A survey in 2020 Georges Fauchille, working for a chocolate company Delespaul-Havez in Marcq-en-Barœul in the Nord departement did a study of local children to figure out just what kind of sweetie they might buy with their pocket money.

He decided a stick of chewy caramel mixed with chocolate in a bright yellow and red wrapper and on January 2, 1954 the first Carambar was born, selling then for 5 centimes.

Initially each sweet had D.H points printed on the red and yellow foil that children could collect in exchange for gifts. Im 1969 that the points were replaced by jokes and riddles. Ads showed how carambars could act as magic wands.

There was gloom in 2013 when it was announced the jokes would be discontinued in favour of educational facts—only that was a joke, too!

Over the years other flavours have been added, but the original, in its yellow and red wrappers, remains 25% of the sales. The factory in Marcq-en-Barœul produces 820 carambars a minute!