History

• Drinking chocolate was the first form of edible chocolate.Jack Hollingsworth/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  In 1657, a Frenchman opened a chocolate house in England. Drinking chocolate was served, the only form of chocolate available for consumption at the time, and only the rich could afford to frequent the facility. In 1674, a London chocolate house sold the first solid chocolate. The process to take drinking chocolate to solid chocolate revolutionized both the home and industrial markets. Solid chocolate was first made in the U.S. in 1764.
  
  

Molds

• Molds can be used to make beautiful candy confections.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  In the late 1800s, the first candy molds were introduced, made of metal. The first solid chocolate was made only in large bars. A method was necessary to allow the chocolate to be made into bite-sized pieces for easier consumption. The molds facilitated faster-made, more intricate candies. Early candy-makers resisted using molds, feeling hand-dipped chocolates had a thicker chocolate coating. Whitman's mission was to produce quality chocolate at a reasonable price, so it used molds to achieve its goal.
  
  

Plastic Molds

• Molds can be simple or intricate in design.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Plastic candy molds available today mimic the intricate designs of the original metal chocolate candy molds. They're available with deep, intricate designs that closely resemble Whitman's chocolates. When using a mold quite intricate in design, it's best to first paint melted chocolate into its nicks and crevices and let it cool to harden. More chocolate or a filling can then fill the mold. The candy must be completely cooled before it's removed from the mold.
  
  

Availability

• Plastic molds are inexpensive and readily available. Look for molds made of strong, heavy plastic to produce elegant chocolates. Always wash with only hot water, using no soap, which may leave a residue that will mar the taste of the chocolate. There are more than 3,000 plastic candy molds for purchase today. They can be found in kitchen stores, restaurant supply stores and online, and offer an alternative to simply purchasing a Whitman's Sampler.