Spectacular! For a chocolate lover like me, that’s the first word that pops to mind when I think of the huge, candy-filled chocolate Easter eggs created by hand at Piper’s Grocery and Candies in Chariton, Iowa.
Hundreds of these incredible hollow eggs are created annually at Piper’s during the pre-Easter season for sale locally and shipment around the world. (I was more thrilled than a kid at Christmas when my Priority Mail shipment from Piper’s arrived the other day!)
The treats come in four sizes, including half-pound, 1-pound, 2-pound and 5-pound eggs. (Trust me—you’ll be amazed by the heavyweight egg!) The smaller eggs are filled with M&Ms or a small candy mix, while the larger eggs enclose an assortment of Piper’s famous homemade candies (including chocolate turtles—oh yeah!), which have been produced at the shop since 1947.
A history of good taste Piper’s Grocery and Candies’ rich history goes back much farther than the 1940s, however. Opened in 1903, the shop has been located on the northeast corner of the town square since 1905. From all accounts, Piper’s was considered the premiere grocery store in town. Not only did farmers trade their wares for groceries, but groceries were delivered several times a day to area homes. “Huckster wagons” also hauled supplies from Piper’s to the thriving mining communities in the area.
By 1947, when Bob Piper and his wife, Ruth, ran the store, they added high-quality candy. As it turns out, delicious homemade candy would become Piper’s claim to fame. There’s also an art to candy making. (See more of the story, including Piper’s candy makers at work, at Frank D. Myer’s interesting blog, The Lucas Countyan.)
Dealing with the chocolate used in the candy-making process can be tricky. It must be properly tempered to ensure tasty, visually-appealing results. The folks at Piper’s take this seriously.
“Bob and Ruth developed top-notch candy making skills, and we still use the same recipes and techniques they used all those years ago,” says Jill Kerns, owner. “Why mess with perfection?”
Buy local Don’t you love it? I had the chance to meet Jill and her mother, Anne, when I stopped by Piper’s earlier this year. It was a joy to meet these two amazing ladies and experience Piper’s, which is a dream for a foodie and history buff like me. Stepping through the front door at Piper’s is like stepping back in time to a small-town Iowa corner grocery store.
For me, the biggest attraction is the long counter that showcases an array of candies behind the glass. When Anne and Jill offered to show me the candy kitchen in the back of the shop, I relished the chance to see where the magic happens. While this isn’t a huge, modern space, it’s steeped in tradition, from the chocolate molds to the other candy-making equipment—and I loved it.
I also love to shop locally and support Iowa businesses like Piper’s, so I bought some bags of candy before I left the store that day (and began snacking on it before I drove out of the Chariton city limits!) Candy is available year-around at Piper’s, along with groceries, gifts and notions, including many locally-produced items.
I wish I could stop by more often, but Chariton is a bit of a drive for me. Thank goodness Piper’s has a great website and online ordering area. Check it out, and enjoy a taste of Iowa for yourself.
@Copyright 2016, Darcy Maulsby
