Candy Corn is a type of small, pyramid-shaped candy typically divided into three sections of different colors with a waxy texture and a flavor based on honey, sugar, butter and vanilla.  It is a staple candy of the fall season and Halloween in North America.

Part of the candy corn's appeal comes from the fact it's been around for more than a century!  The kernels were invented in the 1880s by George Renninger, an employee of the Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While the Wunderle Candy Company went out of business years ago, they still use the original recipe.  The candy was invented before the automobile and the commerical telephone. 

The candy is said to have been inspired by chicken feed and was even called "Chicken Feed" for a time.  The boxes featured a colorful rooster logo and a tagline that read "Something worth crowing for". The Goelitz Company, now Jelly Belly Candy Company, started producing the candy several years later after its inception and still does to this day.  

About 35 million pounds of candy corn are sold every year and the reason candy corn holds icon status in the candy world has little to do with its chalky yet chewy texture or its nutty, vanilla-like flavor.  It all comes down to .. memory.  I think so much of it revolves around your memory of trying it for the first time.  For me, when I think of seeing candy corn for the first time and tasting it for the first time, I think back and I think of my mom.  She would always have it out when we decorated for Halloween."

Lauren O-Toole, Spokesperson for the National Confectioners Association

Many people believe candy corn, like Oreos, should be nibbled in a certain manner. Although the three layers of the original candy corn are all the same flavor there are opinions regarding the order in which they should be consumed.  According to a recent study from the National Confectioners Association, 29 percent of respondents eat the narrow while end first and about 6 percent start on the other end with the yellow layer. As for the 65 percent, they eat the whole piece (and maybe more than one piece) at once!

Because the candy has been produced for decades, it's shared among generations and tied into family traditions though as many people as there are who love candy corn there are certainly those who dislike candy corn.  Despite that fact I think it's this really interesting cultural piece of candy whether people love it or hate it, they  have such a strong memory attached to it. And for that reason alone, love it or loathe it, candy corn is forever stitched into the fabric of American culture.  The amount consumed on Halloween?  9 billion kernels!

And speaking of candy, Good & Plenty is believed to be one of the oldest candy brand in the United States.  The pink and white capsule shaped licorice was first introduced in 1893 by the Quaker City Confectionery Company which later became the American Licorice Company.  The original intent behind Good & Plenty was to capitalize on the growing popularity of licorice-flavored candies.  The candy's name was inspired by a pay on words, with "Good" representing the quality of the candy and "Plenty" referring to the generous amount of licorice flavor. 

The candy's distinctive packaging featuring a box with a pink backgroudn and lettering become synonymous with the brand.  The box design has remained relatively unchanged over the years, further contributing to its recognizable identity. Today, Good & Plenty continues to be produced by Hershey's and remains a popular choice among licorice candy lovers. 

I first discovered and enjoyed Good & Plenty at my hometown movie theatre. It was always in the candy case with another all-time favorite, Junior Mints.