention that emerged from the European caramelized sugar of the seventeenth century and is the essence of the praline which the French brought to Louisiana in the 1760s. The caramel came into its own in the late 1800s, around the time when Hershey started the Lancaster Caramel Company.  The Encyclopedia of Food and Beverages, published in 1901, gives this definition of caramel: “Sugar and corn syrup cooked to a proper consistence in open stirring kettles, run out in thin sheets on marble slab tables and cut into squares when cooled.”  That recipe is not an industry standard: Hershey substituted paraffin wax for milk, a trick her learned when working for at a caramel-making company in Denver. Regardless of who invented what, caramel played a welcome part in candy where, with nuts, chocolate coating, or simply solo, they became one of America’s favorite candies today.

The History of the Heart

Why the Heart Shape of Valentine’s Day
The iconic heart shape is so common – especially around Valentine’s Day – it’s practically redundant.  It’s on cards, decorations, and clothing, plus heart-shaped cakes and cookies and, above all, candy boxes. So, where did this wildly popular symbol came from? Face it: the Valentine’s Day heart looks nothing like the real thing! Actually, the story of the heart shape weaves together ancient plants, playing cards, and clever marketing.

The Heart’s Ancient Beginnings
The heart shape dates back to an ancient and now-extinct plant called silphium. Used in the fifth century by the Romans, silphium had a variety of purposes—it was a spice, an aphrodisiac, and even a form of birth control. Most notably the plant’s seed pod had a distinct heart-like shape, similar to the delicate bleeding hearts found in gardens today. The silphium was popular - so popular in face, it became extinct. 

From Pinecone to Playing Cards
Around 1250, the heart began appearing in religious and romantic imagery, often depicted as an inverted pine cone. By the mid-1300s, the heart shape we recognize today emerged in European artwork and made its way onto playing cards, where it took its place alongside spades, clubs, and diamonds.

Cadbury and the Candy Box Revolution
Fast forward to the late 1800s, when the British Cadbury Company brought the heart shape into the world of sweets. They introduced the first heart-shaped candy boxes, perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day. Their innovative design, coupled with the growing power of advertising, turned the holiday into the grand celebration of love (and love making) of today.

Do you have a favorite heart-shaped candy or Valentine’s Day tradition? Let us know—we’d love to hear your story!

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The Perfect Valentine’s Day Treat: Caramels in a Heart-Shaped Box

Indulge in the timeless combination of caramel and chocolate in a traditional heart-shaped box, a classic treat that has been delighting candy lovers for generations. Inside this heart-shaped box, you'll find a perfect balance of smooth, rich caramel and a touch of crunch with caramel and nut turtles. These caramels, a beloved American invention, trace their roots back to the European caramelized sugar of the 17th century. In the late 1800s, caramels became a staple in American confections, and Hershey’s Lancaster Caramel Company played a pivotal role in their popularization. Today, caramels remain one of America's favorite candies, whether covered in chocolate or enjoyed solo. The caramels in this heart-shaped box offer the ideal combination of flavor and texture, making each bite a true indulgence.

Want to learn more about the sweet history of caramels and how they’ve evolved into the candies we adore today? Keep reading.

The Sweet Journey Through Time Starts Here!

True Treats is the only historically accurate candy store in the world, bringing the past to life through researched sweets, teas, syrups, and more. Every product is rooted in history, telling the story of how people from all walks of life enjoyed treats through time. Leading this effort is Susan, a nationally recognized candy historian, researcher, and author who appears regularly on TV, radio, and in major publications. With over 40 years of experience, she has written ten books and founded True Treats to share the fascinating history of candy in a fun and delicious way. Susan’s work uncovers the surprising origins of America’s favorite sweets, from ancient uses of sugar to the candies of the 1900s. Through True Treats, Susan makes history an interactive experience, allowing customers to taste the past while learning the stories behind every bite.

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