Hershey Kisses are a classic American chocolate candy that have been popular since they were first produced by The Hershey Company in 1907. The small, conical, foil-wrapped chocolates are a staple candy found in homes, offices, movie theaters and candy jars across the country.
Hershey Kisses come in different sizes, from the standard Hershey’s Kiss to the extra large Big Kiss. They are also available in a variety of flavors beyond the traditional milk chocolate, including dark chocolate, white chocolate, caramel, peppermint and more.
One of the most common ways to purchase Hershey Kisses is in bulk bags, typically ranging from 1 to 5 pounds. If you have ever bought or received a 2 pound bag of Kisses, you may have wondered just how many individual pieces are actually in that bag.
How Many Pieces in a 2 Pound Bag of Hershey Kisses?
The number of Hershey Kisses in a 2 pound bag depends on the size of the kisses.
Standard Size Kisses
The standard Hershey’s Kiss weighs about 0.02 ounces. Doing the math, a 2 pound bag contains:
- 2 pounds = 32 ounces
- 32 ounces / 0.02 ounces (weight of 1 Kiss) = 1600 Kisses
So a 2 pound bag with regular sized Hershey Kisses contains approximately 1600 Kisses.
King Size Kisses
King Size Kisses are a little bit bigger than the standard size. Each King Size Kiss weighs about 0.04 ounces. Therefore, a 2 pound bag contains:
- 2 pounds = 32 ounces
- 32 ounces / 0.04 ounces (weight of 1 King Size Kiss) = 800 Kisses
A 2 pound bag with King Size Hershey Kisses contains around 800 Kisses.
Big Kisses
Big Kisses, also known as Extra Large Kisses, are the biggest of the bunch. Each Big Kiss weighs approximately 0.17 ounces. Here’s the math for a 2 pound Big Kiss bag:
- 2 pounds = 32 ounces
- 32 ounces / 0.17 ounces (weight of 1 Big Kiss) = 188 Kisses
You get about 188 Big Kisses in a 2 pound bag.
Key Factors
As the calculations above show, the exact number of Kisses in a 2 pound bag depends on the specific size of the candies:
- Standard size – 1600 Kisses
- King size – 800 Kisses
- Big size – 188 Kisses
Bags with smaller Hershey’s Kisses will contain more pieces, while bags with larger or specialty Kisses will have fewer total pieces.
Variability Between Bags
It’s important to note that the number of Kisses per bag can vary slightly. The stated weights of individual Kisses are averages, but there is some acceptable variability in the production process. So you may get a couple more or less Kisses than the precise calculated amount. Any variations should be minor though, assuming proper weighing and packaging procedures by Hershey’s.
Kiss Shapes and Sizes
The standard Kisses are conical in shape with a flat bottom and pointed tip. The specialty King Size and Big Kisses maintain the same basic cone shape, just in larger proportions. So the number of Kisses depends more on the weight than the actual size and shape.
Density of Kisses
Being made of solid chocolate, Hershey’s Kisses have a fairly high density. This means that a certain volume of space contains a relatively heavy weight of Kisses. That allows for an ample 1600 standard size pieces to fit in a compact 2 pound bag.
Packaging and Availability
The packaging format for Hershey’s Kisses influences how many come in a purchase quantity:
- Bags – Kisses sold in bag form are commonly 1 to 5 pounds. Bags allow for easy bulk packing and stacking.
- Boxes and cartons – Boxes usually range from small holiday gift boxes up to 10 pound cartons for candy retailers.
- Singles – Individual Kisses are wrapped in foil to be sold individually or given away as small treats.
You can find bags of Kisses in the candy aisle at any grocery store or retailer like Walmart. For bulk purchasing, warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club often carry larger bags and boxes.
Around holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas, Hershey sells seasonal packaging like holiday-themed bags and boxes. These specialty packages sometimes contain different flavors like peppermint or pumpkin spice.
Buying Options
When purchasing Kisses, here are some typical package sizes and quantities to choose from:
| Package Type | Standard Size | King Size | Big Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb Bag | 800 Kisses | 400 Kisses | 94 Kisses |
| 2 lb Bag (Discussed Above) | 1600 Kisses | 800 Kisses | 188 Kisses |
| 5 lb Bag | 4000 Kisses | 2000 Kisses | 470 Kisses |
| 10 lb Box/Carton | 8000 Kisses | 4000 Kisses | 940 Kisses |
As you can see, the total number scales up or down proportionally depending on the package size and type of Kiss.
Do Hershey Kisses Expire?
With so many Kisses in a big bag, it’s reasonable to wonder about shelf life. According to Hershey’s, their Kisses have an expiration date of approximately 10 months from the time they were produced.
However, if stored properly in a cool, dry place, they can maintain optimal freshness and taste for up to a year. After that, the chocolate can start to break down and the texture and flavor will degrade. But they are still safe to eat beyond the best by date.
To identify if your Kisses are past their prime, check for any blooming, which is a whitish coating that can develop on old chocolate. Also look for any mottled texture or check if the Kisses don’t taste as smooth and creamy.
Storing Kisses
To maximize freshness and shelf life:
- Store unopened bags and boxes at temperatures between 60°F and 70°F.
- Keep Kisses in a dark, dry place like a pantry or cupboard. Avoid direct sunlight, heat and humidity.
- Once opened, reseal bags tightly to prevent moisture from getting in.
- Refrigeration can extend shelf life for up to 3-4 months.
History of Hershey’s Kisses
Hershey’s Kisses have a long history spanning over 100 years. Here are some key milestones:
- 1907 – The Hershey Chocolate Company produces the first Kisses. They were manually wrapped by workers.
- 1921 – Foil wrapping is introduced to replace tissue paper wrapping.
- 1957 – Milk chocolate Kisses are made available in colored foils for Christmas.
- 1969 – The 500 millionth Kiss is produced.
- 1976 – Kisses begin to be made by machine rather than manual labor.
- 1986 – Hershey’s starts producing Hugs along with Kisses.
- 2002 – The 4 billionth Kiss is produced. New flavors like Cherry Cordial and Tropical Coconut are added.
Today, over 80 million Kisses are produced each day at Hershey factories around the world. More than 60 different flavors and varieties have been created over the years.
Fun Facts About Hershey’s Kisses
Here are some fun trivia facts about Kisses candy:
- The name “Kiss” comes from the unique sound made during the manufacturing process when the chocolate is deposited onto the conveyor belt.
- Each Kiss is wrapped by high-speed wrapping machines capable of wrapping 80 per minute.
- The foil wrapping was originally made of tin and lead, but today it’s aluminum.
- Kisses got their iconic flat bottom shape to allow them to stand up on retail shelves and in candy bowls.
- A speculative design for Kisses was a candy shaped like a walnut meat. Ultimately the conical shape became standard.
- Kissograms – greeting cards with attached Kisses – were popular in the 1950s and 60s.
So whether you’re counting candies for a holiday gift basket or snacking from a bag yourself, knowing how many Kisses come in a 2 pound bag (or any other size) helps ensure you get the amount you expect.
Conclusion
A standard 2 pound bag of original Hershey’s Kisses contains approximately 1600 pieces. The exact amount can vary slightly depending on the type and size of Kiss, with King Size having 800 Kisses and Big Kisses containing 188 pieces in a 2 pound bag.
Factors like manufacturing variability, storage conditions, and packaging format can also influence the precise number. But you can expect around 1600 small foil-wrapped milk chocolate candies in a 2 pound Hershey’s Kiss bag you grab in the store. Now you know how many Kisses to buy for your next party, gift or candy bowl!
