Discover the Hoosier State’s delicious legacy through immersive candy tours, handcrafted treats, and iconic shops
By Laurie Contreras
If you have a sweet tooth, Indiana is a state you have to visit to get your fix.
The Hoosier State is well-known for its wide variety of candy shops, chocolate factories, and confectioneries, but that is not all. Not only can you taste and take home these delicious treats, but you can learn backstories and witness them being created in real time, like you were in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. These shops and factories dot the landscape throughout the entirety of the state, so no matter where your trip takes you and your group, you are sure to find one of these nearby.
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McCord Candies, Lafayette
Not only will visitors get a dose of nostalgia from the perfected candy, but they will also be wowed by the building itself. This piece of living history has been a candy store since 1912 in Indiana’s Biggest Little City and is called The Sweetest Corner in Town. The shop is open all year and even has a seasonal candy can tour that runs from November 8 to December 20 for groups up to 22; this tour consists of sipping hot cocoa as guests learn about the rich history of the building and the owners who made it what it is today. The star of the tour is creating your very own candy canes. When the adventure is about ready to conclude, each person’s creativity and skills will be tested here when they curl their candy into whatever shape they can think of.
Schimpff’s Confectionery, Jeffersonville
This family confectionery has been in business at this location since 1891 and has been creating delicious treats since the 1850s. Not only does Schimpff’s have an immersive tour with century-old machines that still make candy, but it also has a museum and a deli. While it can host groups of up to 40 for a tour, if a tour is booked in advance, it will make accommodations for larger groups. Another perk of booking ahead is a guarantee that the candy will be made at the time of your tour to observe, as they are a small shop that makes candy when needed. The museum is one of the only candy museums in the United States and has a multitude of candy-making equipment and artifacts that date back decades. This more than a century-old family business will make guests feel at home with their personable and hands-on approach to their confectionery; they have even been mentioned as one of the area’s top 20 for-profit attractions on media such as The Food Network, The History Channel, and more.
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DeBrand Fine Chocolates, Fort Wayne
An entrepreneur with deep roots in confectionary arts, Cathy Brand opened a chocolate factory in her hometown and has been dedicated to it for the past 37 years. She has a passion for simplistic chocolate made with high-quality ingredients that is open seen on a tour of the factory. During this tour, visitors will learn about DeBrand’s history and get a front row seat to the chocolate-making process.
South Bend Chocolate Company, South Bend
At this chocolate factory, visitors will learn the history of chocolate and the process of making it step by step, with a taste test at the end. South Bend Chocolate Company also has a chocolate museum where guests can create their own box of chocolate and see one of the largest collections of chocolate memorabilia that includes a 1,300-year-old year old Mayan chocolate pot.
Abbott’s Candies, Hagerstown
Abbott’s Candies is the oldest candy shop in Indiana, having been established in 1890. Its caramel and chocolate recipes have been created for generations and are still being sold to this day. A tour is available free of charge for small to large groups, beginning with the history of Abbott’s production, then moving on to the caramel room to see their classic recipe being used, the chocolate room, where guests will get to see chocolate being made and boxed. When the tour is complete, there is a chance to visit the showroom and look over all the sweets and gifts this company has to offer.
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