Red Symphony bars have been a popular chocolate treat for decades. But what exactly is in these sweet, crispy candy bars? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and nutrition facts of a standard Red Symphony bar.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in a Red Symphony bar are:
- Milk chocolate – This makes up the outer coating of the bar.
- Nougat – This sweet chewy filling is made from sugar, corn syrup, milk proteins, and nuts.
- Almonds – Chopped almonds are mixed into the nougat for added crunch.
- Rice cereal – Crispy puffed rice is layered inside to provide texture.
In addition to these core ingredients, Red Symphony bars contain smaller amounts of:
- Cocoa butter – Adds smoothness and sheen to the chocolate.
- Soy lecithin – An emulsifier that helps blend the ingredients.
- Vanillin – Artificial flavoring that provides the classic chocolate-vanilla taste.
- PGPR – An emulsifier used to keep the chocolate from separating.
The full ingredient list contains: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, milk, soy lecithin, PGPR), corn syrup, sugar, palm kernel oil, milk protein concentrate, almonds, puffed rice (rice flour, sugar, salt), cocoa powder, artificial flavor, salt.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for a standard 2.1 oz (60g) Red Symphony bar:
| Calories | 280 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 50mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 40g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Sugars | 29g |
| Protein | 3g |
As you can see, Red Symphony bars are high in calories, fat, and sugar. The saturated fat and sugar come from the chocolate, nougat, and rice cereal.
The Manufacturing Process
Red Symphony bars go through a complex manufacturing process before ending up wrapped in those iconic shiny red packages. Here are the key steps:
- Making the nougat – Sugar and corn syrup are cooked, whipped into a fluffy mixture, and combined with milk proteins, palm oil, and nuts.
- Coating with chocolate – The nougat is flattened into sheets and coated with a layer of milk chocolate on both sides.
- Adding the rice – Puffed rice cereal is sprinkled onto the chocolate-coated nougat sheets while the chocolate is still warm and sticky.
- Layering – The nougat-rice sheets are layered on top of each other to form a log shape.
- Cutting – The log is chilled and then sliced into individual bars.
- Wrapping – Each bar is foil wrapped and sealed into the branded packaging.
Automated equipment is used for much of the mixing, flattening, coating, cutting, and packaging steps. But the layering of the rice cereal still relies on human workers to ensure proper coverage and consistency.
History of Red Symphony Bars
Red Symphony bars have a long history dating back to the early 20th century. Here are some key moments:
- 1901 – The Pulver Candy Company starts producing a nougat bar covered in chocolate, which would later become the Red Symphony bar.
- 1925 – The bar is named “Symphony” and appears in Pulver’s catalogs and ads.
- 1952 – Pulver registers the trademark for “Red Symphony” and begins packaging the bars in their signature shiny red foil.
- 1963 – Having gone through several mergers, Red Symphony is now made by the Leaf Brands company.
- 2001 – Hershey purchases Leaf Brands and takes over production of Red Symphony.
- Today – Red Symphony bars are still made by Hershey and sold nationwide.
While the packaging and recipes have changed over the years, Red Symphony bars are still a nostalgic candy treat enjoyed by generations. The crunchy-chewy contrast and chocolate-vanilla flavor profile make them a classic American confection.
Conclusion
Red Symphony bars are a timeless candy treat made from a simple combination of chocolate, nougat, rice cereal, and nuts. Their sweet taste and chewy-crispy texture have pleased people’s palates for over a century. While not the healthiest confection, Red Symphony bars remain a beloved food icon and a classic chocolate indulgence. So next time you see that shiny red wrapper, you’ll know exactly what sweet goodness is inside!