This place is the best! When you open the door, and get a whiff of the chocolate smell, you are instantly happy... and hungry! The candy is fantastic and the staff are great! Besides all the delicious chocolates, they also have tasty hard candies and gummy style, like Swedish fish (only available in summer). Stop in next time you're nearby, you will not regret it. read more

I found out about this place from a friend. I live in NY, so it's most convenient for me to order from their website. I absolutely love their milk chocolate nonpareils. Probably the best I've had. I ordered the dark chocolate ones for my sister and she thought they were delicious. I even got my mom to start ordering here for various gifts. Their peanut butter cups are also tasty. I need to try other things & I will! They even take precautions to ensure no melted chocolate arrives. read more

Josh Early Candies - Candy Stores Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

SO and I have been driving past this Bethlehem candy shop for years and I decided I wanted to finally stop by while I was out with my niece. Upon entrance we were immediately greeted and the smell of chocolate permeated the air, mmmmmm. The store is large with tons of options. We walked down each aisle and perused the vast choices...honestly it was a little overwhelming. I didn't purchase anything on this visit, because I would have ended up broke, lol, but I did pickup a little pamphlet of their chocolate offers so on my return visit I'll know what to buy. read more

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We stopped here on our way back home and we were literally like kids in a candy store. It was in December so we grabbed tons of delicious gifts for everyone. We go to tons of chocolate shops and this place was absolutely amazing. Super nice people who work here. Service was fantastic. read more

Great store for homemade candies. They had really cute gifts. They seem to have something for every holiday and the most adorable and unique stuffed animals. There is a section for sugar free chocolates which is what I came for. Haven't tried those yet but I tried the regular chocolate and everything I tried was great. All the chocolate was fresh. It's a little pricey but not more than you would expect for this kind of chocolate. I got 4 free chocolates with purchase. All were delicious. It was nice to be able to try some of the things I didn't buy. I would shop here again. They also ship which would be great for Christmas gifts. I would shop here again. read more

Josh Early makes the best chocolates!! Their caramels are exquisite, but my favorite is enjoying their assorted box. Great for shipping to friends and family as well! read more

We have shopped here for many years. There are great gift ideas from small boxes of chocolates to nuts and speciality holiday treats. I really like the variety of items you purchase. Mints, chocolate covered nuts, chocolate covered raisins! read more

Very nice candy store. Lots of variety. Plenty of space to look at everything. Very nice and friendly staff. Shopped here several times for different reasons and never have been disappointed. My favorite candies are the chocolate covered fruit like Oranges, pineapple, cherries etc read more

This chocolate shop is a taste of home. Every Easter, my mom would give me a basket filled with Josh Early chocolate, including a massive peanut butter chocolate egg with my name on it. It was huge -- and I actually used a butter knife to slice it and eat it throughout the entire week. I have moved to Los Angeles, and yet the tradition still continues. Each year, my mom sends me a box packed with Josh Early Candy. My favorite -- now as an adult -- are the non-perils. These are seriously amazing. She sends a full tub and that baby barely lasts a week. My diet is basically screwed! On this last visit, I got the dark chocolate peanut butter cups, dark chocolate covered pretzels and a tub of non-perils. They also have these marshmallow and caramel slices. I loved those as a kid, but they're a little sweet for me now. My mom still sends them to me, and I end up eating them all anyway! The shop is so quaint and the staff is so friendly. It's one of those places that really remind me of home. read more

The store smells delicious as soon as you step inside. It's clean and well lit and beautifully decorated. There's a huge selection of chocolate items, adorable stuffed animals, and non-chocolate candies. We were visiting from out of town and spent $60 - the very nice woman who checked us out gave each of us a little sample bag of three chocolates as we were leaving. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! I was mesmerized by the billboard on 78 and then brought in by a friend who grew up in the area. This place is definitely choco-heaven. Sampling is allowed but you may have to ask (only one time when I went there were there samples on the counters). Pricing is very good, at least to me. I am used to Godiva and Jacques Torres pricing. But then again, I'm not the kind of person who would pay $200 for a bottle of wine. My absolute favorite is the Figaro Fudge which is a hazelnut layered candy. I definitely drive off the beaten path just to get to Josh Early. I have also had the vanilla cream, the break up chocolate and the peanut butter truffle which were all good. I have also gifted the Figaro Fudge and now this is a mandatory pick up whenever I go home. read more

Josh Early Candies (JEC) has a diverse array of candy as well as some house-made confections. This place serves old-fashioned american candies and confections - if this is your expectation upon entering, you're going to have a good time. I really like the candy they've sourced from other companies. They've clearly spent some time determining the best of the best in terms of quality and selection. JEC carries my all-time favorite: Albanese (the World's Best Candy) gummi bears - shout out the pink grapefruit flavor! I've shared the pink grapefruit gummi bears with friends all over the US, even people who "hate" grapefruit enjoy these, seriously a must try. Other candies I've tried and can vouch for: -Peanut brittle. It's the kind of peanut brittle that has a little baking soda, so the candy is never chewy and has that perfect snap. It also has a sprinkle of salt to really meld the flavors. -Peanut butter straws. The "straws" are thin layers of (possibly honey) candy encasing thin alternating layers of candy and smooth to gritty peanut butter - similar to a chick-o-stick, but more peanut butter. JEC also sells the straws dipped in their chocolate for an extra special treat. Just say yes! -Mint/milk/dark chocolate nonpareils. They're all good. The perfect size for a little treat. The milk chocolate is very rich. Things I'm keeping an eye on: -The licorice. Great price, but never seem to pick up a bag. -Chocolate straws, maybe even chocolate dipped. While most of my favorites aren't made in-house, I consider the prices fair for what I'm getting. I've sampled several of the assorted chocolates, it's not really my thing, but I find this to be true at other confectionaries as well. read more

Josh Early Candies - House-made nonpareils = sprinkle lovers dream! Nice for a small afternoon treat :) - Candy Stores Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

I'm impartial to Josh Early, the chocolates are alright but not exactly on the higher end as far a quality. The service is alright... If you want high quality chocolate, go Godiva. If you want a decent Easter Bunny, Josh Earlys will do. read more

Coming to Josh Early reminds me of my childhood. I would consider it my Family's Chocolatier because I fondly recall Josh Early being part of all our holidays from Halloween to Easter all my life. Stepping inside the store is a little like going back in time because of its decidedly un-corporatelike feel. There are samples at every counter and no one makes you feel pressured to buy anything if you partake in one...or three (ha!) and the place smells like chocolate heaven. They have pretty much every chocolate you can think of including sugar free and certified organic as well a some non chocolate candies. You can purchase from the candy cases by weight, buy normal prepackaged items, or find all types of prepared gift items around the large store. Definitely one of my regular stops when in Bethlehem for gifts and nonpareils for me! read more

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Our family has been coming to Josh Early Candies for 3 generations and it never fails to deliver. Pricing is reasonable for such an incredibly high quality of chocolate and candy. Dark chocolate and milk chocolate are both the beat I've ever had. The creams have the perfect consistency and the right ratio. I'd recommend (all in dark chocolate of course, but I don't knock the milk) vanilla, coconut, raspberry, and my PB living friend highly recommend the peanut butter creams. The nonpareils are addictive! Watch out or you'll eat the whole bag/jug in one sitting! Other chocolate candies to try: molasses honeycomb, coconut haystacks, chocolate and regular caramels, molasses coconut, coconut almond, chocolate covered butter toffee, any of the turtles, chocolate mouse, marshmallow, and the mint patties. Non-candies: almond butter crunch, any brittle. Dark chocolate breakup and wafers are AMAZING for baking and decorating sweets. Check them out for holidays for special and exotic molds and gift ideas! read more

A great store that reminds you of years gone by. I LOVE chocolate, and this place has some of the best locally made around. Definitely try to vanilla butter creams. It's a great place to pick up gifts or unique candy for Easter or Halloween. read more

The hand made chocolates here are second to none. All of them!! Everything they make is made with love, and you can taste it in every bite, every nugget, every nibble... The peanut butter cups, dark or milk, are the best things I have ever eaten, period!! read more

Best Dark Chocolate PERIOD!!! Also love the Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut bark. They make lots of season selections. Great choice for Valentines, Easter, Hanukkah , and Christmas. Josh Early the only place you can find Blue & White Nonpariels for Hanukkah! I have yet to find any chocolates they make that are not A+! It may be more expensive than Hershey's but tastes a BILLION TIMES better! If your by this store in Bethlehem Township, or the flagship store (Where all the candy is made) in Allentown. Stop in, you won't be sorry. read more

If you are going to fill that chocolate craving this is the place . Milk chocolate caramel s. Always a big favorite

Halfway across the country, you still can't outdo Josh Early for the price. I have a sweet tooth, and grew up in the area, looking forward to my Josh Early visit every holiday season. Now, having moved halfway across the country I can order it online and am sure to do so every year. read more

I'm going to have to go with Anthony B.'s review on this. There is absolutely nothing remarkable about this place at all. It's okay. But completely, and utterly ordinary in every way. Went there one time hoping for truly artisanal confections. You won't find them here. read more

I went in there looking for a specific kind of chocolate candy and when I asked the woman behind the counter if they had it and she said no and became annoyed. I then asked her to recommend something similar and she became even more annoyed. They did have a large selection of chocolates but the customer service is beyond unpleasant and wouldn't recommend this place unless you fit in to the clientele they want there which obviously wasn't me. read more

Not sure why people love this overpriced, over-rated chocolate shop. Maybe the Lehigh Valley has never tried See's, or the even more local Victoria's from Hazleton... But Josh Nasties just can't compare! I spent over $22 on 1 lb of bridge mix and it taste like it's coated in wax. I'm not sure it's even chocolate covered! Josh Early mgt needs to visit some other candy shops to see how it's done. Fail. read more

I love places like this. It's reminiscent of an old-time candy shop in the best way. The counter service, the decor, it's very nice. The variety of chocolates and candies is incredible. Great for gifts and little surprises. The nonpareils are my favorite. read more

We receive a 2lbs box for Christmas! What a special treat!!! Everything is delicious and unique. Highly recommend!

Josh Early Candies are number one! These are straight-ahead, American candies, not the Euro-trash designer candies with brandy in them. For a great American chocolate, Josh Early Candies are as good as it gets. Call them up and order a box. It's the Great American Candy. read more

Josh Early makes the BEST chocolates, at a price that is reasonable and appropriate for a top brand candy. The chocolate is creamy, melt in your mouth goodness, and with their vast variety of chocolate and non-chocolate treats, (dark or milk chocolate, creams-chocolate, pecan or peanut rolled, jellies, non-parriels, Turtles, lollipops and other hard candies--I could go on and on) you can always go into their stores (or online) and find the best. Whether you are ordering as a gift or for yourself, order more. You'll be sorry when you run out (don't eat them all in one night!) I grew up in Allentown and have been buying their candies for over 40 years. They are my go-to when I need a gift for the holidays or someone special, just because! I actually keep a list of my family and friends' favorites so I can always include something in their order that they truly love. Years ago I asked the Josh Early staff why they didn't do a larger operation and promote more heavily nationwide. Their answer, they wanted to keep it a smaller, family, friendly operation and they felt they would lose that if they got too big. Online, on the phone or in person, the staff is always very friendly, professional and very knowledgeable about their products. Final Note: Josh Early Candies are MUCH better than Sees Chocolates. Signed, Donna in Virginia read more

Either Allentown of Bethlehem both of the Josh Early Candy stores are great. Fresh tasty chocolate or jelies hard candy they have it. The heck with over priced name candies in the mall this place has it all. Now that my IN-Laws line in Penn, My wife buys all her holiday candy there. The place to go or order on line. read more

Just AMAZING. Even if you are not in the market for candy at the moment, just stop in for the smells! My wife grew up on Josh Early's and I finally got the full experience when we were home visiting family for Christmas. Parking is aplenty and the location is easy to get in-and-out of without much hassle. My wife and I picked up several treats for the holidays, including milk chocolate caramel pretzel clusters, milk chocolate covered vanilla caramels, homemade licorice candy, and a few boxes of non-pareils as gifts. The service was great; very prompt and courteous. The candy was delicious, fresh, and as creamy as can be. The most significant attribute was the freshness. Although the candy is not made at this particular location, you can tell it arrives shortly after completion in the Allentown location. It's no wonder why Josh Early's has such a great reputation in the Lehigh Valley. This is a must-try for any candy/chocolate lover! read more

I have been bringing my nephew (now in his 40's), my son and my nephew's kids to this store since 1973. Best chocolate on the planet & I have frequented many a fancy chocolate store when I worked for 10 yrs. in Manhattan. Our standing joke is that we would be rich if we could bottle the smell in Josh Early's store. You know the candy is something special when they have to ask for a policeman to handle the traffic at Eastertime. read more