The British City Where The First Chocolate Bar Was Invented

Chocolate bars are an icon in the confectionery sphere. Over the years, the sweet, crunchy candies have molded their way into popular culture, from the golden ticket-wrapped prizes in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" to Don Draper's heartbreaking pitch to the Hershey executives in season 6 of "Mad Men" (per IMDb). Munching on a candy bar can be one of life's simplest pleasures, especially when it's a brick of pure, solid chocolate. Whether you prefer milk, dark, white, or ruby chocolate, there exists a chocolate bar that can satisfy any palate.

Chocolate consumption has evolved quite a bit since the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, particularly the elite citizens, would sip on a beverage made from cacao beans, according to History. Today, chocolate is much sweeter than the bitter drink consumed millennia ago, not to mention more widely available to all social classes. Candy companies have popped up around the world, with the most factories located throughout Europe, reports Investopedia. Chocolate bars in particular are manufactured by numerous international brands, including Hershey, Nestlé, Mars, and Cadbury, just to name a few. So, where on earth was this legendary treat first concocted?

If you ever find yourself jaunting around the city of Bristol, know that you're not only in the birthplace of Cary Grant, Banksy, and Maisie Williams, per Visit Bristol, but also in that of the first chocolate bar. According to Candy History, a confectioner named Joseph Fry invented the chocolate bar in 1847, when he came up with a recipe of bittersweet cocoa, cocoa powder, and sugar. He mixed the ingredients together and pressed them into a mold, resulting in a masterpiece that would change the inventory of candy shops everywhere forever.

A couple of decades later, in 1866, Fry introduced Fry's Chocolate Cream to the masses. Needless to say, it was an instant hit. The Candy Encyclopedia explains that Fry's Chocolate Cream includes a chewy fondant center coated in smooth chocolate. Other flavors include Strawberry Cream, Orange Cream, Peppermint Cream, and Raspberry Cream.

J. S. Fry & Sons, otherwise known as Fry's, was once among Bristol's largest employers, according to Bristol Live. Eventually, the Fry's brand merged with Cadbury, which remains its current manufacturer.