A Taste of Heaven

“Umm…this is so delicious! I think I am in Heaven,” I thought to myself as I savored each bite of the ultra-thin lemon cookie. Funny, I don’t remember walking towards any bright light or being questioned by St. Peter at the gate. Yet, something this wonderful is surely divine!  Before me stood a seasoned gentleman with bright eyes and a grin that would defeat any dismal day. No, he did not have wings. His halo was that of curly silver hair. He was sporting a chef’s apron and a tag which read: Travis Hanes. “This is our Lemon Crisp. We have a total of 6 flavors,” he declared with a smile.

 Chewing ever so slowly to relish the flavor, we moved into an area noted as the shipping department. There was much bustling activity as carts, loaded with red tins of cookies, rolled into the room. Tins were being packaged for transport to a list of lucky recipients. The holiday season is the busiest time of the year here. It begins in September with a mailing list of over 65,000 households around the globe. An incredible 40% positive return guarantees a bountiful season of baking.

Just as I began to swallow the last morsel of my lemon cookie, Travis shared another, informing me that I was about to taste the “Sugar Crisp”. With taste buds dancing and a mouth full of pure delight, I muttered, “Oh my…” I found myself slobbering like an English sheepdog.

Immediately, another cookie was passed to me, “This is the Ginger Crisp." Travis’s eyes were filled with much pride, as this is the “piece de resistance”. This is the true celebrity of the six flavors. I soon learned that although the mixers began turning in 1960, the business actually started many years earlier in the kitchen of the family’s home by the late Great Grandmother, Bertha Crouch Foltz. The production of the scrumptious bites humbly began as a means of supplemental income for the family’s dairy farm.

Today, the 36,000 square foot facility employs over 45 full time individuals. Most having been a part of this successful venture for over 15-20 years. As we strolled the hallways, we passed an antique oven. It was an Adam Karr original. Travis showed me how it had to be stoked with wood. “This is how it all began," he said. Passing us, were Travis’s brother, daughter, son, and finally, a lady named, Evva. The latter caused a smile to instantly appear on Travis’s face. “This is my wife of 63 years,” he beamed.  Undeniably, a spark continues to burn bright as Travis held her hand to introduce her.

Evva’s smile was one of faith. Much like Travis, there is a sense of great pride in her eyes when she discusses the baking business.  “I am the worrier, Travis is the peace-maker,” she shared.  A perfect match, indeed. Evva moved quickly to attend to pending business.

“This is the Chocolate Crisp," Travis informed as he passed me the fourth flavorful creation. Being a “chocoholic”, I nearly passed out.  This must be Heaven! With only a single bite swallowed, another cookie was handed to me. “This is the Butterscotch Crisp.”  By this time, I was like one of Pavlov’s dogs…the mere sight of  either the round, scalloped, or heart shaped confectionery caused me to dance in anticipation.

Upon entering the baking room, I saw a collection of “angels” sporting halos that appeared to be clouds upon their heads. Each hand-rolling the batter into paper-thin flat sheets. Shapes were then hand-cut and placed on baking trays. Fancy mechanical technology was not to be found. Everything was done simply--by hand.  I believe that is the true secret of this cookies’ success.

“This is the sixth flavor, Black Walnut Crisp," Travis said, as I nibbled on the last sample. Between 500-700 pounds of cookie dough are baked per day which equates to 120,000 pounds each year. At 100 cookies per pound, this results in nearly 12 million cookies a year. My head was spinning.

Times were not always so sweet. The recent recession of 2008 resulted in a surplus of post-holiday cookies. Although the shelf life of the Ginger Crisps is up to 2 years, the sugary spares were shared with less fortunate souls who might not ever had the opportunity to experience them. This is proof of the kindness in the hands of those who make them. Such good deeds are not overlooked. In 2010, international talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, put the cookies on her “List of Favorites”. Such resulted in a multitude of blessings.

As I consumed my last tidbit of cookie, reality came into focus. Although this wasn’t Heaven, I had just experienced the infamous “Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies” factory.  It is here, that both quality and kindness are served. 

It is my firm belief that just inside Heaven’s gate will be a large tray-- full of Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies.

All six flavors.

This was a Moment in America.