OPINION

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By Anna Armstrong

It’s that time of year again. The days start getting shorter, pumpkin spice flavor appears on almost every menu, and the craving for chocolate and candy treats grows stronger. As an experienced trick-or-treater, I am here to set things straight about the best and worst Halloween candy opinions.

On October 6, Fox News published a review of the data results from a survey, conducted through a partnership between Instacart and the Harris Poll, of 2,000 Americans nationwide about their stance on Halloween candy. The most earthshaking statistic was that 52% of parents admitted they were absolutely or probably going to eat their kids’ Halloween candy this year, and of those parents, more than half said they would not even feel guilty.

Additionally, this poll showed that candy corn was the most purchased Halloween treat in Virginia. However, the opinions of the Collegiate Upper School do not correlate with this statistic. Inspired by Jennifer Aldrich’s and Arricca Elin Sansone’s ranking of Halloween sweets in Country Living magazine, The Match surveyed Upper School students and faculty about their candy preferences. Out of 122 responses, only 6.6% supported the belief that candy corn is truly the greatest Halloween candy. But traditionalists like Georgia Kulp (‘22) argued that “candy corn should only be eaten around Halloween, so it is the superior Halloween candy.”

The results of the most popular Halloween candy among Collegiate Upper School students and faculty according to a Match survey, showing the top eight most popular choices. Image credit: Anna Armstrong.

Here are some comments from Upper Schoolers about their favorite candy:

• Marla Van Deusen (‘24) describes Snickers as “chocolate, caramel, crunchy peanuts, what more could you ask for unless you’re allergic to it.”
• Brent Hailes (‘22) claims that “no other candy bar, in my opinion, captures the crispy caramel crunch that I crave” when raving about 100 Grand Bar.
• Chase Gill (‘25) believes chocolate-covered gummy bears are the best Halloween candy.
• Jackson Scott (‘25) plainly says that “[Skittles] bring me joy.”

Many other reasons were simply “because” or included the word “gas” when describing the candy as delicious.

The Collegiate Upper School’s most popular trick-or-treating sweet was Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, coming in as a favorite with a 24.6% majority. Syd Jamison (‘22) stresses the practicality of this candy by saying, “nothing is more important while out trick-or-treating than quickly unwrapping and popping a piece of candy into your mouth.” Jamison concluded by stating, “Reese’s Cups have been on top of the game for years, and their dominance will continue for years to come.”

Lucas Kwan Peterson, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, agrees with this opinion, saying that “it’s the candy that truly exemplifies the holiday. The taste is good too – the grainy, slightly salty peanut butter in each cup comforts in a way normal peanut butter can’t.” Peterson rounded out the rest of his top five with Kit Kat, Butterfinger, Twix, and Starburst.

Hayden Rollison (‘23) agrees with Peterson on the superiority of Starburst. He claims “the juices that the tiny planes shoot into them before you eat it are amazing, like in the commercials.” Rollison also credits the chewy candy’s deliciousness to what he calls “the juicedratic formula.”

Along with polling Collegiate students and faculty about their overall favorite candies, the survey asked for opinions on Reese’s specialty pumpkin-shaped cup versus the generic cup. The results showed that, out of 119 responses, 52.1% of the Upper School claim the Reese’s Halloween specialty is superior. I must admit that I agree with the unmatchable flavor of the pumpkin-shaped cup. These festive-shaped chocolate-coated peanut buttery treats are everywhere from mid-September until the first weeks of November but are a rarity throughout the rest of the year. The limited supply is what makes Reese’s Halloween specialty taste all the better.

The opinion of Upper School students and faculty on the pumpkin-shaped versus generic Reese’s Cups according to a Match survey. Image credit: Anna Armstrong.

Reese’s Halloween specialty pumpkin-shaped cup. Photo Credit: Flikr user Like_the_Grand_Cayon.

While one can argue that the classic combo of chocolate and peanut butter is the same as generic Reese’s cups, the pumpkin’s perfectly designed shape reigns supreme. The size of the pumpkin cup triumphs that of the generic cup, thus leading to a larger peanut butter filling, creating a new balance between sweet, contrasting with salty, within the cup. This chocolate-to-peanut butter ratio was created as both cups use the same amount of chocolate for coating different size fillings. Therefore, the pumpkin cup has less chocolate and more peanut butter than the everyday Reese’s. Whether this ratio was created by the sheer laziness and/or stinginess of corporate refusing to splurge on more chocolate to coat their Halloween special, or just pure culinary wizardry, the recipe has crafted arguably the greatest Halloween candy of the current era.

The Reese’s debate is not the only Halloween specialty preference of the Collegiate Upper School students. Sadie Brooks (‘23) claims the Halloween Kit Kat trumps the original “because orange chocolate is way better than normal chocolate.” Whether Reese’s or Kit Kat, something in the October air just makes candy taste better.

Featured image photo credit: Public Domain Pictures.