Welcome to the Peeps Show!

Other than Candy Corn, I challenge you to find a seasonal treat that polarizes two sides so strongly than Peeps. There’s never any middle ground with these colorful sugar stuffed mallow bombs. You either love them, or vehemently despise the very essence of their being.

There’s no denying that seeing rows of colorful chicks and bunnies loitering the shelves of your local grocery or drug store doesn’t trigger some type of warm and fuzzy Easter feelings. Except for microwave Youtube fodder or elaborately staged Dioramas, are there actual consumers who enjoy Peeps on a edible basis?

The fact Just Born, the company responsible for unleashing the Peep now produces more than one billion individual Peeps per year would lead me to believe we do eat these candy critters. In fact, on average, more than 700 million Marshmallow Peeps and Bunnies are consumed throughout the United States annually.

Peeps 101

• 1953, the Just Born candy company (Maker of Hot Tamales & Mike & Ike’s) buys the Rodda Candy Company. Rodda produced a popular handmade candy marshmallow chick. Bob Born, owner of Just Born sees potential in this candy & moves forward with plan to make more of them & faster.
• 1954, Bob Born commissions a machine be made that could mass-produce these marshmallow chicks, which he soon after trademarks “Peeps”.
• Just Born soon becomes the largest Marshmallow candy manufacturer in the world.
• 1958: Pumpkin Peeps added to line up.
• 1960: Snowman and Christmas Tree Peeps are introduced.
• 1975: Peep Marshmallow Football line offered.
• 1977: Peep Marshmallow Teddy Bear introduced.

• In the early 1980s, Just Born releases the Marshmallow Peeps Bunny.
• 1994: First annual  “Peep Off” is held in Maryland, having only 6 contestants brave enough to compete. The goal? To eat as many marshmallow chicks as you  can in 30 minutes.  The current record holder, Dave Smith of Sacramento has put down 102 in that time frame.
• (BTW: Interested in breaking a ludicrous Peep record like Most Times to Say “Peep” While Being Hit With Peeps ? Click the link!)
• Until 1995, Marshmallow Peeps were only produced in pink, white, and yellow colors.
• 1995: Lavender colored Peeps are introduced.
• 1998: Blue Peeps are introduced for Easter.
• 1999: www.marshmallowpeeps.com is launched.
• 1999: Introduction of the first flavored Peeps: Vanilla.
• 1999: Peeps first and only National TV ad spot premieres:

• 1999: Scientists at Emory University performed experiments on batches of Peeps to see how easily they could be dissolved, burned or otherwise disintegrated, using such agents as cigarette smoke, boiling water and liquid nitrogen They claimed that the eyes of the confectionery “wouldn’t dissolve in anything”.Peeps are insoluble in acetone,  water, diluted sulfuric acid amongst others.
• 2000: Strawberry flavor was added.
• 2002: The chocolate Peep was introduced.
• 2002: Peeps introduce the Marshmallow Star.
• 2002:Peeps release their first Sing-a-long CD featuring 14 sweet tracks, which is now available on I-tunes for download for only $9.99 + your dignity.
• 2003: Peeps celebrate their 50th Birthday!
• 2004: The Peeps Fun Bus makes the rounds Nationwide while raising money and awareness for Easter Seals.

• 2005: The Marshmallow Peep Do-it-yourself home kit is introduced.
• 2007: Sugar Free Peeps Chicks debut.
• 2008: Peeps release first word based marshmallow offering with “JOY”
• 2009: Peeps Lip Balm introduced.
• 2009: The first Peeps & Co. store opens in Washington, selling a full complement of Peeps paraphernalia: T-shirts with Peeps dressed up as the Village People, plush Peeps in the traditional chick and bunny shapes, Peeps pillows, pens and key chains, and even Peeps china (For high brow Easter Dinner parties).
• 2009: Filmmaker Matthew Burns of Brooklyn NY premiers his documentary; “The Power of the Peep” at the NYC Food Film Festival.
• 2010: Chocolate covered (AKA the Trojan Peep) variety is introduced.
• 2012: New products introduced include Chocolate Mousse Flavored chicks, Chocolate Dipped Caramel Flavored Chicks & Peeps Rainbow Pops.

**Want to play some Peep games online? Check out these two Peep-centric games dreamed up by the crazy kids over at I-Mockery.com. Peep Invaders being my favorite.