What is National Peppermint Patty Day?
Millions of people around the world enjoy a treat called National Peppermint Patty Day. Sink your teeth into the minty chocolate candy on February 11th each year.
The oldest commercially made mint patty or cake was made by the Quiggin family on the Isle of Man (an island in the northern Irish Sea) and is located in the middle of the northern Irish Sea. They had been baking the cakes since 1840, but four of the sons formed the Kendal Mint Cake Company in 1880.
Peppermint patties were made by regional confectioneries in the United States as early as 1900. Idaho Candy Company, Trudeau Candie's, and Pearson's are among the Idaho Candy Company, Trudeau Candie's. Pearson's purchased Trudeau in 1951, both Minnesota businesses. Pearson's purchased Trudeau in 1951. The York Cone Company of Pennsylvania made arguably the most popular, but not the oldest, York Peppermint Patties.
Peppermint Patties were first made in 1940 and exported regionally, much like other candy makers of the period. York dominated the market due to its firmness and crispness, while others were soft. A former York employee remembered that the final (sample) test of the patty before it left the factory was called a "snap test." If the candy did not break clean in the middle, it did not make it to candy store shelves, not because it did not break down in the middle.
Peter Paul Cadbury bought the company in 1975. Cadbury's factory moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, much to the company's and the locals of York's dread. The company then exported the popular treat throughout the United States.
