Ever wonder which states are into peppermint-flavored items and which prefer classic chocolate?
Coming off the sugar high of Halloween, you might forget December is another candy-rich month. In fact, the National Confectionary Association estimates Americans will spend $1.93 billion on sweets during the eight weeks leading up to Christmas.
As you begin to load up on candy canes, gingerbread house supplies, and peanut brittle, remember that everyone has their own traditions and holiday candy preferences.Like it did with Halloween, CandyStore.com has taken data from its site and customers to show every state's favorite holiday candyrelative to other states.
The map is interactive. Hover over the states to get more information.
The map raises someessentialquestions. For instance, is Starburst a holiday candy? Can you eat Pez if they aren't in a dispenser? What is Reindeer Corn? Why aren't Ho Hos considered a holiday treat?
Here's a breakdown of the top candy in each state based on CandyStore.com's survey. You'll see a lot of candy canes on there, which is necessary because, somehow, people have to consume the 1.76 billion candy canes produced every year. Interestingly enough, despite the popularity of Peppermint Bark in 2021, it's not decreasing in popularity across the country. Here's what is most popular in every state in 2022:
- Alaska: Chocolate Santas
- Alabama: Reindeer Corn
- Arkansas: Starburst
- Arizona: Hershey Kisses
- California: Reese's Cup Minis
- Colorado: Reese's Cup Minis
- Connecticut: Starburst
- Washington, D.C.: Snickers
- Delaware: Starburst
- Florida: Snickers
- Georgia: Snickers
- Hawaii: Starburst
- Iowa: M&M's
- Idaho: M&M's
- Illinois: Peppermint Bark
- Indiana: Reese's Cup Minis
- Kansas: Peppermint Bark
- Kentucky: M&M's
- Louisiana: Candy Canes
- Massachusetts: KitKat
- Maryland: Reese's Cup Minis
- Maine: Hershey Kisses
- Michigan: Peppermint Bark
- Minnesota: Peppermint Bark
- Missouri: Hershey Kisses
- Mississippi: Chocolate Santas
- Montana: Reese's Pieces
- North Carolina: Starburst
- North Dakota: Chocolate Santas
- Nebraska: Peppermint Bark
- New Hampshire: M&M's
- New Jersey: Skittles
- New Mexico: Chocolate Santas
- Nevada: Starburst
- New York: Snickers
- Ohio: Chocolate Santas
- Oklahoma: KitKat
- Oregon: Candy Canes
- Pennsylvania: Reese's Cup Minis
- Rhode Island: Peppermint Bark
- South Carolina: M&M's
- South Dakota: Hershey Kisses
- Tennessee: Peppermint Bark
- Texas: Reese's Cup Minis
- Utah: Hershey Kisses
- Virginia: M&M's
- Vermont: Snickers
- Washington: Reese's Cup Minis
- Wisconsin: Starburst
- West Virginia: Peppermint Bark
- Wyoming: M&M's
But, seriously, what is Reindeer Corn and why does it exist? Does it taste like candy corn? Why is holiday candy so much more confusing than it should be?
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Dustin Nelson is a Senior Staff Writer on the News team at Thrillist. Follow him on Twitter.
Opheli Garcia Lawler is a Staff Writer on the News team at Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter @opheligarcia and Instagram @opheligarcia.
