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North Carolina Says This Chocolate Candy Is The Best, Do You Agree?

Have you bought your Halloween candy yet? Are you trying to make sure you have the most popular house on the block? Decorations play a part in that, but so…

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 16: Hershey's chocolate bars are shown on July 16, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Hershey Co., the No.1 candy producer in the U.S., is raising the price of its chocolate by 8 percent due to the rising cost of cocoa. This is the company's fist price increase in three years.
(Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Have you bought your Halloween candy yet? Are you trying to make sure you have the most popular house on the block? Decorations play a part in that, but so does your choice of candy. Obviously, if you have the budget to spring for the full-size candy bars you automatically win. But most of us can't do that or at least don't choose to. So you probably want to focus on choosing just the right candy for your treat or treaters. That's where our friends at BetCarolina come in. They conducted research on the most popular chocolate candy in each state. And the verdict is in for what North Carolina feels is the best chocolate candy.

Full disclosure, and you may blacklist me at this point, I don't like chocolate. I know, I know, but I just do not like it all. Never have. So my opinion on which of these candies is the best is something I can't offer up. So you'll have to take BetCarolina's word for it:

North Carolina Loves These Three Types of Chocolate Candy

Not only is Halloween coming up but National Chocolate Day is on Oct. 28th. Who knew? To determine this BetCarolina utilized research from Statista on the most consumed chocolate candy. They then utilized Google Trends to search the level of interest in each from Oct. 1, 2022, to October 18, 2023. That data was used to determine the Top 3 chocolate candies of each state. If you're in North Carolina do you agree? Or do you prefer a different type of candy? Personally, Skittles and anything sour are my go-to candy options. Thanks to BetCarolina for sharing their research with us. You can read the full study here.

9 Worst Trick or Treat Handouts for Halloween

Halloween is the time of year when spookiness takes center stage, and creative costumes rule the streets. It’s also the day of the beloved tradition, trick-or-treating. Whether you're a kid dreaming of a candy jackpot or an adult admiring the neighborhood's costume creativity while handing out treats, it's a highlight of the year.

However, you'll always find that one neighbor who likes to shake things up by handing out something other than candy. It's not always a bad thing, though. Some people do it for a good reason, like considering kids with dietary restrictions. But if you're considering going outside the box, you should avoid certain trick-or-treat handouts.

Let's talk about the Halloween horrors, the stuff no one wants in their trick-or-treat bag. First on the list are those infamous toothbrushes or dental floss packs. Halloween is the one night a year when kids can indulge in a sugar frenzy, and suddenly, you're handed a dental hygiene product. It's like being told to eat your veggies at a birthday party. Then there are the homemade treats. While some homemade goodies can be delicious, receiving unlabeled, homemade treats can make even the bravest trick-or-treater think twice; also, most parent's won't feel comfortable with that and may dispose of them. All of your hard work will go to waste! Safety is paramount on Halloween, and unwrapped or unlabeled edibles can raise concerns.

Another item to avoid is pennies. They're not even worth the trip to the store, and they make you question if you've accidentally stumbled into a time machine back to the 1950s. If you’re going to give out money on Halloween, make it worthwhile if you can swing it. While Halloween is all about surprises, pennies are definitely not the kind of surprises anyone hopes for.

Take a look at some of the worst trick-or-treat handouts for Halloween.

Key Chains

Keychains are handy, but they're not exactly the kind of treasure kids hope to find in their candy haul. They want stuff that's sweet, not stuff for keys they don't have. Save yourself some money and pass on key chains.

Leather keychain, holder trinket for key with metal ring. Vector realistic template of black fob for home, car or office isolated on white background. Blank accessory for corporate identity

klyaksun/ Getty Images

Hygiene Products

We all know cleanliness is important, but getting soap, shampoo, or hand sanitizer in your treat bag on Halloween is not what kids look forward to. It's a treat, not a trip to the pharmacy. It's like getting socks for Christmas. While practical, it's not exactly exciting.

bottles of amenity set besides bathtub in bathroom

onsuda/ Getty Images

Loose Change

Coins may have been an acceptable treat decades ago, but nowadays, they're seen as disappointing. Kids prefer candy. Or maybe small toys (if they're exciting/cool enough). Unless, you're giving away the big bucks, steer clear of this one.

Coins in denominations of 1 American cent with a portrait of Lincoin on a gray background

Max Zolotukhin/ Getty Images

Trail Mix

Healthy snacks are great, but Halloween is all about the sugar rush. Kids aren't exactly thrilled to find a mix of fruit and nuts in their bag. They're hoping for chocolates and gummies, not something they associate with after-school snacks.

Colorful trail mix in a white bowl with spoon

dbvirago/ Getty Images

Coupons

Adults may appreciate coupons for discounts at local businesses, but they don't make for a fun Halloween treat for kids. Saving money is cool, but Halloween is all about instant gratification. And coupons for discounts don't really make the cut.

10% OFF coupon illustration set

ichico/ Getty Images

Brochures or Pamphlets

Halloween is not the time to distribute religious or informational materials. Kids are looking for fun and treats, not pamphlets. Consider giving those away another day that's not Halloween.

A shallow focus shot of a male standing near a door and giving out pamphlets while smiling

Wirestock/ Getty Images

Toothbrushes and Dental Floss

Halloween is all about the candy, right? So, if you toss a toothbrush or dental floss into a kid's stash of treats, you're basically inviting disappointment. Plus, it's safe to assume that the trick-or-treater already has a toothbrush. Do they truly need another one?

Dental floss and toothbrush on white background

egal/ Getty Images

Unwrapped Candy

Throwing unwrapped candy into a plastic pumpkin? That's just asking for a sticky mess. Plus, it's not the cleanest option. And given the concerns these days, it's just another worry for parents who fear someone might mess with their child's candy.

Close-up of hard candies isolated on white background.

LeventKonuk/ Getty Images

Homemade Treats

Those fancy homemade snacks that look like they came straight from Pinterest can be cute, but if you don't really know the kids or their parents, they might wonder about your intentions. Sticking to pre-packaged treats is your best bet on Halloween, especially if you're trying to keep trick-or-treating simple and sanitary.

Decorating Halloween gingerbreads of pumpkin lantern and skeletons with frosting. Girl holds pastry bag with black icing and decorates gingerbread pumpkin lantern

13-Smile/ Getty Images

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.