By Kamryn Hafer, Operations Specialist
“Who can take a sunrise?
Sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with chocolate
and a miracle or twoThe Candy Man
Oh, the Candy Man can”
The Candy Man
Song by Sammy Davis Jr.
November 4 is National Candy Day—something this lifelong sweet tooth is thankful for!
I’ve had a sweet tooth since I was young but never realized how candy has been intertwined in so many aspects of my life.
I got accepted into a gifted math class after school in 2nd grade, and my favorite part was that they used gummy bears and M&M’s as the counters. Yes, I learned my addition and subtraction, but my favorite part was getting to eat the numbers afterward.
In middle school, I sold Blow Pops and Air Heads to supplement my allowance, buy my favorite music, and make friends. Later, I sold candied nuts door to door to pay for summer camp. On my first day of college, I shared my parents’ parting gift—a tub of Red Vines—with my dorm neighbors, turning strangers into friends. At any age, candy is a great icebreaker.
Prague
Living in Prague in my 20s introduced me to a whole new world of candy. I remember seeing all the different kinds of candies and flavors I had never seen or tried before, and it was so exciting. I was coming home for the Holidays and was trying to think of a gift that I could bring for everyone and that would travel easily and not break the bank. I decided to grab one of each chocolate bar, gummy, and marshmallow treat. I also brought my favorite Kinder Happy Hippos for everyone to share. They were hazelnut, cream, and wafer cookies, shaped like an adorable hippo. I cut them all up and placed all the different, colorful, and fun candies on a platter for all to share. Not only did they get to hear about my travels and adventures, but they also got to share a little taste of Europe as well.
Italy
Another fond traveling memory was trying my very first “Baci” while living in Italy. Baci translates into kisses. These iconic Italian bites were created in 1922 in Perugia, Italy. They have a soft chocolate-hazelnut center with chopped hazelnuts, topped with a whole hazelnut, and are covered in dark or milk chocolate. The chocolate was delicious, but the best part was finding the little love note inside: a short romantic quote, proverb, or message of affection written in six different languages.
The Pacific Northwest
After moving to the PNW, I found a new favorite: Maeve chocolate, made right here in Tukwila, WA. I love the inventive flavors and creative, artistic designs. Maeve is woman-owned and says it gives 10% of its net profits back to cocoa farmers. Delicious chocolate from a company I can feel proud supporting!
Of course, everyone has a favorite.
Here are ours at SoundView Advisors:
Krista Chocolate with Caramel, Sour Patch Kids, Sour Skittles, Peanut M&M’s
Nate Peanut Butter M&M’s
Lisa Ferrero Rocher - created in Italy in 1982. Chocolate and hazelnut confection bliss! A close 2nd is Toblerone, which was created in 1908 in Switzerland. Chocolate and honey & almond nougat yumminess!
Kevin Slater Mini Fran's Almond Gold Bar, Almond Joy
Kevin Rigg my favorite used to be Red Vines, but that was a passing phase I think. I’ll say Haribo Gummy Bears now – not all gummy bears are created equally!
Angel Werther's Original
Sophea Twix and KitKat
Debbie Reese’s
Ben Snickers, Mounds, Almond Joy, Rocky Road, Pay-Day
Austin Twix
Nichole Hickory Farms Meltaway Mints, Mint Nonpareils
Kamryn Wild Strawberry Candy Kittens, Fizzy Cola Bottles
Whether candy helps you learn math, start a small business, save money, make friends, or discover different parts of the world, one thing will always be true: it makes life sweeter.