About National Peanut Cluster Day
The first peanuts were brought to the United States by African slaves in the 17th century. Peanuts were initially used as animal feed and considered a food for the poor. However, they became more popular during the Civil War, when they were used as a source of protein for soldiers. After the war, the demand for peanuts increased, and they became a common snack food in the United States. In the late 1800s, George Washington Carver promoted the cultivation of peanuts as an alternative crop to cotton, which helped to diversify agriculture in the southern United States.
Peanut clusters first gained popularity in the early 1900s as candy made by small confectionery shops. Peanut clusters were originally made by hand, but as demand for the candy grew, larger companies began mass-producing them.
In 1912, Howell Campbell, proprietor of Standard Candy Company in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to combine multiple types of confectionery, including marshmallow nougat, roasted peanuts, and caramel, and coat them in milk chocolate to create a single candy bar. His confectionery creation is considered the first combination candy bar and introduced millions of Americans to the combination of peanuts and chocolate.
Howell’s innovative invention was the Goo Goo Cluster. It quickly became an American phenomenon, and since then, people have been unable to resist the dazzling flavour of chocolate-covered peanuts.
A peanut cluster is irresistible due to the contrasting flavours of sweet and salty, combined with the contrasting textures of smooth chocolate and crunchy peanuts.
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