Be Mine: The Fascinating History of Candy Hearts

Did you know that candy hearts—otherwise known as conversation hearts or sweethearts—started as medicinal lozenges, invented by a Boston pharmacist?

Back in the 1800’s, lozenges were a popular way for folks to take medicine, but making them by hand was laborious. Bostonian Oliver Chase invented a machine that stamped out lozenges . . . and then soon found a way to print little messages on them. (Of course, candies with messages on them pre-dates conversation hearts—scalloped candy shells in the 1800’s had little printed paper messages.)

Chase quickly pivoted to candy from medicine, after the lozenges proved popular.

Chase’s company later became the New England Confectionery Company . . . which  you may know better by its initials NECCO. Chase’s original lozenges morphed into what are known today as NECCO wafers.

The first conversation hearts weren’t actually hearts—they were disks. It wasn’t until the start of the 20th century that the heart shape first appeared (along with other fun shapes like horseshoes).

Of course, the sayings have changed over the years. The larger disk or lozenge style conversation candies could fit longer sayings—for example, ““WHY IS A STYLISH GIRL LIKE YOU A THRIFTY HOUSEKEEPER?” 

The shorter “Kiss Me” and “Be Mine” are classics . . . but the companies that make the hearts have dropped some sayings over time (for some reason, “Fax Me” no longer appears).

In 2013, the Atlantic Magazine reprinted a list of the dropped sayings over the years: 

  1. DIG ME
  2. HOT CHA
  3. SAUCY BOY
  4. GIRL POWER
  5. OH YOU KID
  6. WHY NOT
  7. GROOVY
  8. COOL DUDE
  9. MY, SUCH EYES
  10. FAX ME
  11. HEP CAT
  12. TELL ME HOW
  13. YOU ARE LATE
  14. 1-800 CUPID
  15. [PEACE SYMBOL]
  16. YEAH RIGHT
  17. OH BOY
  18. YOU ROCK
  19. LET’S READ

 

Of course some sayings are timeless—”The One I Love” first appeared in 1902 and is still there today!

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

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