Coastin Carl
🍫 National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
This is a sweet story about the beloved chocolate-covered raisin. National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day is celebrated on the 24th Day in March. The origin is unknown – supposedly Nestlé created it but for now, they’re denying the allegation. Nevertheless, people from all over the world love chocolate-covered raisins.
Even if Joon, in the 1993 film Benny & Joon thought raisins are grapes with their life sucked out of them … we still like ’em.
“They used to be fat and juicy and now they’re twisted. They had their lives stolen. Well, they taste sweet, but really they’re just humiliated grapes. I can’t say I am a big supporter of the raisin council.”
Seriously though adding chocolate to a raisin is like giving the once plump grape a much-needed resuscitation. Needless to say, putting chocolate on raisins has been going on for a long time. People have enjoyed chocolate-covered raisins as early as ancient times in Mesoamerica. This is where cocoa comes from. They put cocoa on a great many things.
A Wrinkled STAR is Born
The most common household name for a chocolate-covered raisin is the Raisinets. This raisin recipe got its humble in 1927 beginning with the Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company of Philadelphia. Since then many companies have purchased this recipe. It has changed hands but in 1984 Nestlé bought raisinets and brought with them their knowledge of candy polishing until 2018. This is when Nestlé USA sold its US confectionery business and bought a vitamin company instead.
Meanwhile, you’ve heard the pop-culture expression “Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger”? Well someone did. Ferrara Candy Company, an Italian chocolate & candy maker who churns our Ferrero Rocher and Nutella snapped it up for almost $3 billion.
FUN FACT: that chocolate layer surrounding the hazelnut in the middle of each Ferrero Rocher IS Nutella.
However chocolate-covered raisins are considered a healthier treat. They’re packed with fiber and antioxidants and are lower in calories than other commercial chocolates. It would be nice though if Nestlé would make use of coconut sugar or other healthier sweeteners such as stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit since they do go to the trouble of using Thompson seedless grapes from central California. Chocolate has theobromine, and raisins are a good source of fiber, B vitamins, folate, calcium, potassium, and Iron. In addition, you could even consider this as a tolerable pre-workout treat to give you some sustainable energy.
In New Zealand and Australia, they call them chocolate-covered sultanas. But here we use golden raisins. Nestlé has kept the making of raisinets in the United States. However, people all over the world enjoy chocolate-covered raisins especially as a movie time treat.
Even if Nestlé didn’t create the day I’m on board with whoever did.
🌞 HOW to Celebrate & Observe National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day?
Not sure how to LOVE the day? Here are a few interesting ideas.
Here are some activities that you can do on National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day!
💙 MAKE your own choco raisins
Try this homemade choco raisin recipe. Melt half a cup of chocolate to a cup of raisins and a little coconut oil. And when you’re finished, share some with your neighbors. These will go good in a sort of gourmet version of trail mix!
💙 EDUCATE thyself
There are numerous candy museums springing forth, documentaries to watch, food blogs, and plenty of candy coffee table books abound just waiting to give you the skinny on a chocolate-covered raisin.
💙 RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #NationalChocolateCoveredRaisinDay, #ChocolateCoveredRaisinDay, #Raisins, #Chocolate, #FoodHolidays, #MarchHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day.
LEARN more about RAISINETS
HOW RAISINETS ARE MADE
RAISINETS COMMERCIAL
FIVE Fun Facts you never knew about National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day
- When chocolate-covered raisins were first sold, movie theaters paid 1.25 cents a box and sold them for a nickel.
- Every single chocolate-covered Raisinet is polished to make it shine.
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Nestle purchased the rights to Raisinets in 1984 and was producing 21 million chocolate-covered raisins a day.
- Raisinets use a special seedless Thompson grape grown in California.
- Chocolate-covered raisins are a healthier snack but our gluten-free friends enjoy them as well.
Famous PEOPLE also born on March 24th
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Joseph Priestley
English chemist, philosopher & theologian best known for discovering oxygen and invented carbonated water. Born 1733.
JOSEPH PRIESTLEY Quote
“What I have known with respect to myself, has tended much to lessen both my admiration, and my contempt, of others.”
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Harry Houdini
Hungarian escape artist & illusionist famous for hundreds of tricks but best known for his milk can escape, the Chinese water torture cell where he had to hold his breath for three minutes, and the vanishing 10,000 lb elephant. Born 1874.
HARRY HOUDINI Quote
“What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.”
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Joseph Barbera
American animator best known for his partnership with William Hanna on more than 250 cartoons including Tom and Jerry, Huckleberry Hound, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, The Smurfs, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo including DC & Marvel toons. Born 1911.
JOSEPH BARBERA Quote
“You keep pitching. Most of the pitches run wild. A few are caught.”
Future DATES for National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | March 24 | Friday |
| 2024 | March 24 | Sunday |
| 2025 | March 24 | Monday |
| 2026 | March 24 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | March 24 | Wednesday |
🍇 Chocolate-Covered Raisins FAQ
Do chocolate-covered raisins make you POOP?
- Raisins are able to soothe bowel movements. Eating soaked raisins not only helps prevent constipation but also keeps your digestion strong. This is because they’re high in fiber and act as natural laxatives when soaked in water.
How LONG do homemade chocolate-covered raisins LAST?
- You can store chocolate-covered raisins you make in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Furthermore, you can also freeze chocolate-covered raisins for at least 3 months.
Why we L💜VE National CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN Day
Raisinets or sultanas, whatever you call them people enjoy them throughout the world. If you have a chocolate craving this is a treat more toward the healthier side. So give them as gifts during special occasions or any time. Raisinets are proudly made in the United States. Many chocolate companies make chocolate-covered raisins. Sun-Maid offers a most intriguing product – raisins covered in chocolate-flavored yogurt.
Also, people often pair chocolate and raisins & make these treats homemade and. For instance, double dipped chocolate-covered peanuts are one of my favorite treats. This combo of chocolate peanuts and chocolate raisins is a match made in heavenly goodness. Yum.
