It was 1847. Oliver Chase lived in Boston, Massachusetts. He was working on a new invention. It would change America—and the world. 

    Chase wasn’t an inventor. He was a pharmacist. He made the medicines he sold. Back then, most pharmacists did. The lozenge was his most popular product. It was a small round disc made of herbs and chemicals. 

    People used lozenges to cure sore throats and aching heads. But they didn’t work very well. And they tasted like dirt mixed with grass. To cover up the bad taste, many lozenges had a sugary shell. 

    Making lozenges took a long time. Each one was shaped by hand. So Chase invented a machine. You put dough into it. You turned a crank. The machine quickly cut out the discs.

    Chase’s next idea would make him famous. He used his machine to make discs with no medicine in them.

    That’s right: He made lozenges that were just candy.

    It was 1847 in Boston, Massachusetts. Oliver Chase had been working for months on a new invention. It would soon change America—and the world. 

    Chase was a pharmacist, not an inventor—and like most pharmacists at the time, he made the medicines that he sold. His most popular products were lozenges, which were small round discs made of mashed-up herbs and chemicals. 

    People bought lozenges to cure their sore throats and aching heads, but these early medicines didn’t work very well. In addition, they tasted bad, like dirt mixed with grass. For this reason, lozenges were usually covered with a sugary shell. 

    Making lozenges took a long time because each one had to be shaped by hand. Chase wanted to speed up the process, so he invented a special machine. After putting dough into it, you turned a crank, and the machine quickly cut out tiny discs.

    But it was Chase’s next idea that would make him famous. He used his new machine to create discs without any medicine in them.

    That’s right: He started making lozenges that were just candy.    

    In the early 1800s, candy was common in Europe. But it was rare in America. And it was expensive. 

    In the U.S., there were only a few types of candy. There were peppermint sticks, rock candy, and lemon drops. Kids who craved sweets ate dried fruits or sticky puddings.

    Oliver Chase changed that. He named his new candies Chase Lozenges. These hard sugar wafers were the size of a quarter. They were sold in stacks. They were an instant hit. 

    In the early 1800s, candy was common in Europe. But it was rare in America—and it was expensive. 

    Only a few kinds of candy were available in the U.S., such as peppermint sticks, rock candy, and lemon drops. So kids who craved sweets usually ate dried fruits or sticky puddings.

    But Oliver Chase was about to change that. He named his new candies Chase Lozenges. He sold these hard sugar wafers, which were the size of a quarter, in stacks. They were an instant hit. 

    People loved Chase Lozenges. And Chase’s machine would change candy history. Soon it was being sold across the country. Finally, American candy makers could make big batches of sweet treats! 

    This made candy cheaper. You no longer had to be rich to buy it. Stores sold “penny candy.” It cost one cent per piece.

    Candy companies made new flavors. They tested different textures. There were chewy jelly beans and waxy candy corn. There were gooey caramels and fluffy marshmallows.

    Candy makers even sent spies to Europe! Their job was to steal secret candy recipes and bring them back to America. Each company wanted to create the next candy hit. 

    Probably the biggest breakthrough came in 1899. That’s when Milton Hershey created creamy milk chocolate. His Hershey’s Bars and Kisses became best-sellers.

    People loved Chase Lozenges. But Chase’s machine was even more important to candy history. Soon it was being sold all across the country. Finally, American candy makers could easily produce large batches of sweet treats! 

    This made candy cheaper. Suddenly, you didn’t have to be rich to buy chewy gumdrops. Stores sold dozens of types of “penny candy,” which cost one cent per piece.

    As the years went by, companies came up with new candy flavors, and they tested different candy textures. Kids could buy chewy jelly beans or waxy candy corn. Stores sold gooey caramels and fluffy marshmallows.

    Candy makers even sent spies to Europe! Their job was to steal secret candy recipes and bring them back to America. Companies competed with each other to come up with the next big candy hit. 

    Probably the biggest breakthrough came in 1899 when Milton Hershey created creamy milk chocolate. His Hershey’s Bars and Kisses became best-sellers.

    By the 1930s, U.S. shops sold thousands of kinds of candies. Many of these early candies are still sold today. They include Milk Duds, Tootsie Rolls, and Snickers bars. 

    Over the years, candy makers have continued to dream up new candies. In the early 1980s, the first gummy bears came to America from Germany. Around the same time, candy scientists created super-sour Warheads. Today chocolate is mixed with interesting flavors, like hot pepper.

    And what about Chase Lozenges?

    These candies were later called Necco Wafers. You can still buy them today.

    So go ahead—try one. 

    When you bite into each crunchy disc, you are tasting candy history. 

    By the 1930s, U.S. shops sold thousands of kinds of candies. Some of them are still sold today. They include Milk Duds, Tootsie Rolls, and Snickers bars. 

    Candy makers kept dreaming up new candies. In the early 1980s, gummy bears came to America from Germany. Around the same time, scientists created super-sour Warheads. Today chocolate is mixed with interesting flavors, like hot pepper.

    And what about Chase Lozenges?

    They were later called Necco Wafers. You can still buy them today.

    So go ahead—try one. You’ll be tasting candy history. 

    By the 1930s, U.S. shops were selling thousands of kinds of candies. Many of these early candies—such as Milk Duds, Tootsie Rolls, and Snickers bars—are still sold today. 

    Over the years, candy makers have continued to dream up new candies. In the early 1980s, the first gummy bears came to America from Germany. Around the same time, candy scientists created super-sour Warheads. Today chocolate is blended with interesting flavors, like hot pepper.

    And what about Chase Lozenges?

    These candies were later renamed Necco Wafers. You can still buy them today.

    So go ahead—try one. 

    When you bite into each crunchy disc, you are tasting candy history.