We had no idea until recently, but did you know that Kit Kat has been in existence for a very long time? These candies have been a beloved staple since 1935!
It’s one of our favorite Halloween candies but we love to indulge all year round. You would think that we would all know everything that there is to know about Kit Kats but there is an acronym we were unaware of.
The crispy layers of water, delicious chocolate coating, and crunchy goodness make for a wonderful addition to any pantry, that is for sure. Now, you will be able to showcase your knowledge of these candies, thanks to us. Of course, we just found out about this one ourselves, so please do not judge. Billions of Kit Kats are consumed worldwide so we know that it is not just us.
If you asked ten different people for the story behind the Kit Kat name, you would get at least ten different answers. As it turns out, the name stands for something and it was not chosen at random. There are some who will tell you that the candy is named after a club in England, which is known as the Kit-Cat.
According to Reader’s Digest, this is where Sir Godfrey Kneller would provide paintings of club members, which were known to hang on the walls back in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Since the club had low ceilings, the paintings had to be crafted at a certain size, i.e., “kit-cat size.” This term was used in a number of ways over the course of this time period.
A magazine in Pennsylvania, which was published by Keighton Bros, also bore the name. The “weekly magazine for the home” was selling subscriptions for all of 50 cents. Those were the days, huh?
Others believe that the name stands for “Keep In Touch, Kappa Alpha Theta.” Nestle’s explanation is much simpler, according to RD: The “name first appeared on a boxed assortment of chocolates that Rowntree’s made during the 1920s.”
The name was derived from an 8th century Whig literary club that was named after a man who went by Christopher Catling….i.e., Kit Cat! This sounds like the real origin to us and that’s the story that we are going to be sticking with going forward.