Iowa Is Home to One of the Top Five Candy Stores in America

There's never a bad time to satisfy your sweet tooth with some candy. And one of the best places in America to get it isn't that far away.

A panel of experts from USA TODAY 's 10 Best recently narrowed down a list of the top candy places in America and then turned it over to their readers to vote for the 10 Best Candy Stores Across the U.S. (2023).

An iconic Iowa establishment cracked the Top Five.

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The Candy Kitchen in Wilton checks in as the fourth-best candy store in the nation, but there's more than just candy here. The Candy Kitchen is also home to an ice cream parlor and soda fountain. It's been that way since it was founded in 1867, making it perhaps the oldest continuously operating place of its type in the United States.

According to the shop's Wikipedia page, in 1910 the business was bought by Gus Nopoulos, a Greek immigrant, who later bought the kitchen's current building in 1913.

The structure at 310 Cedar Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

10 BEST CANDY STORES ACROSS THE U.S. (USA TODAY'S 10 Best)

Bright's Candies - Walla Walla, Washington
Windy City Sweets - Chicago, Illinois
Chutters - Littleton, New Hampshire
Wilton Candy Kitchen - Wilton, Iowa
Samuel's Sweet Shop - Rhinebeck, New York
The Candy Bank - Mandeville, Louisiana
The Sweet Palace - Philipsburg, Montana
The Farris Wheel Candy Co. - Wichita, Kansas
Shane Confectionery - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Big Top Candy Shop - Austin, Texas

Iowa Palmer Company's Twin Bing Products

Can you even really claim to live in this part of the country if you've never had a Twin Bing?

WHAT IS A TWIN BING?

"It consists of two round, chewy, cherry-flavored nougats coated with a mixture of chopped peanuts and chocolate. The Twin Bing was introduced in the 1960s," -Wikipedia

Not only has the TB been a staple of the Sioux Empire for over half a decade, but the makers of the classic candy have also infused the unique cherry and chocolate flavor into lots of other things.

Inside Minnesota's Largest Candy Store

I had been to Minnesota's Largest Candy Store once before, but they did some pretty cool things since the last time I was there. They added a bunch of superheroes, Star Wars stuff, and a candy band.

According to their Facebook page, Jim's Apple Farm is actually how the now huge candy store got its start. It is located in Jordan, MN and you can't miss it. It is a huge yellow building.

Even though candy is mentioned in the name, they have a little bit of everything. They have fresh baked pies and cookies and fudge. We walked in and it smelled amazing!

They also have the largest selection of sodas! Then there is chocolate and taffy and gummies and chips and puzzles and games. So much stuff!

They even have a Zoltar machine like in the movie, Big. I had to check that out. He told me the only helping hand is at the end of my arm. Gee, thanks Zoltar.

There were even crickets and worms! Not gummy worms, but actual worms.

They also have candy from all over the world!

The store is seasonal, however. November is their last month of operation for the season.