Acouple years ago, I was crawling in mom’s cluttered attic and found a box from my elementary school years.

Inside was a batch of rubber-banded Valentine’s Day cards I made for my 4th-grade class. I had forgotten to take them to school that fateful February day in 1978.

Chocolate hearts, cards, and sweetheart candies were part of the Valentine’s Day loot I had brought home from school.

I wolfed down the chocolate and threw away those sweetheart candies. But I did enjoy reading those simple messages.

We have Oliver Chase to thank for inventing those “conversation hearts.” Chase’s goal was to invent a better way to make apothecary lozenges, medicine mixed with a sugary paste.

He became the first candy-making pharmacist when he shifted his focus from medicine to sweets.

In 1847 he started his candy factory. The Chase and Chase Company became the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco. His candy business adventure was a success.

His brother Daniel Chase began printing sayings on candy in 1866. The candy was popular for weddings. “Married in pink, he will take a drink,” “Married in White, you have chosen right,” and “Married in Satin, Love will not be lasting” are just some of the original sayings.

The wafers were shipped to battlefields during the Spanish-American War, and during World War I in soldiers ration packs.

Why? The candy was said to be nearly indestructible, with a 2-year shelf life. Neither heat nor cold affects the wafers. A fitting addition to rations out in the field.

One theory behind the inspiration of the conversation heart candies suggest Chase was inspired by the popularity of Ester Howlands’s Valentine Day cards.

Another theory is the motivation came from popular scallop-shaped candy whose wrapping had a message printed on them. He wanted the words imprinted on his candy.

At first, the candy was a single disc, but expanded into shapes like baseballs, horseshoes, and watches. In 1902, they became heart-shaped. These candies became the iconic candy for Valentine’s Day.

I threw them away because I thought they tasted like tasteless colored chalk. The ingredients include sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, flavors, gums, and dyes.

All of these are mixed together in a dough, then pressed flat, stamped with sayings, and cut it into hearts. No calcium carbonate – better known as chalk – included!

Original mottos from the candy’s first appearance in 1902, such as “Be Mine,” “Be True,” and “Kiss Me,” remain popular.

When Necco went bankrupt in 2018, Spangler Candy purchased it, but did not produce the heart-shaped candy in 2019.

Conversation hearts are back in print this year. Those who love them will continue celebrating the 150-year-old tradition of giving “Be mine” and “Marry Me” candies.

I still think there is a hidden chalk ingredient in the candy somewhere. I may make my own heart cookies with the messages, “clean your room,” “feed the cats,” and, of course, “Mom loves you!”