What’s the most popular Valentine’s Day candy in each state? New insights from CandyStore.com uses 14 years of sales data to reveal the answer.  

“Some of the results are surprising, and there are a lot of conversation hearts and boxes of chocolate too,” writes Ben George for CandyStore.com. “The underlying trends are also interesting.”

A few Valentine’s Day candies were especially popular. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates was the favorite in the most states, ranking most popular in 17 states. The second most popular was Conversation Hearts, ranked most popular in 11 states. And then the third most popular was M&M’S, at the top in nine states. 

Last year, Covid-19 struck Valentine’s Day hard, George said, citing data from the National Retail Federation. Spending was down more than 20 percent from the previous year’s all-time high. But this year, things are picking back up. The NRF is expecting a near-record breaking year with consumer spending for Valentine’s Day up nearly 10 percent and reaching $23.9 billion.

The number of people buying candy also is expected to be at a new record high with 56 percent of consumers planning to buy candy for Valentine’s Day. Expected candy sales volume is also up and at $2.2 billion, would be runner up only to 2020 ($2.4 billion).

Top Valentine’s Day candy in each state

The list for the most popular Valentine’s Day candy in each state is below. For more detailed data, including the second and third most popular Valentine’s candy in each state as well as an interactive map, visit CandyStore.com. 

Alabama: Candy necklaces

Alaska : Conversation Hearts

Arizona: M&M'S

Arkansas: Hershey Kisses

California: Conversation Hearts

Colorado: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Connecticut: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Delaware: Hershey Kisses

Florida: Conversation Hearts

Georgia: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Hawaii: Conversation Hearts

Idaho: Conversation Hearts

Illinois: Conversation Hearts

Indiana: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Iowa: M&M'S

Kansas: M&M'S

Kentucky: Chocolate Roses

Louisiana: Conversation Hearts

Maine: Chocolate Hearts

Maryland: M&M'S

Massachusetts: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Michigan: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Minnesota: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Mississippi: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Missouri: Conversation Hearts

Montana: Chocolate Hearts

Nebraska: Cupid Corn

Nevada: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

New Hampshire: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

New Jersey: M&M'S

New Mexico: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

New York: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

North Carolina: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

North Dakota: M&M'S

Ohio: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Oklahoma: Conversation Hearts

Oregon: M&M'S

Pennsylvania: M&M'S

Rhode Island: Chocolate Hearts

South Carolina: Conversation Hearts

South Dakota: Hershey Kisses

Tennessee: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Texas: Hershey Kisses

Utah: Hershey Kisses

Vermont: M&M'S

Virginia: Conversation Hearts

Washington: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

Washington, D.C.: Heart-shaped box of chocolates

West Virginia: Cupid Corn

Wisconsin: Conversation Hearts

Wyoming: Chocolate Roses