Last Updated: May 22, 2023 @ 2:02 pm.

What are the best conversation hearts? Also known as sweethearts or candy hearts, conversation hearts are popular as party favors—or to teach counting to a beginning student! Yes, these little candy hearts are the perfect conversation starter. We tried several brands before deciding these are the best bets.

FYI: We've been reviewing and rating products for families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don't take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!


Be Mine: The Fascinating History of Conversation Hearts

Did you know that conversation hearts—otherwise known as candy hearts or sweethearts—started as medicinal lozenges, invented by a Boston pharmacist?

Back in the 1800’s, lozenges were a popular way for folks to take medicine, but making them by hand was laborious. Bostonian Oliver Chase invented a machine that stamped out lozenges . . . and then soon found a way to print little messages on them. (Of course, candies with messages on them pre-dates conversation hearts—scalloped candy shells in the 1800’s had little printed paper messages.)

Chase quickly pivoted to candy from medicine, after the lozenges proved popular.

Chase’s company later became the New England Confectionery Company . . . which  you may know better by its initials NECCO. Chase’s original lozenges morphed into what are known today as NECCO wafers.

The first conversation hearts weren’t actually hearts—they were disks. It wasn’t until the start of the 20th century that the heart shape first appeared (along with other fun shapes like horseshoes).

Of course, the sayings have changed over the years. The larger disk or lozenge style conversation candies could fit longer sayings—for example, ““WHY IS A STYLISH GIRL LIKE YOU A THRIFTY HOUSEKEEPER?” 

The shorter “Kiss Me” and “Be Mine” are classics . . . but the companies that make the hearts have dropped some sayings over time (for some reason, “Fax Me” no longer appears).

In 2013, the Atlantic Magazine reprinted a list of the dropped sayings over the years: 

  1. DIG ME
  2. HOT CHA
  3. SAUCY BOY
  4. GIRL POWER
  5. OH YOU KID
  6. WHY NOT
  7. GROOVY
  8. COOL DUDE
  9. MY, SUCH EYES
  10. FAX ME
  11. HEP CAT
  12. TELL ME HOW
  13. YOU ARE LATE
  14. 1-800 CUPID
  15. [PEACE SYMBOL]
  16. YEAH RIGHT
  17. OH BOY
  18. YOU ROCK
  19. LET’S READ

 

Of course some sayings are timeless—”The One I Love” first appeared in 1902 and is still there today!

Buy Now
Buy Now

Best Classic Candy Hearts

Banana, orange, grape, cherry, lemon flavors
Just the right amount—not too big or too small a bag, these candies feature the "classic sayings" such as "Kiss Me" and "Be Mine." Great for traditionalists. Also handy for crafting!

Check on Amazon

Buy Now
Buy Now

Best Budget-Friendly Hearts

Best-tasting hearts
Great flavors and easy on the wallet, this bag offers a wide variety (our favorite: lemon-lime and cherry). Fruity and flavorful, plus those ever-cute sayings.
$20.99 ($0.52 / Ounce)

Check on Amazon

Buy Now
Buy Now

Best Tart Conversation Hearts

Very tangy!
Sour candy lovers, unite! These conversation hearts take the traditional candy and put a tart spin on it—love the cherry and grape flavors, although green apple is quite good as well. Nice texture.

Check on Amazon

Buy Now
Buy Now

Best Party Favor Hearts

Mini boxes of hearts
Perfect for classrooms, these mini boxes of conversation hearts feature the classic flavors . . . just in a smaller package. Flavors include wintergreen, cherry, lemon, banana, orange and grape.
$17.10 ($1.14 / Ounce)

Check on Amazon

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!

Baby Bargains: Your Baby Registry Cheat Sheet

BabyBargains.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and its related sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.