M&M's: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:11, 25 January 2025

Revision as of 16:26, 28 January 2025

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[[File:M&m2.jpg|thumb|Peanut M&M's have a different shape.]]

'''M&M's''' are color-varied sugar-coated [[dragée]] [[chocolate]] [[confectionery]], each of which has the letter "m" printed in [[lower case]] in white on one side, consisting of a candy shell surrounding a filling which varies depending upon the variety of M&M's. The original candy has a [[semi-sweet chocolate]] filling which, upon introduction of other variations, was branded as the "plain, normal" variety. Peanut M&M's, which feature a peanut coated in milk chocolate, and finally a candy shell, were the first variation to be introduced, and they remain a regular variety. Numerous other variations have been introduced, some of which are regular widespread varieties ([[peanut butter]], [[almond]], [[pretzel]], crispy, [[dark chocolate]], and [[caramel]]) while others are limited in duration or geographic availability. M&M's are the flagship product of the Mars Wrigley Confectionery division of [[Mars Inc.]].

The candy originated in the United States in 1941,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JbOsI9RG8fYC&q=peanut+m&pg=PA84|title=Peanuts: The Illustrious History of the Goober Pea|last=Smith|first=Andrew F.|date=2002|publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]]|isbn=9780252025532|language=en}}</ref> and M&M's have been sold in over 100 countries since 2003.<ref name="usat03"/> They are produced in different colors, some of which have changed over the years. The candy-coated chocolate concept was possibly copied by [[Forrest Mars Sr.]] from [[Smarties]], which he may have encountered during the [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936–1939).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/forrest-mars-mms-late-1930s/|title=Forrest Mars. M&Ms. Late 1930s|website=MoMA.org}}</ref> The sugar coating made it possible to carry chocolate in warm climates [[Melting point of chocolate|without it melting]]. The company's longest-lasting slogan reflects this: "the milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand."