It is that time of year again. The temperature is dropping, leaves are changing color, and spooky decorations are everywhere in sight. As neighborhoods are bracing themselves for children going door to door all dressed up for trick-or-treating, we wondered which states would likely be eating the most candy and their candy of choice among the 24 most popular brands, so we turned to Innerbody Research for some insight.
Key Highlights
- The State of the Sweet Tooth: Nebraska claims the candy crown this year, while the previous winner, Utah, fell to fifth place.
- America is bursting with joy for Starburst candy: it came out on top in an impressive 13 states. But lovers of Sour Patch Kids, don’t feel sour — your favorite came in second as the top treat in eight states.
- No treats, only tricks: the District of Columbia came in last for candy appreciation by total search volume. But it’s in Wyoming that the most significant number of candy brands have zero search value. (Even Tootsie Rolls! What did Tootsie Rolls ever do to you, Wyoming?)
- Coincidentally, Kansas — known for its extensive corn production — is the only state with candy corn as its favorite.
- Too hot to handle? Hot Tamales are among the least popular candies in 39 states (sorry, New Mexico, but you seem to be alone in loving this one).
How Trick or Treat Became a Halloween Tradition
Trick or treating has roots in medieval European traditions like “souling” and “guising,” but modern trick-or-treating as a door-to-door candy-collecting activity began to take shape in North America in the 1920s and became widely popular in the 1950s. The tradition was brought to the U.S. by Irish and Scottish immigrants and evolved from earlier practices where people, particularly the poor, would go door-to-door asking for food or prayers in exchange for treats.
Ancient and Medieval Origins
- Celtic roots: The practice has links to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people would wear costumes and leave food out to appease spirits.
- Souling: By the Middle Ages, Christians observed All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), and the practice of “souling” emerged. Poor people would go to wealthier homes, and in exchange for soul cakes, they would pray for the souls of the family’s deceased.
- Guising: In England and Scotland, people would dress up in costumes and perform songs or tricks for food and drinks, a practice known as “guising”.
Modern Development in North America
- 19th century: Irish and Scottish immigrants brought these traditions to America, where they began to merge.
- Early 20th century (1920s): The first instances of modern trick-or-treating, with costumed children going door-to-door for treats, started to become common in the United States during this time.
- Mid-20th century (1950s): The practice grew and became a widespread, kid-friendly activity, helped by media portrayals in comic strips and cartoons.
- 1950s: Candy Manufacturers began promoting Halloween products
- 1970s: Factory-made, wrapped candy became more popular than the toys, fruits, and homemade baked goods that were traditionally given out.
Sugary Candy Loving Sweet Tooth
It is no surprise that Americans love trick-or-treat time, as the average American eats around 17 teaspoons of added sugar every day, which is more than double the recommended daily guideline. This sweet tooth craving can add up to 60 pounds of added sugar per person over a year, according to the American Heart Association.
The extra sugar dose appears to be stemming from overindulging on our favorite sugar-sweetened beverages, with the average 20-ounce bottle containing about 65 grams of high-fructose corn syrup; the added sugar intake adds up quickly. Following sugar-sweetened beverages, the rest of the excess sugar comes from dessert, sweet snacks, and candy. Consuming too many added sugars can contribute to health problems such as weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and heart disease.
It is likely safe to say that the love of candy won’t be changing any time soon, especially with the development of different types that appear from year to year. As a candy fan, I am interested in which Halloween treats are worse than tricks. Are you too?
Most Popular Candy in the U.S. by States
For this study, Innerbody Research analyzed Google Trends search data across the nation to determine the 6 most popular candy brands, which places favored them, and where the most excited candy-loving fans are:
- Starburst (13): Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin
- Sour Patch Kids (8): Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington
- Reese’s (4): Iowa, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming
- Skittles (4): Arkansas, Georgia, Nebraska, Virginia
- Sour Punch Straws (4): Arizona, California, Louisiana, Texas
- Jolly Ranchers (3): Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska
Surprisingly, it appears as if people are not in a chocolate-loving mood this year; the only 2 chocolate-based candies in the top 10 searches are Twix and Reese’s.
Other Interesting Candy-Loving Findings
- Pennsylvania is one of three states where Swedish Fish is a favorite. Between 1638 and 1655, a colony of the Swedish Empire, New Sweden, spanned parts of the Northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania. Perhaps this history left a lasting mark on the tastes of the Keystone State’s residents.
- Kansas stands alone in its love of candy corn, which seems appropriate since it’s one of the country’s top 10 corn-producing states.
- Colorado’s favorite candy, Jolly Ranchers, was first made there in 1949; similarly, Pennsylvania’s other favorite, the Hershey’s Kiss, was created in the state in 1907.
- For some reason, despite sharing a love for Blow Pops, New Mexico and South Dakota also have a mutual dislike of Dubble Bubble.
- The majority of the top 10 candy brands were first created outside of the United States.
The Least Popular Candy
While previously Blow Pops ranked as the overall top candy brand, it now appears as if the bubble has burst on that, with only 2 states selecting it as a favorite, and 12 others rank it as the worst. Even with that being said, it is not the least popular candy across the nation; that ranking goes to Hot Tamales.
Hot Tamales may have been the top-selling cinnamon candy in 1999, but now, based on search popularity being especially low in 39 states, this candy has been dropped like a hot potato. New Mexico is the only state that picked this as its favorite candy brand.
Hot Tamales, Lemonheads, Lifesavers, Tootsie Rolls, Sour Punch Straws, and Salt Water Taffy, all made the listing of states with zero search value. However, Dubble Bubble has the top ranking as the state with the most disinterest, with 13 states not wanting any gum chewing action.
Top 10 Most Candy-Loving States
According to the analysis, the top 10 most candy-loving states are:
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- West Virginia
- Utah
- Arkansas
- Wisconsin
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Indiana
Top 10 States Without That Sweet Tooth
On the other end of the candy-loving states, there are the top 10 wishing we could go back to the tradition of giving out fruit and baked goods for Halloween:
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Wyoming
- Alaska
- California
- Florida
- Vermont
- Washington
- Colorado
- New York
If you’re curious about which candy came out on top in your state, click here to view the complete findings.
This article was written at the WHN News Desk in collaboration with Eric Rodriguez, who is the Co-Founder and CEO of Innerbody Research, providing consumer guides, resource materials, and data-driven studies, as well as partnering with industry leaders and specialists to deliver trustworthy information to empower you.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
