Canada’s Chocolate Town” is located on the banks of the St. Croix River in the small community of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. In some ways the community of St. Stephen is Canada’s version of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” but instead of Charlie we have James and Gilbert Ganong.
The Ganong Family are Canada’s oldest candy makers operating since 1873. Celebrating the chocolate magic of the Ganong Family in town is a Chocolate Museum. The museum provides chocolate making programs, hands on chocolate exhibits and artifacts of candy making machines and equipment… and yes, samples of choclate to snicker and snack at.
The Ganong’s are candy makers with many firsts like : ntroducing a heart-shaped box to hold chocolates – 1932 – originally introduced at Christmas! – now the symbol of Valentine’s Day. Using cellophane packaging imported from France – 1920. Developing and introducing the first Canadian lollipop – 1895. Inventing and introducing the first chocolate nut bar in North America The first 5 cent chocolate bar – 1910. Introducing pink, cinnamon flavored candies with bittersweet chocolate in the centre in 1885. Using real fruit, in puree form, to make fruit snacks – 1988 Using the Acadian heroine Evangeline as their symbol, or logo, for 75 years (retired in 1978).
