Chocolates Archives - Page 3 of 3 -

Posted on March 24, 2018 by LRubi

Hop to It, Easter Time is Here!

Hop to It, Easter Time is Here

custom easter gift basket It’s time to hop to it, Easter Time is here. And we have everything you need for a fun and festive day. Our shop if full of eggs, bunnies, and other chocolate symbols of the season. Watson’s Candies has a great selection of delicious fine chocolates and Easter Gift Baskets that are sure to make you and your family smile.

Some of the symbols of Easter pre-date Christianity. Many cultures throughout history celebrated this time of year as one of birth and renewal following the long dark days of winter. Symbols of Easter, like the egg and the bunny, have their roots in pre-Christian cultures. Decorating colored Easter eggs began before Christianity was introduced and became a popular custom in the middle ages. We are all familiar with PAAS® egg dye decorating tablets. The word PAAS comes from “passen”, a word the Penn Dutch used for Easter. PAAS® has been supplying dye tablets for over 135 years. We also carry PAAS kits at Watson’s! Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two other long-standing traditions. The first White House Easter Egg Roll took place in 1878 and has been held on the Monday after Easter ever since.

Chocolate Eggs and Bunnies

The first chocolate eggs were made in Europe in the early 19th Century. John Cadbury created his “eating chocolate” around 1842, but Cadbury Easter Eggs were not introduced until about 1875. In 1905 Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate was launched and helped to vastly increase Easter egg sales. We have half-pound and one-pound bags of Foil Wrapped Chocolate Easter Eggs on hand. Chocolate Easter Eggs were initially wrapped in paper before they were wrapped in bright foils. Other classic chocolate egg treats you will find at Watson’s include our Large Filled Easter Egg, and our Small Filled Easter Egg. The large egg is filled with an assortment of our delicious gourmet chocolates. The small egg is filled with jelly beans, another Easter favorite, and a foil wrapped chocolate bunny. Both are decorated with colorful icing and can be customized with your child’s name. Our Foil Wrapped Chocolate Easter Bunnies are also available in half-pound and one-pound bags. Both make great additions to Easter Baskets and are a colorful addition to any candy dish.

Easter Gift Baskets

For a truly unique gift, ask us about our custom Easter Gift Baskets, filled with your choice of delicious gourmet chocolates, candies, and small gifts. Prices range from $25 up. Call us at 508-668-2634 and we will create a unique gift basket for you!

We have crafted high-quality gourmet chocolates using nothing but the finest ingredients for over 85 years, and continue to do so with the same appreciation and integrity that we always have. In other so-called gourmet chocolates you may find artificial or substitute fats and ingredients added in order to achieve certain shine or consistency. Not with Watson’s Gourmet Chocolates. We never presume to feed our loyal patrons anything that they didn’t sign up for!

Hop to it, Easter is Here! Stop in or shop our online store to see our wonderful selection of Easter chocolates and candies and to discover why Watson’s Candies is THE source for gourmet chocolates.

Posted on February 2, 2018March 24, 2018 by LRubi

A Gift of Chocolate on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to express your love to your sweetheart, so show your love with a gift of chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Watson’s Candies has a great selection of fine chocolates at a price point sure to meet your budget. Show your loved one you care with our Heart Shape Boxed Chocolates. Our assorted chocolates in a one pound classic heart box starts at $38.95, and we also have many specialty boxes available. While you’re here, try out delectable Mini Valentine Heart Box of Chocolates, Valentine’s Day Nonpareils, Gourmet Truffles, Chocolate Cherubs, Foiled Solid Chocolate Hearts, and so much more.

Stop in or shop our online store to see our wonderful selection of Valentine’s Day chocolates and candies and to discover why Watson’s Candies is THE source for gourmet chocolates. Say, “I love you”, with a gift of chocolate on Valentine’s Day!

Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day?

The roots of Valentine’s Day, named for two different Roman saints, goes back to Roman times. One of the namesakes of St. Valentine’s Day, allegedly married couples illegally in Roman times, and the day may also stem from a celebration of spring which took place in mid-February. The tradition of celebrating romance, giving gifts, and saying, “I love you,” with chocolate evolved over the centuries.

The first mention of St. Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday appeared in the 1300’s when the holiday was Christianized. It was celebrated in mid-February because many believed birds started their mating season on February 14. This is why doves are often associated with love. In the 1300’s, knights gave roses to their maidens and celebrated them in song. But sugar was expensive, so gifts of candy were not exchanged. People began to exchange cards and letters sometime around the 17th century.

The Valentine’s Day holiday to celebrate romantic love became prevalent by the 1840’s in most of the English speaking world. Victorians shared elaborate cards and gifts, and mass production of Valentine’s Day cards began.

Where did the tradition of giving sweets to your sweetheart come from?

As for giving gifts of chocolate in heart-shaped boxes? Richard Cadbury, from the British chocolate manufacturing family began that trend. After improving a process of extracting cocoa butter from whole beans for a better drinking chocolate in England, he used the excess cocoa butter to produce many more “eating chocolates”. He created beautifully decorated boxes of his own design to showcase the chocolates and increase sales. He may have been the first to produce the heart shaped box in the 1860’s. Not only were they a beautiful box to receive on Valentine’s Day, they were also used afterwards to store mementos – locks of hair, love letters, and the like. Those famous Necco Sweethearts we all know and love, now known as “conversation hearts”, were invented in 1866 by Daniel Chase.

Today, about 55% of Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day and spend an estimated 1.7 billion dollars on candy alone! Necco produces about 8 billion conversation hearts each year (about 100,00 pounds a day). About 36 million heart-shaped boxes and 58 million pounds of chocolate are sold each year.

Show your love with a gift of chocolate on Valentine’s Day, an on any other special occasion!

Our Gourmet Chocolates are Perfect for So Many Occasions:

Valentine’s Day
Easter
Greek Easter
Mother’s Day
Father’s Day
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Client Appreciation Gifts
Client Relationship Gifts
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Weddings
Holiday Parties
Catered Dessert Tables
Many Many More!!

Posted on October 26, 2017November 14, 2017 by LRubi

Watson’s Candies – Walpole’s Gourmet Chocolates

Walpole’s Gourmet Chocolates

Watson’s Candies is a premier confectioner based in Walpole, Massachusetts that serves Walpole and the Greater Boston Area. But you don’t have to live in the area to enjoy our chocolate; we also ship nationwide. We have crafted high-quality gourmet chocolates using nothing but the finest ingredients for over 85 years, and continue to do so with the same appreciation and integrity that we always have. Stop in or shop our online store to discover why Watson’s Candies is Walpole’s and Greater Boston’s source for gourmet chocolates.

In other so-called gourmet chocolates you may find artificial or substitute fats and ingredients added in order to achieve certain shine or consistency. Not with Watson’s Gourmet Chocolates. We never presume to feed our loyal patrons anything that they didn’t sign up for!

Not only do we only craft the finest candy, but we also take the time to let our patrons find their ideal treat because we know that if they do they will keep coming back! If you come visit us in the store, we are happy to offer you a taste of something new, and assist your discovery of your inner-most chocolate desires.

So, if you live in Walpole, and are ready to experience a superior gourmet chocolate, drop by our shop in Walpole, give us a call, or shop try out our new online store!