You’re probably here because of a crossword puzzle. Or maybe a high-stakes game of Scattegories. Or, honestly, you might just be standing in a gas station aisle staring at the shelves and wondering why your brain is suddenly hyper-fixated on finding a candy starting with H. It happens. We think we know everything about the candy world until someone asks for a specific letter, and suddenly, your mind goes blank. You remember the chocolate, you remember the sugar, but the names? They vanish.
Candy starting with H isn't just a niche trivia category. It covers some of the heaviest hitters in the confectionery world. Think about it. We are talking about global icons like Haribo. We're talking about nostalgic American staples like Heath bars. There is a lot of ground to cover here, from the chewy and fruity to the brittle and chocolate-covered.
The Heavyweight Champion: Haribo
If we are talking about candy starting with H, we have to start with the big one. Haribo. This company basically invented the gummy bear as we know it. Hans Riegel started the company in Bonn, Germany, back in 1920. That is where the name comes from—Hans Riegel Bonn. Simple. Brilliant.
Most people don't realize that Haribo makes way more than just Goldbears. They have Twin Snakes, which are a personal favorite because you get that sweet and sour contrast in one bite. Then there’s the Starmix, which feels like a chaotic party in a bag with those little fried eggs and hearts. Haribo’s texture is famously firm. If you compare a Haribo Goldbear to a Black Forest gummy, the Haribo one is a workout for your jaw. That’s intentional. It’s that European style of gummy that focuses on a dense, satisfying chew rather than a soft, sugary melt.
Hershey’s: More Than Just a Bar
It feels almost too obvious to mention Hershey's, but you can't ignore the titan of Pennsylvania. Milton Hershey didn't just build a factory; he built a whole town. While the classic Milk Chocolate Bar is the flagship, the "H" umbrella covers a lot of territory. You’ve got Hershey’s Kisses, which are essentially a cultural currency at this point.
There is a weird bit of science behind why Hershey’s tastes the way it does. Some people, especially those outside the US, swear it tastes a bit like... well, sour milk. That is because of a process called lipolysis. It creates butyric acid, which stabilizes the milk against fermentation. It gives Hershey’s that tangy edge that Americans grew up loving but Europeans often find a bit baffling. It is a love-it-or-hate-it situation.
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The Crunch of a Heath Bar
Then there is the Heath bar. If you like toffee, this is the gold standard. It was born in 1928, created by the Heath brothers in Illinois. It’s a very thin slab of buttery English toffee covered in milk chocolate.
The interesting thing about Heath is how it competes with the Skor bar. Hershey’s actually makes both now. Skor is a bit thinner and has a slightly more "burnt butter" flavor, whereas Heath is a bit more robust and nutty. If you are baking, Heath bits are the only way to go. They hold their crunch inside a cookie better than almost anything else.
Nostalgia and the "H" Factor
Let's look at some of the ones that make you feel like you’re back in a 1950s candy shop.
- Horehound Drops: These are old-school. Like, "my great-grandfather kept these in a tin" old-school. They are made from the horehound plant, which is a member of the mint family. They have a bittersweet, herbal taste that is definitely an acquired flavor. Some people swear by them for sore throats.
- Hubba Bubba: This is the antithesis of Horehound. It’s loud, it’s pink, and it’s engineered for maximum bubbles. Launched by Wrigley in 1979, the big selling point was that it wasn't as sticky as other gums. You could blow a massive bubble, have it pop all over your face, and it would peel right off.
- Hi-Chew: This one has exploded in popularity in the West over the last decade. It’s a Japanese fruit chew that has a texture somewhere between a starburst and a piece of gum. It’s incredibly juicy. The Morinaga company originally created it because it was culturally impolite in Japan to take food out of your mouth (like chewing gum), so they wanted a "gum" you could swallow.
The British Influence: Heroes and Humbugs
If you cross the pond, candy starting with H takes on a different vibe. Cadbury Heroes are a staple of British Christmas. It’s a tub filled with miniature versions of Cadbury bars. Dairy Milk, Twirl, Fudge—they’re all in there. It leads to family arguments every December over who ate all the Dairymilks and left the Eclairs.
Then you have Humbugs. Traditionally, these are hard-boiled sweets with a peppermint flavor. They usually have a striped pattern. They are the quintessential "grandparent candy." They’ve been around since at least the 1800s. If you’ve read A Christmas Carol, you know the word, but the candy is much more pleasant than Ebenezer Scrooge.
The Weird and Wonderful World of "H"
We can't forget the niche stuff. Have you ever had a Hic-Cup? Probably not unless you’re into vintage candy. How about Hot Tamales?
Hot Tamales are a divisive candy. They are essentially cinnamon-flavored jelly beans, but they pack a punch. They were introduced in 1950 by Just Born (the same people who make Peeps). If you like that spicy, artificial cinnamon heat, there is nothing better. They are chewy, sticky, and they linger.
And what about Honey Lemon drops? Often categorized as cough drops, but let's be real—they're candy. Brach's makes a version that is basically pure sugar and nostalgia.
Why Texture Matters in H-Named Candies
There is a strange pattern with "H" candies. They tend to be either very hard or very chewy. You don't see many soft, pillowy candies starting with H. You have the brittle crunch of a Heath bar, the dental-work-threatening pull of a Haribo gummy, or the rock-hard shell of a Humbug.
Maybe it’s the phonetics of the letter H. It’s a breathy, forceful sound. It fits candies that require a bit of effort to eat.
Beyond the Grocery Store: Artisan H's
Lately, there’s been a surge in high-end "H" candies.
Honeycombs (the real kind, made from aerated sugar and soda, not the cereal) are a huge hit in boutique candy shops. In Australia, they call it Violet Crumble or Cinder Toffee. It’s light, airy, and shatters when you bite it.
There are also Huckleberry candies. These are huge in the Pacific Northwest and Montana. Since huckleberries are notoriously hard to domesticate, any candy made with real huckleberry juice is a bit of a luxury. It has a deeper, more tart flavor than a blueberry. If you ever find Huckleberry salt water taffy, buy it. Don't ask questions. Just buy it.
The Misconceptions
People often get confused about Hall's. Are they candy? The FDA might say no, but your taste buds might say yes. They are mentholated, sure, but the fruit-flavored ones are basically hard candy with a cooling effect.
Another one people miss is Hot Rocks. People often confuse them with Pop Rocks. Hot Rocks were a spicy version of the popping candy that had a brief moment in the sun before fading into the "weird snack" hall of fame.
Making Your Own "H" Candy
If you're feeling adventurous, you can actually make Honeycomb at home quite easily.
You just need sugar, golden syrup, and baking soda.
When the baking soda hits the hot sugar, it foams up into this golden, bubbly mass.
Wait for it to cool, crack it into pieces, and dip it in chocolate.
It’s basically a homemade Crunchie bar.
Final Insights for the Candy Hunter
If you are looking for these for a gift or a specific event, here is the move.
- Check the International Aisle: That is where you’ll find the real-deal Haribo from Germany (which often uses different colors/flavors than the US version) or Hi-Chew flavors like Dragonfruit.
- Drugstores are Toffee Goldmines: For some reason, Walgreens and CVS always have the best stock of Heath and Skor bars.
- Vintage Shops: If you want Horehound or Humbugs, look for "Old Fashioned" candy stores. They usually keep these in glass jars.
Next time you're stuck on a word game or just craving something specific, remember that the "H" category is actually one of the strongest in the candy aisle. You have the history of Hershey, the innovation of Haribo, and the spicy kick of Hot Tamales. It’s a versatile list.
Go grab a bag of Hi-Chews and see if you can resist eating the whole pack in one sitting. It's harder than it looks. Or, if you want to be a bit more sophisticated, find some real honeycomb and see why that airy, burnt-sugar taste has stayed popular for over a century. There’s a whole world of sugar out there, and a surprising amount of it starts with H.
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Now that you know the heavy hitters and the hidden gems, your next step is to head to the store and actually look for the "Made in Germany" label on a bag of Haribo. The flavor difference is real—European Haribo often uses natural juice and different gelling agents compared to the American-made batches. Try them side-by-side. It’s a cheap and delicious science experiment.