The Capital of Ohio Has a New Chocolate Treat Trail With 17 Stops

"Founded in 1898, Krema Nut Co. in the Columbus neighborhood of Grandview Heights is celebrated for its hand-rolled buckeyes and the delectable Buckeye Crunch. The buckeyes are meticulously crafted with stabilized peanut butter and dipped in chocolate. The Buckeye Crunch features caramel corn enrobed in a peanut butter confection, then drizzled with chocolate, striking the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Walk in, and the first thing you’ll notice is the warm, inviting aroma of roasting nuts. Behind the retail space lies a small factory where the magic happens. Krema Nut Co. not only sells nuts, nut butters, and snacks but also operates as the oldest peanut butter company still in business in America. At the heart of the company are the nuts and their renowned peanut butter. “We’re making all-natural peanut butter. We take the number one fancy grade Spanish peanut, put them in a dry roaster. Once they’ve cooked and cooled, our blanching machine takes off the skin, takes out the heart, and then it goes into this giant bin waiting to be ground into peanut butter,” explains owner Brian Guinta, who works alongside his father, Mike; his sister, Lisa Sayre; and his wife, Jacquie Guinta." - Wendy Pramik