The Real Reason Hershey's Kisses Have Paper Sticking Out

There's a candy bar out there to satisfy everybody's sweet tooth, but not every craving calls for the complexity of a Take 5 or Snickers bar. Sometimes a simple piece of chocolate is just the treat to quell your stomach's call for a sugary snack, and on those occasions, a handful of Hershey's Chocolate Kisses may just be the perfect thing to reach for. Invented in 1907, these bite-sized morsels of Hershey's heavenly milk chocolate are every bit as tasty as their rectangle-shaped counterpart, the Hershey's chocolate bar, with the added bonus of easily fitting in your pocket for an afternoon pick-me-up (via Hershelyand).

The humble Hershey's Kiss is even a favorite amongst some of the world's biggest stars, including Khloé Kardashian who, according to Food Network, once described the confection as "pretty epic" — and we can't say we don't agree. The treat is legendary in every way from its unique, tear-drop shape to its iconic foil wrappers that changes colors with the seasons. And, of course, we can't forget about that tiny piece of paper sticking out of the top, which you may be surprised to learn were implemented in the packaging design for a couple of specific reasons.

Since their introduction to the candy scene in 1907, Hershey's Chocolate Kisses have always been wrapped up in pieces of foil, but that thin strip of parchment paper sticking out of the top of the shiny cover didn't come along until more than a decade later. According to Hersheyland, the logo-bearing flag, known professionally as the "plume," was implemented into the packaging of Hershey's Kisses in 1921 to help the sweet stand out from its competitors. The ruse clearly worked, as most people nowadays can easily identify the conical-shaped treat with even the quickest of glance. However, the company's trademarked plume serves another purpose beyond just making the confection recognizable to candy connoisseurs. As The Daily Meal reports, using the plume is also the "easiest and fastest" way to break through the treat's foil exterior. According to Wonder How To, the proper technique is to yank on the plume with your thumb and forefinger which should result in the chocolate flying straight out of its packaging at lightning-fast speed.

Whether you keep a package of Hershey's Kisses on hand for snacking or baking, we can all probably agree that unwrapping the bite-sized treats can be a bit of a pain. So next time you want to get to the actual sweet with ease, make sure to use the 100-year-old plume to your advantage — that's what it's there for, after all.