Last Updated on October 28, 2022 by Jim Edwards
Have you ever imagined a candy that is shaped like a think potato, but filled with marshmallow and coated in chocolate? In a sentence, I’ve just described the Idaho Spud. Let’s dig in…
Idaho is famous for its production and harvesting of potatoes. To represent the state on a national level, the Idaho Spud Candy Bar was introduced by the Idaho Candy Company.
The shape of the Idaho Spud Candy Bar is similar to that of a long and thick potato, but the flavor of this marshmallow-based candy is unlike any other you might have tried before. The coatings of chocolate and coconut provide a crunchy and earthy flavor, while the dense inner marshmallow is sweet and flavored with cocoa for an original taste.
It is one of the most successful candy bars created by a small company, according to Steve Almond’s book Candyfreak. The candy bar has also appeared on Adult Swim’s comedy show On Cinema.
The slogan of the candy bar, “The Candy Bar That Makes Idaho Famous” is thought to be the element that made the popularity of Idaho Spud Candy Bar rise to such great heights.
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History and Background of Idaho Spud Candy Bar
The Idaho Spud Candy Bar was first introduced to the public in 1918, making it one of the oldest candy bars still in production. This chewy and soft Idaho Spud Candy Bar was created by the founder of Idaho Candy Company, called Thomas “T.O.” Smith.
After helping build the Dewey Palace Hotel in Nampa, T.O. Smith started the Idaho Candy Company in 1901 to help sustain himself and his expenses. He used to sell candy door to door out of shoeboxes. Soon, his business grew, and he could employ seventeen candy makers to help him create candies for all kinds of sweet tooths in Idaho.
In 1909, Mr. Smith purchased a factory to address the growing demands of his customers with the help of the Adams family. The 23,000 square foot candy factory is the same place used by the company to manufacture sweets to this date.
The Idaho Candy Company produced around 50 different types of candies and many varieties of chocolates over the years, such as Mint Patty, Fox Trot, Quarter Section, Cherry Cocktail Bar, Huckleberry Gems, Idaho Spud Candy Bar, and many more.
What Does Idaho Spud Candy Bar Taste Like?
The Idaho Spud Candy Bar comes in a minimalistic and straightforward brown-colored packaging with the candy’s name written in bright yellow and the quirky slogan for the product written at the bottom. There are different layers of the candy bar that add various textures into the mix, making for a much more enjoyable experience.
When you bite into the potato-shaped candy bar, the first thing you will taste is the coconut shavings on top. The coconut flakes add a refreshing taste as the second layer of the candy bar is the creamy chocolate layer.
Although the chocolate layer is a chocolate compound (consisting of sugar, cocoa, and vegetable fats) rather than real chocolate itself, it is still decadent.
After the chocolate layer, you will find the best part of the candy bar: the cocoa-flavored marshmallow. The marshmallow is firm and has a consistency similar to that of custard jelly and a marshmallow, making the treat taste even sweeter and delicious.
Idaho Spud Candy Bar Nutritional Information
The nutritional information for a single serving of Idaho Spud Candy Bar (43 g) is given below:
Calories | 180 |
Total Fat | 8 g |
Saturated Fat | 4 g |
Sodium | 9.9 mg |
Total Carbohydrate | 30 g |
Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
Sugar | 20 g |
Protein | 1 g |
Calcium | 13 mg |
Iron | 0.4 mg |
Idaho Life (Spud Bar Edition): The candy bar that made Idaho famous
The Idaho Candy Company in Boise, ID, has been producing these exceptional and wonderful spuds for more than a century. The process and recipe for creating these candies has remained mostly unchanged for the most part, with only small changes made to allow for more deliciousness and quicker manufacturing.
Watch this inside look at the company’s Boise plant to learn how Idaho Spud Candy Bars are created.
Idaho Spud Candy Bar – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What candy is Idaho known for?
Idaho is famously known for the Idaho Spud Candy Bar. The candy bar has an extremely loyal following in the northwest of the United States.
Where are the Idaho Spud Candy Bars made?
The Idaho Spud Candy Bars are made at the exact location they were created in 1918. The factory is on 8th Street, Boise, ID.
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Image credits:
“Inside the Idaho Spud” by Pest15 is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.
“Idaho Spud Wrapper & Candy” by Pest15 is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.
“idaho spud” by Elliot Moore is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.
“Idaho Spud” by Like_the_Grand_Canyon is marked with CC BY-NC 2.0.
I’m Jim Edwards and I started this website to share my love of Junk Food. We cover new junk food, desserts, snack foods, fast food secret menus, candy (of course!) and other related news. We love trying “secret menus” at restaurants. And we love trying new products too. So, we are trying to have some fun with our hobby and share some useful information with you, our community. Please feel to send us your suggestions and feedback through the contact form. And if you have products you would like us to try, let us know…!