They say our country is highly polarized. Political differences! Cultural conflicts! Can we agree on anything?
Why yes, we certainly can — if we’re talking Halloween candy! On that front, the blue state of Illinois is in perfect agreement with the red state of Texas. Both believe that Sour Patch Kids are the best. Meanwhile, right about now, blue Massachusetts and red Arkansas are both stocking up on Butterfingers.
We know this because every year, bulk candy online retailer CandyStore.com sends gallons upon gallons of candy to all 50 states. They’ve created a list of the most popular candies based on 16 years of sales data from 2007 to 2022. They also include input from their network of candy manufacturers and distributors.
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Then they crunch the numbers, and figure out which kinds of candy are most popular overall, as well as which states ordered the most of which candy. Americans spent $3.68 billion on Halloween candy this year, the National Retail Federation says, so it’s a big market.
Below, they’ve created a pie chart of the most popular candy varieties across the whole country in 2023.
Seeing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and M&M’s at the top of the nation’s favorites isn’t a big surprise. But CandyStore.com says Hot Tamales shot up to No. 3 — beating out Skittles at No. 4. This is a seismic shift in America’s taste preferences. Maybe we’re all getting a little spicier!
And while candy corn may be known as one of the most polarizing candies, it still managed to make the Top 10 nationwide. Maybe we ought to ask someone from Utah why that is, since the Beehive State orders more candy corn than any other type of candy.
Source: CandyStore.com.
As for individual states, the West Coast sure likes its chocolate, while the Southeast has more of a hodge-podge of favorites. Louisiana and Georgia stand out for their unique preferences: Lemonheads and Jolly Ranchers, respectively.
While it’s no surprise that New Mexico opts for Hot Tamales, who would have guessed that Minnesota and North Dakota love that spicy treat so much?
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Here’s the list of American states and the most popular Halloween candy in each.
- Alabama: Skittles
- Alaska: Twix
- Arizona: Hershey Kisses
- Arkansas: Butterfinger
- California: M&M’s
- Colorado: Milky Way
- Connecticut: Almond Joy
- Delaware: Sour Patch Kids
- Florida: Reese’s Cups
- Georgia: Jolly Ranchers
- Hawaii: Hershey’s Mini Bars
- Idaho: Snickers
- Illinois: Sour Patch Kids
- Indiana: Starburst
- Iowa: Reese’s
- Kansas: M&M’s
- Kentucky: Reese’s
- Louisana: Lemonheads
- Maine: Sour Patch Kids
- Maryland: Hershey’s Kisses
- Massachusetts: Butterfinger
- Michigan: Starburst
- Minnesota: Hot Tamales
- Mississippi: Three Musketeers
- Missouri: Almond Joy
- Montana: Twix
- Nebraska: Sour Patch Kids
- Nevada: Hershey’s Mini Bars
- New Hampshire: Reese’s
- New Jersey: Tootsie Pops
- New Mexico: Hot Tamales
- New York: Sour Patch Kids
- North Carolina: M&M’s
- North Dakota: Hot Tamales
- Ohio: Blow Pops
- Oklahoma: Skittles
- Oregon: M&M’s
- Pennsylvania: Hershey’s Mini Bars
- Rhode Island: M&M’s
- South Carolina: Skittles
- South Dakota: Starburst
- Tennessee: Tootsie Pops
- Texas: Sour Patch Kids
- Utah: Candy Corn
- Vermont: M&M’s
- Virginia: Butterfinger
- Washington, D.C.: M&M’s
- Washington: Tootsie Pops
- West Virginia: Hershey’s Mini Bars
- Wisconsin: Butterfinger
- Wyoming: Reese’s
Is your favorite in line with your state?
MORE: These Halloween candy recipes were created during the 1918 pandemic
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