Easter is right around the corner which means Peeps are starting to hatch in stores. Did you know these marshmallow candies have been around for over 60 years? I bet you didn’t know these unknown facts about these iconic Marshmallow treats.

1. Peeps were once originally made by hand.

Women with pastry tubes would squirt these marshmallow chicks by hand, taking them approximately 27 hours from start to finish. It mostly took this much time because the marshmallows took a long time to cool before they could be packaged for consumers.

Peeps are owned and made by Just Born Inc., a candy company in Bethlehem, Pa. The Born family figured out a way to automate the process where the Marshmallow delectables would cool quickly, shortening the manufacturing time to about six minutes. Today, Just Born makes about 5.5 million daily, in a variety of shapes and colors.

2. Original Peeps had wings.

The original Peep had two small wings coming off the back of each bird, but when they automated the manufacturing process, they removed the wings to simplify the process.

3. Peeps stores exist.

As most of you know, you can find Peeps in stores, during the holidays. But they also have brick-and-mortar shops specializing in Peeps. The stores carry Peeps of all colors, flavors and shapes in addition to branded merchandise such as T-shirts and plush toys. They also sell other Just Born candies such as Mike & Ike’s and Hot Tamales.

4. There are bunny Peeps. Yes, bunnies.

In addition to the infamous Chicks, the company made bunnies from the very beginning. And soon after, they introduced other shapes. Today there are bunny and chick Peeps available in a number of colors.

Just Born expanded their sugary Marshmallow treats incorporating other holidays, including trees for Christmas, pumpkins for Halloween and hearts for Valentine’s Day, but the Chicks still rule the market. In fact, according to Just Born, 4 out 5 Peeps purchased are shaped like chicks.

5. Facebook groups are dedicated to disliking Peeps.

Not everyone loves to eat the marshmallow candies.

There are Facebook groups dedicated to disliking Peeps, for example. And it seems at least one columnist each spring writes about his or her disgust for the candy. “They’re just candy – and gross candy at that,” Brian Moylan wrote for The Guardian in 2012.

An estimated one-third of all Peeps purchased are not eaten but instead used for decorations or for craft projects like dioramas, according to VP, Matthew Pye.

6. The first Peeps diorama contest was in 2004.

Peeps skyrocketed in popularity in the 1990s, according to Pye. The company credits that to increased press coverage and the rise of the Internet where people shared their thoughts and even their wacky Peeps experiments online, he said.

In 2004, the first Peeps Diorama Contest was held by the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota. Today many other newspapers and organizations across the country host community competitions that award prizes for the best dioramas featuring Peeps.

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