The Food That Built America Snack Sized Season 1 Episode 3 The Chocolate Factory

In The Food That Built America Snack Sized season 1 episode 3, titled The Chocolate Factory, viewers are taken on a journey through the history of one of the world's most beloved treats: chocolate. The episode focuses on the stories of three entrepreneurs whose innovations and perseverance helped shape the chocolate industry into what it is today.

The first entrepreneur to be featured is Milton Hershey, the founder of Hershey's Chocolate. Viewers are taken back to the late 1800s, when Hershey encountered his first taste of chocolate at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Inspired by the flavors he sampled, Hershey set out to perfect the recipe for milk chocolate, which was then considered a novelty. Through trial and error, Hershey finally succeeded in creating a formula that was both delicious and affordable, using fresh milk from his own dairy farm to create the smooth, creamy texture that we now associate with Hershey's milk chocolate.

Next, viewers are introduced to Frank Mars, the founder of Mars, Inc. Unlike Hershey, Mars did not have a background in food or confectionery, but rather stumbled upon the chocolate industry after a series of entrepreneurial ventures proved unsuccessful. In 1911, Mars created the Milky Way bar, which quickly became a hit among consumers. However, the road to success was not without its obstacles - Mars had to overcome patent disputes and other legal issues before his company was able to thrive.

Finally, viewers learn about Ruth Wakefield, the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie. In the midst of the Great Depression, Wakefield was running a successful inn and restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts, but was always on the lookout for ways to keep her customers coming back. One day, she decided to create a new cookie recipe by chopping up chunks of a Nestlé chocolate bar and adding them to her batter. What resulted was the now-iconic chocolate chip cookie, which became a staple in households and bakeries across the country.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to fascinating anecdotes about the history of chocolate, including the fact that it was once prescribed as a medicine and that the Aztecs believed it to be a gift from the gods. Along the way, we also learn about the various challenges that each entrepreneur faced in their quest to create a successful chocolate business, from legal battles to supply chain issues.

Overall, The Chocolate Factory is a delightful look at the history of one of the world's most beloved treats. Viewers will come away from the episode with a newfound appreciation for the hard work and innovation that went into creating the chocolate industry as we know it today.