I was so disappointed when Necco stopped sending classic flavor Sweethearts candies to retail stores. I consider Sweethearts (classic) to be a Valentines tradition necessity! I've tried the new flavors but none of them capture my childhood memories like the classics.
I emailed Necco customer service this year asking if they had plans to put them back out and while they currently do not, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they did resume sales of their bulk candies! Enter Penguin Mints (the seller I purchased from). They offered a (somewhat spendy) 3lbs. bulk bag of Sweethearts candies classic flavors which I purchased the day I found them. The price was a little steep ($17 w/ Prime shipping) but it was worth every penny for that sweet, sweet nostalgia.
The hearts themselves were crunchy and fresh as if they just rolled off the assembly line (I did buy these not too long before Valentines day though. Your mileage may vary any time after Feb. 14th).
It's worth noting that at the time of my purchase these were described as the "large" version of the hearts (the pictures are still of the large hearts). The vendor has since changed the wording to indicate that they are the small ones. I was slightly disappointed as I preferred the larger ones. Oh well.
Overall I'd give these an enthusiastic 5 stars. The price is a little high, but for someone looking for the real deal there is no substitute!
Sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, glycerine, artificial and natural flavors, gelatin, vegetable gums (tragacanth, xanthan, arabic), citric acid, artificial colors (red 3, yellow 5, yellow 6, red 40, blue 1). Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, milk, and eggs.
