Peeps, the sugar-coated marshmallow candy, have been dividing people around Easter time for years. The sweet marshmallow coated in sugar is too much for some to stomach, but for others, Peeps are a cult favorite. Illinois Wesleyan students have conflicting opinions about the Peeps that take over the candy aisle at grocery stores each spring.
First-year Jake Cowman expressed the popular sentiment that the contested candy is “too sugary,” while another student took it a step further, saying, “I hate Peeps more than anything.” First-year Lola Zuro acknowledged the fact that many dislike the candy but said that Peeps are “underrated” because of the crunchy sugar coating that makes them superior to other marshmallows.
Peeps were first produced by hand in the late 1940s by the Rodda Candy Company, and it took 27 hours to make just one of the candies. In 1953, the company was purchased by Sam Born, the founder of Just Born Candy Company, who industrialized the Peeps production process so the candy no longer had to be made by hand. The production now takes only six minutes.
Although they have been in production for over 60 years, Peeps have not been abandoned by the company in favor of newer candies. Peeps now come in trending flavors like chili lime mango, a nod to the recent popularity of these Mexican flavors. Peeps also come in novelty flavors like kettle corn or orange crème, and there is even a website called Every Peeps Flavor Ever that is dedicated to recording Peep flavors.
Peeps come in the shape of chicks and bunnies, and they are known as Easter candy, but the Just Born company also produces their signature candy for holidays like Christmas and Halloween. During other holidays, the traditional yellow, pink and blue colored Peeps are swapped out for orange pumpkins or red and white candy cane Peeps.
While some people like first-year student Cipher Hennessy describe Peeps as “a grandma candy,” the sugar-coated marshmallow has adapted. Peeps are not just a brand of marshmallow candy anymore, they are a symbol of new seasons and nostalgia for many, despite the considerable number of people who detest the candy.
