They say our country is highly polarized. Political differences! Cultural conflicts! Can we agree on anything?
Why yes, we certainly can — if we’re talking Halloween candy! On that front, the blue state of Illinois is in perfect agreement with the red state of Texas. Both believe that Sour Patch Kids are the best. Meanwhile, right about now, blue Massachusetts and red Arkansas are both stocking up on Butterfingers.
We know this because every year, bulk candy online retailer CandyStore.com sends gallons upon gallons of candy to all 50 states. They’ve created a list of the most popular candies based on 16 years of sales data — from 2007 to 2022. They also include input from their network of candy manufacturers and distributors.
Then they crunch the numbers, and figure out which kinds of candy are most popular overall, as well as which states ordered the most of which candy. Americans spent $3.68 billion on Halloween candy this year, the National Retail Federation says, so it’s a big market.
Below, they’ve created a pie chart of the most popular candy varieties across the whole country in 2023.
Seeing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and M&Ms at the top of the nation’s favorites isn’t a big surprise. But CandyStore.com says Hot Tamales shot up to No. 3 — beating out Skittles at No. 4. This is a seismic shift in America’s taste preferences. Maybe we’re all getting a little spicier!
And while candy corn may be known as one of the most polarizing candies, it still managed to make the Top 10 nationwide. Maybe we ought to ask someone from Utah why that is, since the Beehive State orders more candy corn than any other type of candy.
As for individual states, the West Coast sure likes its chocolate, while the Southeast has more of a hodge-podge of favorites. Louisiana and Georgia stand out for their unique preferences: Lemonheads and Jolly Ranchers, respectively.
While it’s no surprise that New Mexico opts for Hot Tamales, who would have guessed that Minnesota and North Dakota love that spicy treat so much?
Most popular candy in each state
Alabama: Skittles
Alaska: Twix
Arizona: Hershey's Kisses
Arkansas: Butterfinger
California: M&Ms
Colorado: Milky Way
Connecticut: Almond Joy
Delaware: Sour Patch Kids
Florida: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Georgia: Jolly Ranchers
Hawaii: Hershey’s Mini Bars
Idaho: Snickers
Illinois: Sour Patch Kids
Indiana: Starburst
Iowa: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Kansas: M&Ms
Kentucky: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Louisiana: Lemonheads
Maine: Sour Patch Kids
Maryland: Hershey’s Kisses
Massachusetts: Butterfinger
Michigan: Starburst
Minnesota: Hot Tamales
Mississippi: Three Musketeers
Missouri: Almond Joy
Montana: Twix
Nebraska: Sour Patch Kids
Nevada: Hershey’s Mini Bars
New Hampshire: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
New Jersey: Tootsie Pops
New Mexico: Hot Tamales
New York: Sour Patch Kids
North Carolina: M&Ms
North Dakota: Hot Tamales
Ohio: Blow Pops
Oklahoma: Skittles
Oregon: M&Ms
Pennsylvania: Hershey’s Mini Bars
Rhode Island: M&Ms
South Carolina: Skittles
South Dakota: Starburst
Tennessee: Tootsie Pops
Texas: Sour Patch Kids
Utah: Candy Corn
Vermont: M&Ms
Virginia: Butterfinger
Washington, D.C.: M&Ms
Washington: Tootsie Pops
West Virginia: Hershey’s Mini Bars
Wisconsin: Butterfinger
Wyoming: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
This story originally appeared on Simplemost.
Any products or services mentioned above were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
