United StatesNational Peppermint Patty Day
The peppermint patty’s story begins in 1840 on the Isle of Man, where the Quiggin family crafted mint cakes. By 1880, the Kendal Mint Cake Company carried on the tradition, delighting palates with fresh, minty confections. Fast-forward to the early 1900s, and peppermint patties were making waves in the U.S., crafted by regional confectioners like Idaho Candy Company and Trudeau Candies. But it was a small company in York, Pennsylvania, that changed the game. In 1940, the York Cone Company introduced the York Peppermint Pattie, known for its firm snap and perfectly balanced flavors. Unlike its softer predecessors, the York patty had a crisp, clean break—a hallmark so essential that patties failing the “snap test” never hit store shelves. By 1975, York’s treat went national, thanks to its acquisition by Peter Paul (of Almond Joy fame) and a move to Reading, Pennsylvania. Today, under Hershey’s ownership, the patty remains a beloved classic.
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