Whitman's Sampler at Christmas

I remember that in the 1950's and the 1960's, it was a big deal to get a Whitman's Sampler at Chirstmas!

I think it was a much, much better and higher quality Candy in the 1950's and the 1960's than it is today!

Anybody have thoughts on this!

Thanks,
Garry

I used to give my grandma one every year for Christmas. I think the candy was probably the same then but now it seems like we are all so much more affluent and life is so much more complex that a box of candy seems inconsequential, even to a 10-year old.

quote:

Originally posted by BT

I used to give my grandma one every year for Christmas. I think the candy was probably the same then but now it seems like we are all so much more affluent and life is so much more complex that a box of candy seems inconsequential, even to a 10-year old.

BT, I bet You're right, things were alot more simplier back then and we didn't get ice cream, candy, soda pop etc., everday, like we do now!

quote:

Originally posted by BT

I used to give my grandma one every year for Christmas. I think the candy was probably the same then but now it seems like we are all so much more affluent and life is so much more complex that a box of candy seems inconsequential, even to a 10-year old.

What you say is true, but the quality factor is something to be considered here also. Now that more Americans have had the chance to sample high-quality European and domestic chocolates, many people have realized that Whitman's Samplers (as well as the products from Hershey) are high in sugar and relatively low in cocoa solids.

If someone has tasted any of the products from Jacques Torres, Scharfenberger, and even companies like Lindt and Ghirardelli, it is not likely that they would still place great value on something like a Whitman's Sampler. When I did taste pieces of that product, my most vivid memory is that it was tooth-achingly sweet, with only a vague hint of a chocolate taste. Of course, if one is given something like "The Sampler", good taste dictates that the giftee should express his thanks in the most effusive manner possible--even if that brand is not to his liking.

(But, in the unlikely event that any of you are going to send me some chocolate, please be sure that it is of the dark variety, with at least 72% cocoa solids )

I still look at the Whitman's Samplers in the drug store every year. That was the Cadillac of chocolates. Not to mention the excitement added by a roadmap to the varieties. My Grandmother usually had a box and we were allowed to select one piece. One of the hardest decisions of the year.

And mentioning Cadillac, I think the apparent change in quality may be both a matter of the changing tastes of more sophisticated (worldly?) American palates as well as declining quality. I recall my Parents and Grandparents remarking on the declining quality of Whitman's (and the local deluxe, Fanny Farmer) as early as the late 60s. Same with Hershey's.

With the fuel shortages and spiralling inflation of the 70s, all American chocolate producers, it seemed, were cutting back on the expensive ingredients. Home cooks discovered that their old recipes made with Bakers Chocolate came out dark tan instead of brown and didn't have the same flavor. Cooking magazines recommended proportions of cocoa to add to recipes to achieve a better result.

So, for a weak analogy, around the time the Big 3 auto makers slacked off and opened up the gates to quality imports, Nestle, Hershey and the like created a demand for quality chocolate.

To garryd451 -- I dunno. I'm pretty sensitive about any changes a company makes to its products (usually always for the worse), and I think that Whitmans chocolates tatse the same as they did back in the 60s (they even smell the same when you open the box). I use to prefer Russell Stover to them, but now I like Whitmans better. Oddly enough, RS actually took over Whitmans quite a few years ago.

Best,
JeffD

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear


If someone has tasted any of the products from Jacques Torres, Scharfenberger, and even companies like Lindt and Ghirardelli, it is not likely that they would still place great value on something like a Whitman's Sampler.

Be careful adding Scharffen Berger to that list. As of July 2005, they have been bought by Hershey: http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/07/25/ap2156176.html

Other than that, I agree with your take. More and more people are exposed to true artisinal chocolates nowadays than in years past. Since Whitman's positions itself as a "top shelf" chocolate, fewer peolpe are willing to pay the premium when "true" premium chocolates are more readily available.

Still, as recently as a few years ago, it was an easy add-on sale for the florists in town on Valentine's Day. Those Whitman's samplers (and Hershey Pot of Gold) all go on sale for dirt cheap after Christmas and can be had for a few dollars a box. Come Valentine's Day, it is an easy $10 add-on for that dozen roses you bought! The great thing about preservatives is that, for this occasion anyway, the chocolate will easily hold up that long.

We mentioned this on another thread recently...but will add a brief endorsement for the quality and tradition for Sees Chocolates, the West Coast candy maker. A box of Sees was an annual event in our Christmas activities each year....and continues to be now, thanks to a very good Internet service from the company.

I used to get the little 4-piece Whitman's Sampler every Christmas.. of course I also used to get a box of Sees and a box of Turtles.. I ate the Whitman's, but I preferred the others.

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear



(But, in the unlikely event that any of you are going to send me some chocolate, please be sure that it is of the dark variety, with at least 72% cocoa solids )

If I were going to send you candy, I would send you what I sent my Mom--a box of the stuff shown here: https://store.neworleans.com/cgi-bin/mivavm?Merchant2/merchant.mvc+Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=NOC-00002&Category_Code=LC_00004

and here:

It's insanely good and I feel really good about boosting the N.O. economy by buying from Laura's (I've been a frequent customer for years).

quote:

Originally posted by JeffD

To garryd451 -- I dunno. I'm pretty sensitive about any changes a company makes to its products (usually always for the worse), and I think that Whitmans chocolates tatse the same as they did back in the 60s (they even smell the same when you open the box). I use to prefer Russell Stover to them, but now I like Whitmans better. Oddly enough, RS actually took over Whitmans quite a few years ago.

Best,
JeffD

Maybe, it's my taste buds that changed! I haven't tried Russel Stover's in years!

Thanks for your Input.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen


We mentioned this on another thread recently...but will add a brief endorsement for the quality and tradition for Sees Chocolates, the West Coast candy maker. A box of Sees was an annual event in our Christmas activities each year....and continues to be now, thanks to a very good Internet service from the company.

Guess What?

When I was reading your topic, it got me thinking about Whitman's, that is how I came up with this topic!

quote:

Originally posted by stevekoe

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear


If someone has tasted any of the products from Jacques Torres, Scharfenberger, and even companies like Lindt and Ghirardelli, it is not likely that they would still place great value on something like a Whitman's Sampler.

Be careful adding Scharffen Berger to that list. As of July 2005, they have been bought by Hershey: http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/07/25/ap2156176.html

Other than that, I agree with your take. More and more people are exposed to true artisinal chocolates nowadays than in years past. Since Whitman's positions itself as a "top shelf" chocolate, fewer peolpe are willing to pay the premium when "true" premium chocolates are more readily available.

Still, as recently as a few years ago, it was an easy add-on sale for the florists in town on Valentine's Day. Those Whitman's samplers (and Hershey Pot of Gold) all go on sale for dirt cheap after Christmas and can be had for a few dollars a box. Come Valentine's Day, it is an easy $10 add-on for that dozen roses you bought! The great thing about preservatives is that, for this occasion anyway, the chocolate will easily hold up that long.

Hmmm...I wasn't aware that Hershey had purchased Scharffen Berger. But, even if that is the case, it doesn't have to spell doom for that brand's quality. To the best of my knowledge, Lindt (as well as some other premium European brands) has been owned by Nestle for several years. While products that bear the Nestle brand name are similar to Hershey's high sugar/low cocoa solids "kiddie chocolate", it seems that Nestle has not seriously downgraded the Lindt line of chocolates. So, perhaps this European mega-corporation knows something about how to maintain quality, and maybe Hershey will follow suit with their treatment of Scharffen Berger. At least we can hope.

A bar of Lindt Dark Chocolate with 85% cocoa solids is so far removed in taste from the typical Hershey, Nestle, Whitman's or Russell Stover chocolates that it is difficult to consider these other brands to be composed of chocolate.

I love See's candy but here are others you can look at:

tinytrapeze.com
lakechamplainchocolates.com
burdickchocolate.com
bissingers.com
woodhousechocolate.com
recchiuticonfections.com
sterlingtrufflebar.com
cocoaandco.com
mackenzieltd.com
neimanmarcus.com

They are on sale locally either very cheap, or buy one and get one free. For what they charge, and what you get, I think that they are great, but being that they are no longer considered "special", I don't buy them as gifts. I did just buy 2 boxes of Ethel M chocolates at around $25 a pound. One is for my wife, so I'll get to test it on Christmas.

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear



Hmmm...I wasn't aware that Hershey had purchased Scharffen Berger. But, even if that is the case, it doesn't have to spell doom for that brand's quality.

So far, the evidence is that Hershey is leaving Scharffen Berger alone under the original management and doing things as they have always done.