Welcome to Lititz, Pennsylvania—voted “America’s Coolest Small Town”—where a decades-old rivalry between the “Kiss” and the “Bud” is still a hot topic of conversation.
The Original Chocolate Drop?
While Hershey’s Kiss is a global icon, Lititz is the home of the Wilbur Bud. First introduced by the Wilbur Chocolate Company in 1894, the Bud actually predates the Hershey’s Kiss by 13 years.
The difference isn’t just in the age; it’s in the craft. While Hershey revolutionized the industry with mass-produced milk chocolate, Wilbur Buds are known for their rich, dark cocoa profile and a unique “flower bud” shape created by a specific molding process. For generations, Lancaster County locals have insisted that while the Kiss is for the masses, the Bud is for the true connoisseur.
A Town Built on “Twists”
Lititz isn’t just obsessed with chocolate. It is also home to the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, the first commercial pretzel bakery in America, founded in 1861…