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Everything you ever wanted to know about Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
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In 1879, a candy visionary was born in Frosty Hill, Pennsylvania. His name was Harry Burnett "H.B" Reese. Reese was born into a farming family, but quickly realized that farming wasn't for him. After following several different business ventures, Reese settled back in Hershey Pennsylvania, near the Hershey's chocolate plant and began making candy bars of his own. In 1928, he introduced the peanut butter cup (what we now call the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. These candies were first sold exclusively in 5 pound boxes for use in candy assortments.
In the 30s, Reese decided to offer his candy cups on their own and sold them through various wholesalers, vending machines and syndicated stores for a penny a cup. The recipe grew in popularity and during World War II, H.B. decided to discontinue his other candies and focus solely on his peanut butter cups. The candy world was forever changed.
The mid 50s brought the need for a larger facility and Reese purchased a tract of land in western Hershey, along Chocolate Avenue. The new plant would open in August of 1957. Six years later, the Reese company was purchased by the Hershey Chocolate Company for 23.5 million dollars. Hershey had always supplied Reese with chocolate for his candies, so it was only natural that the Hershey Company purchased Reese's after H.B.'s death.
The marketing geniuses at Hershey's have turned the Reese name into a candy icon. New candy varieties have included:
- Seasonal shapes. Hearts for Valentine's; Eggs for Easter, Pumpkins for Halloween and Trees for Christmas.
- Different chocolate coatings. White chocolate was originally introduced as a limited edition flavor but proved to be so popular, Hershey's brought it back as a regular offering. Dark chocolate and Inside Outs (peanut butter coating with chocolate cream centers) were limited edition offerings.
- Different sizes. Big Cups are an oversized version of the traditional peanut butter cups. They have been offered in milk chocolate, white chocolate, milk chocolate with nuts. They also offer bite size mini's in white and milk chocolate.
- Various fillings. Hazelnut cream, caramel, honey roasted, marshmallow, "crispy crunchy", chocolate cookies and peanut butter/banana cream (in honor of Elvis) have all graced the insides of Reese Peanut Butter Cups.
- Lovers lines. Chocolate Lovers featured a thicker chocolate shell with a thinner peanut butter center. Peanut Butter Lovers featured the opposite pairing.
- Spin off candies. Reese Pieces feature a peanut buttery center in a chocolate shell (similar to M&Ms). Reese Sticks which feature peanut butter layered between wafers then dipped in chocolate (similar to Kit Kats). The Nutrageous Bar included a peanut butter center covered in peanuts and caramel then dipped in chocolate.
*please note-this list does not include every Reese candy ever manufactured by Hersheys.
Hersheys has also introduced a line of pantry products featuring the Reese name and peanut butter. At your local grocery, you can find peanut butter, peanut butter chips, ice cream and dessert toppings, cookies, brownies, breakfast cereal and more featuring the great taste of Reese peanut butter. You can even find licensed products being served at some of your favorite eateries. Baskin Robbins and Friendly's offer Reese ice cream treats.
The Reese name is synonymous with some of the most successful ad campaigns of the 70's, 80's and 90's. Remember the "you got your peanut butter on my chocolate" "you got your chocolate in my peanut butter" commercials? What about "there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's" ads? Take a walk down memory lane with this commercial compilation made by evancweeks and posted on YouTube.
The next time you decide to indulge in the sweet-salty treat of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, think back to its humble beginnings in Pennsylvania and give thanks that a man by the name of Harry Burnett Reese met up with a man named Milton Hershey. Without them, this American legend would never have been created.
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