The Krampus Kalendar: O is for Chocolate ORANGES

As my Best Man pointed out during his speech at my wedding (almost 16 years ago), I have a think of chocolate and orange in combination, and I love nothing more than a Terry's Chocolate Orange (apart from my wife and children, of course), a product that was first created in 1932 at the Terry's Chocolate Works in York, England.

In 1823, Joseph Terry joined a York sweets company, which specialised in orange and lemon candied peel, as well as other sweets. Terry used his skills in chemistry to develop new lines of chocolate, candied peel, and marmalade. The company opened the Art Deco-style factory known as Terry's Chocolate Works in 1926, and began launching new products. These included the Dessert Chocolate Apple (1926), Terry's All Gold (1931) and the Chocolate Orange.

In 1954, production of the chocolate apple was phased out in favour of increased production of the Chocolate Orange.

Did you know...?

• Chocolate Oranges appeared on the South Korean market in the GS25 chain of convenience stores in 2017.
• The Terry's factory in York closed in 2005. Chocolate Orange manufacturing was moved to near Jankowice, in Poland, but in 2017, with the sale of Terry's, manufacture was moved to France.
• Surveys have revealed that a Terry’s Chocolate Orange finds its way into one in ten British Christmas stockings.
• On 29 May 2016, the UK product size was reduced from 175g to 157g by changing the moulded shape of each segment to leave an air gap between each piece. Despite this, the price doubled in some retail outlets.

Take care when you examine the stockings in 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas, as they may not contain a Chocolate Orange. But I might have to put one or two into 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, or maybe the RPG could come with a free one at future conventions.

   

To find out more about the festive season and its many traditions, order your copy of the Chrismologist's Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts today!

The book is also available in the United States as Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Christmas.