Buckeye Treat Trail: Columbus shops offer unique takes on iconic Ohio candy

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Fans of Ohio's iconic buckeye-shaped chocolate and peanut butter candies are in for a treat — or to be more accurate, a series of treats.

Devotees of the sweet indulgence can now travel around Columbus on a mission to taste several versions of the confection inspired by Ohio’s state tree. According to a news release from Experience Columbus, 16 shops are participating in the Columbus Buckeye Treat Trail, which guides visitors and locals on a buckeye candy adventure through the city.

"At Experience Columbus, we love creating trails that give visitors a true taste of our city while promoting the amazing small businesses that call Columbus home," said Michelle Wilson, ECI, Senior Director of Destination Services at Experience Columbus. "Our Columbus-Style Pizza Trail and Columbus Distillery Trail are just two examples of our other trails that have been a huge hit. We kept hearing from locals and visitors asking, 'What about something sweet?' The Columbus Buckeye Treat Trail is our answer to that. It's the perfect addition to our existing free, experiential trails."

The shops on the trail include Anthony-Thomas Chocolates, Brownie Points, Buckeye Candy Company, The Buckeye Lady, Chocolate Café, C. Krueger’s Finest Baked Goods, Donna’s Delicious Dozen, Krema Nut Company, The Original Goodie Shop, Schmidt's Fudge Haus, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, The Yard Milkshake Bar and Winans Coffee & Chocolate.

Among the twists on the traditional buckeye candies are half-pound jumbo cream puff in buckeye flavors and a creamy milkshake version, Experience Columbus noted.

Participants who travel the trail can also receive rewards with a mobile-exclusive passport that can be used without downloading an app.

Rewards include:

• "It's More than Meets the Buckeye" T-shirt, for collecting four points.
• A custom Penn & Beech Candle Co. Columbus Buckeye Treat Trail candle, for 13 points.
• The chance to win a one-year membership to Chadwick Arboretum, a 30-acre green space on The Ohio State University campus that features a dedicated Buckeye Collection showcasing various native buckeye species, if randomly selected in a monthly drawing of passport holders.

Details and more information are available on the Experience Columbus website.