The chalky crunch. That weird, slightly medicinal aftertaste. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Conversation hearts are the ultimate "love it or hate it" staple of February, but honestly, Valentine's Day would feel pretty empty without those tiny, pastel-colored pastel discs staring back at you from a glass bowl. They aren't just candy. They’re basically the original text message.
For over a century, these little sugar wafers have survived world wars, corporate buyouts, and the total rebranding of romance. They’ve gone from Victorian "cockles" to "FAX ME" and now "CRUSH" or "YOLO." It’s a wild trajectory for something that is essentially compressed sugar and corn syrup.
The Bizarre History of Necco and Sweethearts
Most people don't realize that the machine used to make conversation hearts was actually an accident of the pharmaceutical industry. Back in 1847, an English immigrant named Oliver Chase was looking for a way to simplify the production of lozenges. Apothecaries used to hand-roll and cut medicinal pastes, which took forever. Chase invented a lozenge cutter—the first American candy machine—and accidentally birthed the New England Confectionery Company, better known as Necco.
His brother, Daniel Chase, took things a step further in 1866. He figured out how to use a felt roller and vegetable dye to print words directly onto the candy. Imagine the vibe: Civil War-era lovers handing over a heart that said "WEDDED BLISS" or "SQUEEZE ME." It was revolutionary. Back then, they weren't even always hearts. Some were shaped like baseballs, horseshoes, or even postcards. The heart shape eventually won out because, well, romance sells better than a sugary horseshoe.
For decades, Necco was the undisputed king. Then, the 2018 disaster happened. Necco went bankrupt. The factory shut down. For the first time in over a century, there were no new Sweethearts on the shelves for Valentine's Day 2019. People panicked. eBay prices for stale 2018 boxes went through the roof. It was a weird time for the confectionery world. Eventually, Spangler Candy Company (the folks behind Dum Dums) bought the brand and saved the day, though it took them a couple of years to get the printing machines calibrated correctly.
The Science of That Specific Texture
Ever wonder why they taste like... that? It’s a very specific recipe. Conversation hearts are made using a "cold process." Unlike chocolate or gummy bears, there’s no high-heat cooking involved. It’s a dough. A massive, industrial-sized batch of sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and flavors is mixed until it’s the consistency of play-dough.
👉 See also: Black Red Wing Shoes: Why the Heritage Flex Still Wins in 2026
This dough is rolled flat, printed with the iconic red ink, and then stamped out by a die-cutter. The real secret is the drying time. Those hearts sit in a drying room for up to 48 hours. This pulls the moisture out and creates that signature brittle, chalky snap. If you’ve ever had a "stale" heart, it might just be one that sat in the drying room a little too long—or a little too short.
The flavors are actually quite traditional, though they’ve changed over time.
- Pink: Cherry (usually).
- Yellow: Banana (the most polarizing one).
- Orange: Orange.
- Purple: Grape (formerly clove, which was a very "Old World" choice).
- White: Wintergreen.
- Green: Lime (though sometimes it's apple in modern knock-offs).
Why Do We Still Buy Them?
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. Objectively, there are better candies out there. If you want a gourmet experience, you buy a box of truffles. But conversation hearts serve a different purpose. They are social. They are meant to be dumped on a desk or traded in a classroom. They are the "meme" of the candy world before memes existed.
The phrases are the most important part. Every year, brands like Brach’s and Sweethearts try to stay relevant. In the early 2000s, we saw "EMAIL ME." By 2010, it was "TEXT ME." Recently, we’ve seen "GOAT" and "BAE." It’s a fascinating linguistic record of how we flirt. If you look at hearts from the early 1900s, they were much more formal: "MY SUFFRAGE" or "PLEASE BE MINE."
There is also a psychological element at play. The "scarcity" of the candy—the fact that it's really only available for about six weeks a year—makes it a ritual. We don't want to eat chalky hearts in July. We want them when the weather is gray and we're looking for a cheap, sugary hit of dopamine.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Right Word That Starts With AJ for Games and Everyday Writing
Spotting the Fakes: Brach’s vs. Sweethearts
If you’re a purist, you need to know the difference. Sweethearts (Spangler) are the originals. They have a slightly softer crumble and the classic flavors. Brach’s Conversation Hearts are the heavy hitters in most grocery stores today. Brach’s versions tend to be a bit harder, with more modern, fruity flavors.
Some people swear by the "Large" versions because they are easier to read, but the "Tiny" ones have a better surface-area-to-sugar ratio. Then you have the "Sour" versions which... honestly, why? If you're going to eat a conversation heart, lean into the traditional experience. Don't try to make it a Sour Patch Kid.
The Weird Side of the Candy Heart Industry
Did you know that production for next year's Valentine's Day starts almost immediately after this one ends? It takes roughly 11 months to produce the billions of hearts needed to meet global demand. We are talking about 100,000 pounds of candy a day.
There’s also a surprisingly large "oops" market. Because the printing machines run at such high speeds (printing thousands of tiny hearts per minute), the alignment often goes wonky. This results in "misprinted" hearts where the text is halfway off the candy or just a red smudge. Collectors actually look for these. Some of the most famous misprints have become minor internet celebrities in the "mildly interesting" corners of Reddit.
How to Use Conversation Hearts (Besides Eating Them)
If you find the taste unbearable but love the aesthetic, you aren't alone. These candies have a huge second life in the DIY and crafting world.
🔗 Read more: Is there actually a legal age to stay home alone? What parents need to know
- The "Love Jar": Fill a mason jar with the hearts and use it as a base for a floral arrangement. The pastel colors look great through the glass.
- Counting Games: If you’re a teacher or a parent, these are the cheapest math manipulatives on the planet. Addition, subtraction, and "probability" (what are the odds of pulling a yellow heart?) are way more fun with candy.
- Baking Toppers: Don't put them in the oven (they'll melt into a sugary puddle), but press them into the frosting of a cupcake right before serving. It adds a crunchy texture contrast that actually works well with soft buttercream.
- Cocktail Garnish: Drop a white (Wintergreen) heart into a clear drink like a gin and tonic. It slowly dissolves, adding a hint of minty sweetness and a cool "cloudy" effect.
Getting the Most Out of Your Bag
If you want the best experience this year, don't just buy the first bag you see. Look for the "Classic" labels if you want that nostalgic 1990s taste. If you're buying them for a party, check the "Best By" date—even though sugar is a preservative, these things can get "tooth-breakingly" hard if they've been sitting in a warehouse for two years.
When you open the bag, do a quick "edit." Toss the ones that are just dust. Look for the rarest phrases. In some years, certain phrases are printed in lower quantities, making them the "chase" items of the candy world.
The Actionable Takeaway
Next time you see a bag of conversation hearts, don't just roll your eyes at the chalky texture. Grab a bag and actually read them. Use them to start a stupid conversation with a friend or a partner.
Pro Tip: If you want to soften them up slightly, put them in a sealed container with a slice of white bread for a few hours. The candy will absorb a tiny bit of moisture from the bread, making them much easier to chew without sacrificing that classic snap. It’s a game-changer for those of us who actually enjoy the flavor but value our dental work.
The reality is that conversation hearts aren't trying to be the best candy in the world. They're trying to be a tradition. And as long as people keep needing a low-stakes way to say "HUG ME" to a crush, these little sugar hearts aren't going anywhere. They’ve survived the digital age, bankruptcy, and a thousand "worst candy" lists. That’s more than most brands can say.
Maximize your Valentine's Day prep by following these steps:
- Check the Brand: Decide between the original Sweethearts (Spangler) for nostalgia or Brach’s for a more modern fruit flavor profile.
- Storage Matters: Keep them in a cool, dry place. Humidity is the enemy of the conversation heart; it turns them from "crunchy" to "sticky" real fast.
- The "Bread Hack": Use the white bread trick mentioned above if you find a bag that feels like it’s been sitting since the Reagan administration.
- Go Digital: Take photos of the weirdest misprints or funniest modern phrases ("BAE," "YOLO") to share—it's the modern way to honor a 150-year-old tradition.