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Candy Rituals

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Confectionary and ritual have been partners for a very long time. Although the most immediate candy rituals that come to mind are probably part of religious (Christian or Pagan) rites like Christmas, Easter and Halloween, there are numerous ceremonies and rituals involving candy. These are but a fraction.

The Way of Tea or the Japanese Tea Ceremony involves ceremonial preparation of powdered green tea shared communally along with candy and sometimes a meal followed by candy. During the ceremony the host and guests strive for spiritual refreshment and harmony with the universe. The Japanese philosophies of art, beauty, harmony and respect are at the heart of the rituals performed. The custom originally grew from Zen Buddhist monks’ habit of drinking from a bowl during worship but has grown to embrace an appreciation and devotion to the careful craft in the utensils and preparation of the tea and candy or food.

The Buckeye tree which is associated with prosperity and abundance has been used for many years in some traditions of folk magic. The nut is a toxic meat that is part of the horse chestnut family or, Aesculus Glabra. Hoodoo rituals using the nuts involve applying mercury and wax to the nut to create a powerful charm when held. This charm is said to bring luck and wealth.

During the Mexican Day of the Dead ceremonies candy skulls are used to represent the heads of dead friends and family. Sugar is dissolved in water until it becomes thick syrup which is then poured into variegated molds. Once the sugar hardens it is decorated with colored sugar and brightly colored paper cut-ups and given a Christian name. In this way a person can have a candy skull with the name of a friend or relative so that they can “eat the skull” as is the custom that honors those passed. Sometimes Amaranth skulls are made using walnuts for the eyes and peanuts or pumpkin-seeds for the teeth.

The Sunrise Dance is a traditional coming of age ceremony for young girls of the Apache Indian tribe. The ceremony, called na’ii’ees, was a reenactment of the myth of Changing Woman. A girl’s na’ii’ees required preparation of a special ceremonial dance area. This area was covered with blankets and a ceremonial buckskin as well as baskets filled with candy and fruit.

Truly a fascinating study, the use of candy in ceremonies and rituals around the world is extraordinary. The range and scope of these rites and ceremonies is fodder for the most innovative imagination. The element of fun and caprice accompanying candy ceremonies makes them often the most pleasurable of all traditions.

Ancient Candy

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Candy in one form or another has been around for thousands of years. Honeycomb was probably the first ready made candy of the earliest humans. From then forward honey was and continues to be a favorite natural confectionary sweetener. Early Egyptians also favored honey as a sweetener and often used it to sweeten fruit and nuts, such as dates and almonds, to create the first Egyptian confectionaries.

Romans used honey to create candy too. Ancient recipes have been preserved which indicate that the Romans used boiled nuts and honey, sprinkled with ground sesame, as a candy treat. This would have been the precursor to modern nougat. Pine nut candy was the confectionary of choice in medieval courts (in the early days of candy it was a luxury of the rich). This candy was made from a mixture of breadcrumbs, cane sugar, honey, ginger and pine nut kernels. This would have been similar in flavor and texture to the Roman treat.

Meanwhile in the ancient dynasties of the East the art of candy blowing was begun during the Tang Dynasty of the first century. In this process the confectioner/artist lifts a caramel mixture onto a stick which is formed into a single open ended funnel with sides dabbed with wheat flour to prevent sticking the sides together. The open end is then closed and the ends pulled into the shape of a thread-like spout. Air is blown into the spout and as the funnel expands into a sugar bubble, it is quickly shaped into the animal of choice. All this has to be done in a matter of seconds before the sugar hardens and loses its pliability. The finished product is stained with food coloring to create the features of an animal.

Meanwhile many North American Indian tribes had candy from the first century onwards. Tree sap and the bark inner layers were particularly popular as chewing gum as well as fruit seeds and plant stalks. Catkins mixed with animal fat were also a well loved treat.

All of these favored first candies bear a resemblance to some of those still preferred today. Honey continues to be an excellent choice of sweetener and of course nuts and seeds are staples of the candy makers, even of the 21st century. It would be fair to say though, that the ancients would certainly have envied the vast selection and assortment of candies available in modern times. While we may think we have come along way in the presentation of candy as well, it is arguable that no one has ever outdone the candy blowers’ animal creations, in either the past or today.

A Lesson in Gobstoppers

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Gobstoppers to teach science, what a concept! The entire class is given a gobstopper to suck and told that they are sucking away the layers of the planet. The first layer is the earths crust, easily recognized as gone from the gobstopper when the outer color of the blue planet is breached and the students have revealed the outer mantle. This layer is thicker than the earths crust and represented by a change in color which changes again when the student reaches the inner mantle.

At this stage the students have learnt the three outer layers of the planet and are associating this experience with sucking on candy. The lesson is appealing to the tactile, auditory and visual learners in the class which means every student is getting this in the learning style that suits their character, and the geology lesson isn’t over yet. The students now reach the outer core, again represented by a change in color, the gobstopper globe is now approximately half the size it was when it was whole and the texture of the core is softer than the mantle.

As the student sucks nearer to the center the globe will continue to become softer and change in color and soon students will come to the inner core of the globe and their gobstopper. Here the texture of the gobstopper and the earth globe becomes soft and malleable. In the earth globe that is because the temperature has risen to 10 000 degrees Celsius. In the gobstopper it is simply because the delicious gummy center, and the end of the lesson, has been reached. Who is the first student in the class that can say what this inner core is made of and why it is softer and hotter than the outer core?

Shipping Candy

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Shipping candy is an art that requires wholesalers to have very specific methods in place in order to ensure that bulk candy shipments find their destinations in the same state they left the warehouse. In extreme temperatures this is not always an easy feat. Both candy wholesalers and retailers could tell stories of entire shipments that have melted, molded or faded into unrecognizable globs of goo. Candy is also heavy and so the cost of shipping over any distance will often run into ridiculously high amounts. Most retailers will look for a company that offers flat rate shipping to ameliorate that problem, even when special packaging for temperature is required.

That’s why retailers appreciate candy companies who spend the time and expense required to ship candy that always arrives as fresh and perfect as it was when it left the shop floor. Often this effort will garner customer loyalty even when competition is fierce in the industry. That’s because most retailers know that building a reliable relationship with a consistently competent candy wholesaler is not easy. It is a time consuming process, often encumbered with many trials and errors before the right company is found.

To achieve freshness that survives the delivery process it is imperative for candy wholesalers to streamline processes to ensure that candy is stored for a very short period, and that it is kept at the correct temperatures through every step of the candy shipping process. On hot days that will mean the candy wholesaler will have to take the time to pack the candy and or chocolate on ice and to ensure that warehouse temperatures are kept moderate. That kind of attention to detail isn’t something every candy wholesaler is willing to offer so, when you find one that will, they’re worth their weight in gold – or should I say sugar.

Candy Containers and Cookie Jars

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Just about everyone loves candy but some people are particularly fond of what the candy comes in. There are numerous collectors of candy containers and cookie jars (which include cookie containers) and in fact there are a plethora of books written on the subject. The most notable well written prose on the subject of candy containers and cookie jars are these:

Album of Candy Containers by Jennie D. Long.
Complete American Glass Candy Containers Handbook/With Supplement by George Eikelberner.
Collectors Guide to Candy Containers: Identification and Values by Douglas Dezso and Leon and Rose Poirier. Over 500 color pictures of all kinds of candy containers.
Collectors Encyclopedia of Cookie jars Book III by Fred, Herndon, and Joyce Roerig.
Collector’s Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars, Book II, by Fred Roerig, Joyce Roerig.

    For those who love the rich combination of candy and history there are some interesting reads for you as well.

    Candyfreak by Steven Almond
    The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars by Joel Glenn Brenner

      The psychology of candy has long been a source of interest to candy makers, parents and psychologists alike. While we all know that candy calls to mind associations, usually pleasant and often from childhood, books have been written which actually profoundly describe the impact that candy can have in some people’s lives. For one such story which is both well written and entertaining read:

      Candy and Me (A Love Story) by Hilary Liftin

        In addition to books for candy and history lovers and collectors of candy containers and cookie jars, there are conventions, website blogs, chat rooms, clubs and trade fairs all dedicated to these hobbies and interests. The fascinating world of candy extends far beyond our personal favorite titbits.

        Confectionary, Chocolate and Candy Expos

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        For those whom the love of candy extends from a personal passion to a professional enterprise it is expo season. Over the next few months candy makers, lovers and retailers will host expos all over America. The public and pundits alike will learn about candy and chocolate, discover brands and types they had never heard of and listen to keynote speakers address the latest trends and prospects in the world of candy and chocolate.

        The next Chocolate World Expo show is just around the corner and will take place in New Jersey on Sunday, March 6, at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Expo Center is part of the Harmon Meadow complex that includes seven hotels, major office buildings, movie theaters, and major retail establishments. The show will as always, offer tastings and sales of gourmet chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, wines and more. The show is a favorite of both industry people and the public.

        For candy lovers, PEZ in particular, but there is much more than just PEZ at this convention, there is the 13th Annual Northeast PEZ Collectors Gathering on April 7, 8 and 9, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Stamford Downtown, Connecticut. This show is a must for candy lovers and its fun for everyone. Some of the featured events on this year’s agenda include a PEZ scavenger hunt, room hopping as well as the usual raft of workshops and seminars.

        The 2011 Sweets and Snacks Expo, sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, is the largest confectionery, cookie and snack show in the Americas. The EXPO features nearly 500 companies showcasing the most confectionery and snack products in one place making it the most valuable, time-effective event in the industry. Exhibitors at the EXPO are manufacturers of chocolate, candy, gum, cookies/biscuits; sweet snacks, nuts and savory (salty) snack goods. You will also find every other confection imaginable represented on the trade show floor, from the classic selections consumers buy year after year, to the hundreds of new products introduced. The show runs from May 24 to 26 at McCormick Place, Chicago.

        The Philadelphia National Candy Gift and Gourmet Show is sponsored by the Retail Confectioners Association of Philadelphia (RCAP). The show focuses on the sharing of information and knowledge about candy making and retailing among Philadelphia area confectioners. Over the years, the local focus has expanded and the RCAP currently has over 300 active and associate members throughout the United States and Canada. Today these candy makers and suppliers still share information to maintain very high quality chocolate and hard candy. This show runs from September 11 – 13, 2011 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

        Whether you are in the industry or a product lover, trade shows are interesting and fun and an amazing way to find out about, and sample, new candy and chocolate and trends.

        Candy and Chocolate History Timeline

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        Candy and chocolate have been around for a long time, perhaps longer than you think.  The National Confectioners Association maintains a timeline of notable events in the world of candy and chocolate. You may be surprised at the age of some of your favorite habits – like chewing gum.

        Pre-1800s

        Evidence of gum chewing dates back to prehistoric times when people chewed on tree resin for pleasure and to freshen breath.

        2000 years ago in equatorial Central America the Mayan Indians used cocoa in food and drink and Mayan writings refer to cacao as “food of the gods.”

        Recorded history traces several types of candy back to the Egyptians 3,500 years ago. Boiled candies were popularized in 17th century Europe.

        1800s

        1893 William Wrigley, Jr. introduces Juicy Fruit gum and Wrigley’s Spearmint gum.

        1896 Tootsie Rolls debut; introduced by Leo Hirshfield of New York who named them after his daughter’s nickname, “Tootsie”.

        1900s

        1900 Milton S. Hershey of Lancaster, PA introduces the first Hershey milk chocolate bar.

        1902 Necco makes the first conversation hearts – tiny Valentine’s Day favorites with messages printed on them.

        1910s

        1912 Life Savers, the candy named for its ring shape with the hole in the center is introduced in peppermint flavor. It would be 22 years before the popular five-flavor roll is introduced.

        1913 Goo Goo Clusters, a Southern favorite, is the first bar to combine milk chocolate, caramel, marshmallow and peanuts.

        1920s

        1920 The Baby Ruth candy bar is first sold; named for President Grover Cleveland’s daughter – not the famous baseball player.

        1922 Hans Riegel invents a chewy candy called the “dancing bear”. Later this confection became known as gummi bears.

        1930s

        1930 M&M/Mars introduces the Snickers Bar, named for a favorite horse owned by the Mars family. It is the number-one selling candy bar in the U.S. today.

        1932 Red Hots are made by Ferrara Pan Candy Company. These fiery little candy pellets are flavored with cinnamon.

        1940s

        1941 M&M’s Plain Chocolate Candies are introduced in response to slack chocolate sales in summer. Fifty-nine years later, M&M/Mars changed the name of this popular candy item to M&M’s Milk Chocolate Candies.

        1942-1945 Women working on the Whitman’s Sampler production line secretly slipped notes to soldiers in those boxes destined for military shipment. The notes resulted in several long-term friendships and even a few marriages.

        1950s

        1954 Marshmallow Peeps are introduced by Just Born, Inc. in the shape of Easter chicks. Today, Peeps come in a variety of seasonal shapes and more than 2 million Peeps are made each day.

        1954 Atomic Fireballs are introduced by Ferrara Pan Candy Company.

        1960s

        1960 M&M/Mars Starburst Fruit Chews are introduced and later fortified with 50 percent of the daily value for Vitamin C.

        1963 SweeTarts, the candy pellets with the original sweet and tart flavor combination, are introduced.

        1970s

        1976 Introduced by Herman Goelitz Candy Company, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans offer consumers fun and unique flavors in a tiny jelly bean.

        1979 TWIX Caramel Cookie Bars introduced in the U.S. by M&M/MARS

        1980s

        1980 Goelitz introduces the first American-made gummy bears and gummy worms. Formerly, these candies were imported from Europe.

        1981 A European favorite since 1974, SKITTLES Bite Size Candies are introduced in the U.S. by M&M/MARS

        1990s

        1994 STARBURST Jellybeans introduced by M&M/MARS

        1998 Holopops become the first hologram lollipops introduced by Light Vision Confections. The design on their etched surface appears to change as you move the pop.

        Music and Candy

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        The count-down to Valentine’s Day is truly on and for those who want to make a huge impression, it’s pressure time. If you have musical talent though, you are in luck and the battle is half won. Nothing will melt a woman’s heart (or a man’s) like a box of chocolates or flowers and a serenade. So get out your instruments and start tuning up because these are the most romantic and sexy love song suggestions and you may want to take a week to practice!

        This one is short and sweet and will surely melt his or her heart. The song is by Candy Dulfer and it’s called, What Does it Take.

        What does it take
        To win your love for me
        How can I make
        This dream come true for me

        Ooh I just got to know
        Oh baby cause I love you so

        I tried I tried I tried I tried
        Every way I could
        To make you see how much I love you
        I thought you understood

        Oh, I gotta make you see
        What does it take to win
        Your love for me

        For the rapper or rockier music artist keen to put the love and the candy in the music, nothing will tell her how you feel like Candy by Kool Moe Dee. The part we can print (it is a bit forward) goes like this…

        It’s like a million chocolate candy bars, chocolate kiss
        But you go better with nut, so put me into your mix
        I make it chunky but funky, a chocolate kiss with a twist
        Cause I’m addicted like a junk food junkie, honey’s my fix
        Since I’m Kool as ice cream maybe one day
        I make your love come down and make a sundae
        For breakfast, lunch or dinner you’re a tasty treat
        Too much dessert can’t hurt, come taste and eat
        Freak freak y’all, to the beat y’all
        I’m droppin on honey like free fall
        Happy as a kid inside a candy shop

        This song is ‘slightly’ more suggestive and a good option for a valentine love you know quite well rather than a first date!

        Cyclone Yasi Wipes out 10% of World Sugar Supply

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        Cyclone Yasi swept across Eastern Australia with winds and rain of a force that surpassed even Katrina. Miraculously not a single death occurred and three babies were even born in the shelters during the storm; with full medical care and clean facilities, which just goes to show that Mother Nature is as glorious as she can be brutal.

        While the people of Australia fared well their crops did not and the banana and sugar crops of Australia were particularly hard hit. For candy makers and retailers that means that 10% of the world’s sugar supply is gone. Almost one third of Australia’s sugarcane is grown in the region between Cairns and Townsville, where Yasi came ashore.

        The cyclone which spanned a diameter of 310 miles blew 186mph an hour winds, dumped torrential rain and ripped sugar crops from the roots destroying 15% of the countries crops and damaging up to 50% of crops. Australia is the world’s third largest raw sugar exporter. Consequently global sugar prices have jetted up by 4%, the highest level in 37 years.

        While the ramifications of the drastic price rise won’t be felt immediately in wholesale and retail candy sectors, it is possible that future prices will be impacted. Retailers at store level would be well advised to ensure stock supplies for the upcoming spring and summer are in place ahead of any potential rises. There is also the possibility that sugar supplies could be increased from other sources but it is not likely the Australian sugar market will recover quickly, and without other supplier countries pre-prepared to meet the increased need, it is very likely there will be at least a temporary but significant future increase in the price of all sugar based products.

        Horse & Pony Candy

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        Horses are perhaps the animals closest to human beings in terms of relationships because they provide us with services, loyalty and friendship more than any other animal apart from possibly dogs and cats. Ask any horse owner and they’ll tell you their horse or pony is a friend. Also like humans, horses and ponies love candy; all kinds of candy.

        Most horses and ponies will eat anything sweet with great pleasure. Like most parents most equine moms and dads are willing to allow a certain amount of sugar in the diet of their charges. For the health conscious horse owners who cannot bring themselves to allow candy on its own, candy apples are both nutritious and delicious.  Horses and ponies also go gaga for blackstrap molasses which, in addition to being an equine favorite, contains ingredients which are really good for health including the molasses as well as the salt and vinegar which all horses require for optimal well-being. The molasses contains vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. Considering these are all minerals many horses have deficiencies in, molasses is a great and healthful treated served straight up or, for a treat both rider and horse or pony will enjoy, tray molasses salt water taffy.

        For those horse lovers who want to make their own horse and pony sweet treats molasses cookies are easy (makes approximately 25 cookies depending on the size):

        Ingredients:

        1 ½ cups all purpose flour

        1 cup bran

        1 cup molasses

        1 cup grated carrot or apple

        Preparation:

        Preheat oven to 375F

        Grease 2 cookie sheets

        Put aside a small bowl of white sugar and a drinking glass with a flat bottom.

        In a large bowl mix all the ingredients thoroughly. The mixture shouldn’t be too wet, and should stick together – add flour if necessary. Place teaspoonfuls 1 ½ inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Grease the bottom of the glass, dip it in the sugar and stamp the cookies to flatten a little. Bake for 10 minutes.

        Every horse will love molasses and most will also enjoy other treats. For individual tastes it is a matter of trial and error to find out what the best treat or reward will be for any specific horse or pony.