Stick to the Classics: A Conversation Heart Conundrum

There has been a heated debate in the Coe Writing Center due to Valentine's Day being last week: are the classic or the Sweetart conversation hearts better? The Coe Writing Center set out two types of conversation hearts for students to try and cast their vote in a competition of which brand is better, and students—mostly consultants—on both sides were vocal about their preference.

Adele Dummermuth, a pro-Sweetart consultant, insists that "chalk tastes like chalk; it has no taste…You’re just wrong if you choose chalk. There needs to be no argument here because there is nothing against Sweetarts."

However, not all people who like the taste of Sweetarts were on that side. Consultant Courtney Rhinehart chose the "chalky" conversation hearts (the classic conversation hearts known for their chalky texture, typically made by the brands Brach's and Sweehearts) because "[she] like[s] the taste of the Sweetart ones better, but the chalky ones have sentimental value." Opinions ranged all over the board (literally—people wrote their opinions on the whiteboard), but there was one clear winner in the end.

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Before I get into the merit of each side, let's take a look at the history of conversation hearts. Sweethearts (the original conversation hearts) were made by Oliver Chase, a pharmacist who invented a method of making candy, and his brother Daniel, who figured out how to print the messages onto the candy. These conversation hearts were originally thin and scalloped with long messages on them, but they became heart-shaped in the 1900's.

Sweethearts aren't around much anymore; however, Brach's is a current successful conversation heart-making company (and my favorite brand). They have been modernizing the sayings on their hearts over the past few years, and they have come out with several different lines (Heart-to-Hearts, "Wisecracks! 'End the Conversation' Hearts", and even Friends-themed conversation hearts). Brach's is owned by the Ferrera candy company.

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Sweetarts have a much shorter history because they have only been around since 1962. They were originally made from the same recipe as Pixi Stix and Fun Dip, and they have many seasonal shapes, including their line of conversation hearts.

This brand, however, has gone through many more company changes than Brach's has. Originally, they were made under the Sunline brand, then Rowntree Mackintosh (a U.K. brand) bought them, then they were owned by Wonka (which was later bought by Nestlé), and now they are owned by Ferrera. Yes, Ferrera owns both Sweetarts and Brach's. No matter what, Ferrera will win the competition because they make both of the choices!

Conversation hearts are one of my favorite kinds of candy, and I have always been a fan of the "chalky" hearts. I absolutely love the Brach's conversation hearts in particular because they of their texture and flavor. These conversation hearts are not too hard (I don't know about you, but I do not like my candy to feel like a brick), and they have a slight "give" to them when you bite into one. Additionally, their flavors have a nice subtleness to them; after all, I do not want to eat candy and feel like I've just eaten a metric ton of sugar.

Some may argue that this candy tastes like nothing but chalk, yet I find the candy's flavors are clear and not too intense. Plus, they have cute messages like LYMY or Cutie! Also, the "Wisecracks! 'End the Conversation' Hearts" are sassier because they have opposite phrases from the normal ones (for example: "4 Never" or "Meh").

During my "official taste test," I determined two things: the yellow/banana hearts are my favorite, and the white/wintergreen hearts are my least favorite. The yellow hearts have a perfect, simplistic banana flavor, and the white hearts are harder than the other ones, for some reason. Overall, Brach's "chalky" conversation hearts are obviously superior.

Consequently, the Sweetart conversation hearts are inferior. Why would I eat a Sweetart conversation heart when I can just have a normal-shaped Sweetart? They're the same thing, after all. Plus, they don't have as many messages. Their messages are engraved instead of printing fun red words onto the candy, too.

Additionally, I noticed that the texture of these conversation hearts were less consistent than the Brach's when I was doing my official taste test. Some of the hearts were softer while others were hard, but the crumbly hearts were what threw me off the most (I was not a fan of that texture).

I did have a favorite Sweetart conversation heart: the yellow/lemon kind. Normally, I don't like lemon-flavored candies because they're always too sour, but these were better than I expected. I must have a thing for yellow conversation hearts!

During the taste test, I also found my least favorite flavor: the red/cherry kind. The red hearts were excessively sour with a vague cherry flavor. The Sweetart hearts weren't horrible, but I would definitely choose a different brand if I was in the mood for some conversation hearts.

The polls were neck-in-neck, but Sweetart candy hearts were the crowned conversation heart winner, and now the CWC has returned to its normal activities. Consultants like Adele Dummermuth were excited to see their choice win. I can't say I was surprised to see the Sweetart hearts win, but I still was disappointed to see the classic ones lose. I guess there are fewer "chalky" conversation heart enjoyers in the world, but those who prefer them are certainly cooler!

Links for further reading on the history:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/conversation-heart-candy-history https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-history-of-sweetheart-candies-157116/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SweeTarts

Top 4 Whiteboard Questions of 2023 (so far)!

     When walking into the writing center, you might notice the big pillows on the comfy chairs, or the jar full of Jolly Ranchers. These things are important in creating a welcoming atmosphere in the writing center, along with whiteboard. The whiteboard is a staple in the writing center, providing a source of entertainment and an opportunity for interesting conversation, and conversation is what the writing center is all about! For those of you who are missing your daily dose of whiteboard questions and discussions, here are some the best ones in recent weeks. 

1. If you could affect any historical event, how would you?

    This one is my personal favorite. The question itself is very broad, since you have literally all of human existence to pick from. The answers to this question can tell a lot about someone. It shows what a person is passionate about; the one thing in the entire history of human existence that they find the most interesting. The various answers can also spark more discussions or debates about the effect of intervening in said historical event.

    I didn't write my answer up there, but I think that I would go back in time and stop Phil Collins from writing "In the Air Tonight." We would live in a peaceful society, a utopia if you will, free from those awful five minutes and thirty four seconds. 

 

2. Yes or No? 

    While it may seem like a very simple and trivial question, this is one of the most complex and controversial questions known to man. It is often asked without context, and the answers thus depends completely on personal preference. It removes all logic and creates a situation in which you must defend your answer with nothing but opinions and emotions. It also is a question that encourages creativity. For example, some people responded with "maybe" or "both" instead of the designated "yes" or "no."

3. If you were an inanimate object, what would you be?

      This question requires more than what meets the eyes. One must do some introspection to determine what qualities they feel they most strongly possess, and then find an object that they feel best encompasses those qualities. 

    Like the historical event question, I feel like this question provides lots of insight into people. It reveals how people see themselves, and also how people view certain objects, a perspective that most people don't usually consider. For example, I think that the person who responded with "mug" is more of an introverted person that values the comfort of a hot beverage. 

4. If you could be any type of bread, what kind would you be?

    

   Who doesn't love bread? Similar to the inanimate object question, this question encourages introspection and evaluation. While giving people an opportunity to talk about one of the most delicious foods known to man, this questions introduces people to tastes outside of their comfort zone and encourages curiosity. 

    My favorite answer to this question is banana bread. Not only would I consider myself banana bread, since its the most reliable kind of bread, but it also one of the most delicious substances on planet earth. 

Summary    

The whiteboard is:

• fun and entertaining
• helps facilitate conversations between all people
• encourages collaboration and communication 

    What are your thoughts on these questions? Do you have answer for any of them? Keep in mind that this list contains only a small selection of the endlessly interesting whiteboard questions in the writing center. You can see more, and maybe even suggest one, by visiting the writing center on any given day!