Of all the different food combinations, peanut butter with chocolate is the clear winner. From Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to chocolate chip peanut butter cookies and Nutty Buddies, it’s the right amount of sweet and salty.

On their own, they are undoubtedly delicious, but putting them together takes the flavor to a whole new level. Comfort food at its finest in my opinion. 

The combination, according to Times News Records, was created in 1928 when Harry Reese made the peanut butter cup. Reese was a dairyman who worked for Milton Hershey. He founded the H.B. Reese Candy Co. and eventually sold the company to Hershey for $23.5 million.

CandyStore.com states that Reese’s was the number one top-selling candy in the U.S. back in 2020. There are a multitude of reasons why this food combination reigns supreme. 

First, the sweetness and saltiness of the candy is amazing. Second, the creaminess of the chocolate calms the soul and makes you feel a thousand times better. Finally, the crunchy texture of the peanut butter is a delightful surprise, and you never get enough of it. It’s not hard to believe that the delicious candy was ranked number one. I have enjoyed the candy for as long as I can remember. 

My first memory of being introduced to Reese’s was when I was five. My mother asked if I would like to try it, and it was love at first bite. I am now 23, yet it still remains within my top five list of favorite candies.

On top of being the top-selling candy of 2020, CandyStore.com states that Reese’s was ranked  the number one best candy in the United States, which is not surprising to me. 

If I’m up late studying and I need a snack, peanut butter and chocolate are what I reach for first. Putting statistics aside, it’s not just about the taste or my preference for food combinations. It is also backed by science.

According to James Clear and his ‘Brief Guide on How to Eat Healthy Without Noticing’, the dynamic contrast effect plays a part in creating cravings such as peanut butter and chocolate. Dynamic contrast refers to a combination of different sensations in the same food. It relates to a multitude of different combinations, such as sweet and salty, crunchy and creamy and so on. 

I never really thought about the science side of it before. I just focused on the art of putting peanut butter and chocolate together in the form of a cup. It blew my mind as a kid, and it still blows my mind as an adult. 

So, the next time you’re in the candy aisle at the store, pick up a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and revel in the marvelous deliciousness. You won’t be disappointed.