What if I told you one of the world’s most famous candies was born right here in Tacoma? Yep, Almond Roca—the crunchy, chocolate-covered toffee wrapped in shiny gold foil—started in our own backyard.

Back in 1923, two candy makers, Harry Brown and J.C. Haley, wanted to create something special at their Tacoma shop. They mixed butter, sugar, and almonds, coated it in chocolate, and gave it a name that would stand out. “Roca” means “rock” in Spanish, which makes sense because the candy is hard like a little sweet rock. That simple idea turned into a treat loved around the globe.

Making Almond Roca is an art. First, the butter and sugar are cooked until golden and crunchy. Then, the toffee is dipped in smooth chocolate and rolled in chopped almonds. Finally, each piece is wrapped in gold foil, making it look like a tiny treasure. Brown & Haley still makes Almond Roca in Tacoma today, and the factory has become a symbol of our city’s creativity and pride.
Almond Roca isn’t just candy—it’s part of Tacoma’s story. “It’s something that connects us to our history,” said a Brown & Haley spokesperson. For more than 100 years, the company has stayed local, providing jobs and sharing Tacoma’s name with the world. Every bite reminds us that big things can come from small places.

So next time you unwrap that shiny gold foil, think about what it represents: tradition, creativity, and pride in where we come from. At Mount Tahoma, those values matter. Almond Roca is more than a sweet—it’s a piece of Tacoma, and a reminder that our community can create something amazing.

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