Candy, the confectionery with a high sugar content, has an interesting history behind it. The term candy can be used to refer to any sweet confectionery. However, the definition of candy is not universal. What is considered as candy in one culture may be dessert in another.
Read on to know more about your favorite confectionery.
1) Candy Canes
Originally candy was made in the form of straight sticks. Around 350 years ago, straight sugar stick candy was used to decorate the Christmas trees. Eventually a cane shape was given to it representing a shepherd's cane, but the candy was still white. It was only after a 100 years since then that the candy was given the colorful stripes that we now see.
The production of candy canes was automated in the 1950's by a catholic priest.
2) Chocolate
The rulers of the Aztecs loved to have chocolate as a drink. This form of chocolate eventually spread to Europe. The actual inventor of the edible chocolate is not known. However, Joseph Fry during his experiments found that a mixture of cocoa powder and sugar eventually resulted in a sweet product that could be molded as one desired and then eaten. This product instantly became hugely popular among the people.
3) Marshmallows
Marshmallows have an ancient Egyptian origin. The marshmallow plant grows in salt marshes and large bodies of water. Ancient Egyptian doctors used to use marshmallow sap mixed with sugar, egg white and some other ingredients as a remedy to treat sore throat in children. It has also been found that they were given to rich kids as a treat. However, eventually as civilization progressed, people began to get more restless and found a faster way of manufacturing marshmallows by eliminating the sap. This led to the medicinal properties being lost as well.
4) Cotton Candy
Although candy has been around for a considerable amount of time, cotton candy was only recently invented. The European chefs were known to make a sweet confectionery called 'Golden Grass, that is popularly believed to be the predecessor of cotton candy. They were easily made into different shapes as desired. It was only with the advancement of the sugar industry that cotton candy began to be produced
5) Jelly Beans
The earliest known reference to this confectionery is associated with the marketing of jelly beans to soldiers engaged in the Civil War by a jelly bean manufacturer.
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