Because of a brand new state invoice, the Hershey Kiss may grow to be Pennsylvania’s official state sweet. However at first is official, we at Billy Penn wished to know if our viewers agreed that the Kiss is your best option.
We polled readers on which Pa. sweet they assume ought to characterize the Keystone State and the outcomes are in. Readers have been considerably divided over this robust resolution, however three candies proved to be clear favorites.
🥉 Third place: Hershey Kiss
BP readers gave the Hershey Kiss the bronze medal in our candy standoff. The romantically named sweet would definitely characterize our state with delight. Sadly, the Kiss simply didn’t seal the dea l— receiving 24.4% of the vote.
🥈 Second place: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have been a robust contender heading into our ballot. Alas, the candy and salty peanut butter deal with got here up brief with simply 26.1% of the vote. Fairly the upset for a sweet juggernaut and Pa. darling.
🥇 First place: Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews
The Peanut Chew felt like considerably of an underdog in our ballot. With much less nationwide identify recognition than a few of its flashier rivals, this native favourite — made with peanuts, molasses, and a clean chocolate coating — isn’t your typical sweet aisle headliner. Nevertheless, in true Philly style, the common-or-garden bar proved to be a champion with a profitable 31.5% of the vote.
Postgame evaluation
Two Pennsylvanian legends duked it out ultimately, proving that chocolate and peanut butter are a golden combo relating to sweet.
Particular shout out to Wilbur Buds, which got here in fourth place with 5.3% of the vote. Wilbur Buds weren’t on our authentic checklist, so the write-in marketing campaign for fourth is spectacular. The chocolate from Lititz, Pa., considerably resembles the Hershey Kiss with the identical swirly prime. And, in line with one enthusiastic responder’s scorching take, they style “so a lot better than Hershey’s.”

Fifth place was a tie between Peeps and the Hershey Bar with 3.7%. What’s extra, 2.1% of readers did think about Tastykakes sweet and gave the native favourite their vote.
Peanut Chews may very well be a noble consultant for the nice State of Pennsylvania — a Philly deal with developed throughout the Second World Battle to assist gasoline American troopers that later made its means onto retailer cabinets. WHYY even has them in our workplace merchandising machine.
Home Invoice 1030, which might anoint Hershey’s Kisses as our official state sweet, handed in Could and is now within the state Senate’s palms. It’s arduous to know when precisely the invoice will transfer ahead for the subsequent vote, however given the information, maybe it’s time to counsel that elected officers give Peanut Chews a re-examination. This debate is way from wrapped up.