Wilbur Buds 6/30/2013
In the rolling hills of Pennsylvania lies the heart of American chocolate making.
In fact, roughly 40% of all chocolate made in America is made in the Keystone State. From mass produced sweets such as Reese's Cups and Dove Bars, to regional specialties such as Peanut Chews and Mallow Cups, and boutique brands such as Godiva and John & Kira's, there's something for every chocolate fan.
In Central Pennsylvania where much of this confection making occurs the hometown favorite is a little known sweet called Wilbur Buds. These chocolate drops are as delicious as they are nearly impossible to find outside of Pennsylvania. In fact, the Wilbur's Chocolate Company may be the most famous chocolate company you've never heard of.
This photo of
Wilbur Chocolate Co. is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Located in the picturesque town of Lititz, in Lancaster County, Wilbur's is the behind-the-scenes member of the Pennsylvania chocolate family. They roast, conch and process cocoa beans by the ton, turning them into every possible grade and flavor of bulk chocolate. These chocolates are then sold to food manufacturers large and small across the country. Used in everything from premium ice cream to chocolate chip cookies and chocolate pretzels, it's likely you've enjoyed Wilbur Chocolate you just didn't know it.
Wilbur Buds were born in 1894 when H.O. Wilbur developed a technique for depositing chocolate into a shape that resembled the product's namesake, a flower bud.
This photo of
Wilbur Chocolate Co. is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Advertised as a sweet and wholesome food, they were an instant hit.
Over the years Wilbur Buds grew in popularity as did the fortunes of the Wilbur Chocolate Company. They eventually expanded to three factories and their trademark logo of Cupid stirring a cup of hot chocolate was seen in stores across the country. In 1907, Milton Hershey — who at one time operated a store in the same neighborhood as Wilbur's — introduced the Hershey Kiss.
Upon first inspection, a Wilbur Bud is easily confused for the more famous Kiss. However, while they share a similar size and shape, each Wilbur Bud comes with the letters W I L B U R etched on the bottom.
Despite being the first — and some would say better chocolate — Wilbur's lost the battle for America's sweet tooth and the Kiss eventually nudged out the Bud. The company then switched its focus away from consumer products, finding success selling to other confectioners. So why, if only on a small scale, do they still make Wilbur Buds?
For starters, a Wilbur Bud is just a flat out fantastic piece of chocolate. With a high butterfat content and smooth texture, they're easy to love.
This photo of
Wilbur Chocolate Co. is courtesy of TripAdvisor
And perhaps for Wilbur's there is a freedom in making a chocolate, not to meet the needs and price points of the marketplace, but for the pure joy of doing something well. In doing so, they remain faithful to the history of the company and to the devotion the employees and the surrounding community.
So while the Wilbur Bud will never be as famous as its kissing cousin, it would be unthinkable for such a delicious chocolate to disappear. And if you're ever craving a bud, you can still purchase this iconic treat at the Wilbur Chocolate factory store in Lititz and a smattering of shops in Pennsylvania — thank goodness. And, if you ever find yourself in a restaurant in or around Lancaster County and they serve a dessert with a chocolate drop on top, don't embarrass yourself by saying, "Look it's a Hershey Kiss!" Throughout the chocolate making region of Central Pennsylvania a kiss is still a kiss, but a bud is something special.
Click Here To Purchase Wilbur Buds