Most people with a sweet tooth are familiar with modern candy – Snickers, Twix, Skittles, etc. But this little store in Harpers Ferry takes candy to a whole new level. They sell historic candy treats dating back to the 1500s and earlier. Only in this shop will you find a Heath bar just a few steps away from 19th century buttermints.
It probably comes as no surprise that this historic candy shop is located in Harpers Ferry, arguably the most historically rich city in the entire state.
True Treats Historic Candy is owned by Susan Benjamin, a former journalist and college professor who now spends her time researching the history of sugars and sweets. She is a member of the Culinary Historians of Washington D.C. and the author of several books on the subject. She has given presentations for museums nationwide, including the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Her shop has also been featured in Food Network Magazine and many other publications.
Inside the charming little shop, the candy she sells is categorized by time period.
The shop sells hundreds of different candies, including sorghum drops, Turkish delight, black jack sticks, NECCO wafers, sassafras root, salt water taffy, rock candy and pecan pralines, among many others. There is also a display with modern treats, such as Heath bars, Zagnut and Clark bars.
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Since the shop is widely recognized as the only research-based candy shop in the country, you will find each item labeled with a history lesson about that particular candy.
