The history of the candy - Caramella (2024)

The history of candy (or caramelus in Latin) dates back to the time of the first man’s appearance. The idea of candy began by the caveman who ate honey. The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey. The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger.

The history of the candy - Caramella (1)

The historical roots of licorice are found in the early years of man’s appearance. In particular, many licorice were eaten by Pharaohs and Prophets. The licorice comes from a plant called “Glycyrrhiza” which in Greek means «sweet root».

The history of the candy - Caramella (2)

The most favorite candy flavor is mint. The historical roots of mint, like those of licorice, are found in the early years of man’s appearance. The ancient Greeks placed mint leaves around the dead to cover the smell and remind Hades what he did. They also thought they were stopping hiccups. Other cultures used mint for other reasons such as cooking and medical treatment.

In the Middle Ages, the Arabs brought sugar in today’s crystalline form. They made the first sweets sprinkled with lots of sugar and right after the first candy with many favorite tastes.Boiled candies began to be consumed in the seventeenth century in England and in the American colonies. Homemade hard candies, especially with the taste of mint and lemon, became popular in the nineteenth century. By mid-1800, over 380 factories produced candies that were sold in glass containers.

The history of the candy - Caramella (4)

Handmade candy (caramelus in Latin) as we know it today dates back to the 19th century. The charming brown syrup made by heating sugar, delicious flavors and fancy colors are the main ingredients of our traditional handmade recipe.

The history of the candy - Caramella (5)

Our experienced craftsmen can satisfy even your most sophisticated requirements.

Always with respect to the consumer, our products are made from strictly selected raw materials, without preservatives and additives, combining tradition with modern technique.

No production, any product, can overcome the quality of the handmade. Our workshops, open to the customer’s eyes, reveal our secret through colors and perfumes that will travel to you.

Visit our “open kitchen” laboratories and watch “live” all stages of the production of handmade caramel *.

* For your better service, contact us to find out when to watch the production process.

The history of the candy - Caramella (2024)

FAQs

What is the oldest candy in the world? ›

The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey. The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger.

What was the first candy in Egypt? ›

Most historians say the first 'candies' originated in the time of the Ancient Egyptians, as early as 1500 - 2000 BC. The Egyptians would use honey mixed with fruit or nuts to curb their sweet tooth. Honey was also used in Ancient China, the Middle East, Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire as a form of confection.

What was the first sweet ever made? ›

The Sweet History of Sweets. The earliest sweet which people have eaten since prehistoric times was honey. The origins of confectionery can be traced back to about 2000BC to the ancient Egyptians who made sweets by combining fruits and nuts with honey. The Romans, Greeks and Chinese made sweets with sesame seeds.

What is the oldest candy bar that is still made today? ›

Fry & Sons and currently manufactured by Cadbury. Launched in 1866—nineteen years after Fry's created the first moulded, solid chocolate eating bar (in 1847)— Fry's Chocolate Cream is the first mass-produced chocolate bar and is the world's oldest chocolate bar brand.

Where did caramel originate? ›

It's thought the most basic form of caramel was first made by the Arabs around 1,000 AD by mixing sugar and water to form a crystallised liquid, that they used initially in the beauty industry, (think waxing and sugaring) and later becoming a confection which they first called simply a “ball of sweet.”

What is the #1 candy bar in America? ›

According to a statistical report by Statista released in 2020, Snickers is the most consumed candy in the entire United States and has also been ranked as the most coveted Halloween candy in the country.

What M&M color was discontinued in the 1970s? ›

In 1976, Mars eliminated red-colored M&M's because of health concerns over the dye amaranth (FD&C Red #2), which was a suspected carcinogen, and replaced them with orange M&M's. This was done despite the fact that M&M's did not contain the dye; the action was purely to satisfy worried consumers.

What's a candy from the 80s that you can't find anymore? ›

Marathon Bar - In 1981, after an 8-year run, the braided caramel 8" candy bar was retired. It remains one of the most requested discontinued candy bars of all time.

Why is candy called candy? ›

The word candy entered the English language from the Old French çucre candi ("sugar candy"). The French term probably has earlier roots in the Arabic qandi, Persian qand and Sanskrit khanda, all words for sugar. Sugarcane is indigenous to tropical South and Southeast Asia.

What was the first Hershey candy? ›

In 1894, when he formally incorporated the Lancaster Caramel Company, he established the Hershey Chocolate Company as a subsidiary. Prior to Hershey's Milk Chocolate bars, the company produced “vanilla sweet chocolate” as a confectionery item.

What was the first Halloween candy? ›

Candy corn is perhaps one of the oldest Halloween candies still eaten today, dating back to the 1880s. It was first supposedly invented by George Renninger, a candymaker at Philadelphia's Wunderle Candy Company.

What is the oldest candy company in the United States? ›

Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie in Salem is the oldest, continuously operated candy company in America, and much of its early history was rooted in Peabody. In 1806, Mrs. Spencer began selling gibralters, a hard sugar candy, from her wagon in Salem.

Who invented Skittles? ›

Skittles are a type of sugar candy printed with the letter "S". They were created in 1974 by the Wrigley Company in England.

Are M&Ms older than Skittles? ›

M&M's are made by Mars Chocolate and have been around since the 1940s. Skittles are made by Wrigley, which is a part of Mars Inc., and were made in 1974. Even in their differences there are some similarities!

How old is Kit Kat? ›

The KIT KAT® candy bar dates back to 1935 when the wafer crisp chocolate bar was launched in England.

What is the oldest chocolate? ›

Collectively, the evidence suggests the inhabitants of Santa Ana-La Florida used cocoa routinely between about 5300 and 2100 years ago, according to pottery from carbon dated layers at the site.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 6233

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.