The Habanero Texas Chewie by Lammes Candies in Austin, Texas.
While waiting for a weather-delayed flight in Houston, Texas, I saw a unique regional candy at the newsstand. That seems to be a running theme with me – it’s how I found the Cherry Mash earlier in the year. When I saw the phrase ‘since 1885’ on the wrapper I had to buy one to try. A candy historian like me couldn’t resist. The candy was the “Texas Chewy Pecan Praline.” I had written about the famous Texas peanut clusters in a past blog, so I had to research and report on this historic candy company. A praline is like a peanut cluster with the chocolate replaced by caramel. Typically, at least in the U.S., and New Orleans, pralines utilize the pecan as the nut, but they can utilize any nut and still be called a praline.
The Texas Chewy Pecan Praline is made by Lammes Candies, founded in Austin, Texas, by William Wirt Lamme in 1878 – seven years after our beloved Dosher Candies – but still over 130 years. I’ll have to do a bit of research to see what state has the oldest candy company in the U.S. Originally called the Red Front Candy Factory, it was in the 800 block of Congress Avenue in the main business district of Austin, Texas. Apparently, candy wasn’t William Lamme’s only indulgence, as he lost the candy business in a poker game in 1885! And, it probably was not a game of Texas Holdem. His son, David Turner Lamme, Sr., returned to Austin, after selling barbed wire for several years , to repay the gambling debt of $800 and reclaim the store as his own. David renamed the business from Red Front to Lammes Candies and officially opened on July 10, 1885. Today, the $16 Million dollar business is run by Pam Teich, the great-granddaughter of David Lamme.
The world famous Texas Chewy Pecan Praline – the current best seller – was first produced by David Lamme Sr, in 1892 (about the same time as Doscher’s French Chew was invented) after seven lucky years of recipe testing. The ingredients, except for the pecans, are the same. Originally only pecans grown along the Colorado River in Austin were used. Today, the company uses only Texas grown pecans, not necessarily from Austin. The Texas Chewie, as its affectionately called, is produced in 2000 pound quantities daily.
The company also makes a spicy habanero version of the Texas Chewie, along with 1000 other items like Texas Longhorns, chocolate nut clusters, Divinity and Mints, and caramels.
dannwoellertthefoodetymologist 
Who makes the Mr. Texas Candy I knew in the 50’s and 60’s? They were Hugh pieces and my parents would cut them in half for us to eat. Center was mostly white I think with pecans and then covered in chocolate.
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