You certainly know Dadinho, the famous peanut candy that tastes like childhood. But did you know that it was created to pay homage to the city of São Paulo? Created in 1954, the little cube has had a curious relationship with the capital since its inception and has become an unmistakable unmistakable symbol of the city. Check out the unique details about this little cube that is the face of SP!
The sweet was created in honor of the IV Centenary of São Paulo
In 1954, the city of São Paulo celebrated its 400th anniversary with a huge party. Some of the attractions were the inauguration of Ibirapuera Park and the completion of a major renovation of the Sé Cathedral, for example. Another iconic event was the Silver Rain, when army planes dropped millions of papers on the Viaduto do Chá, small aluminum triangles that shone through the air in the light of the spotlights.
At the time, the Dizioli company decided to launch a sweet called “IV Centenário”, in honor of the city’s anniversary. The small peanut cube was given a silver wrapper to remind us of the Chuva de Prata, and ended up becoming a way to take a little piece of São Paulo’s IV Centenary celebrations home with you.
From IV Centenary to Dadinho: sweet became a São Paulo legend
Over time, the name “IV Centenário” didn’t catch on. The people of São Paulo affectionately nicknamed the sweet “Dadinho”, because of its square shape, and the nickname caught on so well that the manufacturer itself decided to make it official.
Despite the change, Dadinho remains a typical São Paulo sweet. And, although many people don’t know it, it remains true to its origins to this day: the packaging retains both the iconic silver color and the words “IV Centenário”. Have you noticed?
Today, Dadinho continues to be a guaranteed presence in São Paulo’s bakeries and snack bars, as well as in the city’s affective memory. After all, the little peanut cube is more than just a sweet: it’ s part of São Paulo’s history and identity, keeping the IV Centenário celebrations alive with every bite!