Photo: cafemama, Flickr
The New England Confectionery Co., NECCO, plans to expand its 143-year-old Sweethearts Conversation Hearts line next month with treats inspired by the Stephenie Meyer vampire series "Twilight."
The candymaker will sell tiny hearts in early March with sayings like "I ♥ EC," "Lion and Lamb," "Bite Me," "Dazzle" and "Live 4 Ever," a NECCO official told AOL Food on Friday. The new hearts are tied to the March 21 "Twilight" DVD release and part of a larger Sweethearts overhaul.
The "Twilight" hearts will be softer with stronger, fruitier flavors, and the sweets will carry 20 phrases attributed to the movie's main characters, Bella and Edward, Jackie Hague, NECCO vice president of marketing, told Slashfood.
And some will sparkle in the sunlight, just like the film's main vampire, Edward.
"Bella's don't dazzle in the sun, only Edward's do," Hague said. "Edward's are purple and orange, and Bella's are pink and bright red."
The Boston Herald reported last month that hearts would have flavors like "tempting apple" and "orange obsession," but Hague would not confirm that, though she said the candies will be packaged in a strawberry-scented box.
"We're really not ready to talk about the flavors yet," Hague said. "We kind of want kids to look forward to seeing what they are."
Following the "Twilight" hearts, NECCO plans to sell a veterans' line, "Red, White & You," with sayings like "Brave," "Valor" and "I ♥ USA." The strawberry, blueberry and vanilla candies will be released on Memorial Day.
NECCO's current crop of V-Day Sweethearts are food inspired with sayings from the "Menu of Love." "Yum Yum," "Spice It Up," "Top Chef" and "Honey Bun" are among the 10 new sayings included in the 2009 Valentine's Day selection.
Sweethearts Conversation Hearts were first introduced by the Boston-based candymaker in 1866 as "Conversation Candies." Over the years the sweets have undergone a few face lifts, including the addition of pop culture sayings, beginning with "Fax Me" in 1995.
Meyer helped develop the "Twilight" Sweethearts, and another lineup tied to the second film, "New Moon," will be released in November.
"It's really something that we think people who are into the franchise are gonna go, 'These guys get it,'" Hague said. "They're going to think they're fun, because they are."
When asked if the "New Moon" candies would have hearts for another love interest in the series, Jacob, Hague coyly responded with a "maybe."
