"Hardboileds, crunches, cracknels, humbugs, and glaciers...." wrote musing poet Dylan Thomas.
What was he naming? Candy! It has been around for at least 4,000 years, various sources claim, and at least 2,000 varieties exist today.
It was very likely the Greeks, who introduced the word into our language. It appears that a popular treat among Alexander the Great's troops was a Persian delicacy called kand - a tasty reed garnished with honey and spices.
The word "candy" probably came to us from this sweet that the troops brought home to Greece. But it could also have come from an old Arab word for sugar, quand.
The word candy first appeared in English as a compound noun, "sugar candy," in the 15th century, and it meant a kind of sugar that resulted from boiling and crystallization, hence the British "sweets of sugar candy."
The broader "candy" of America includes confections made with other ingredients, too, such as chocolate, fruits, and nuts.
SOURCES: 'Word Mysteries and Histories,' by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionary; The Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, by Robert Hendrickson: 'The Christmas Almanac,' by Natasha Fried and Lena Tabori.
FAQs
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 historical roots of licorice are found in the early years of man's appearance.
What is candy made out of? ›
Candy is a rich sweet confection made with sugar and often flavored or combined with fruits or nuts. The technology of candy making is based on the science and art of altering sugar, the principal ingredient in candy, particularly to achieve special textural effects.
Where was candy made from? ›
Most historians credit ancient Egyptians with the invention of candy. As far back as 1500 BC, Egyptians created candy from any sweet, local ingredient they could find. They would often combine honey, nuts, and fruits to make a delicious treat that they could share with their community.
Why do Americans call it 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.
Is candy American or British? ›
British vs American Vocabulary
| British English ↕ | American English ↕ |
|---|
| sweets | candy |
| taxi | taxi, taxi cab |
| tea towel | dish towel |
| telly (informal), TV | television, TV |
103 more rowsThe five most common animal-based ingredients in candy include carmine, milkfat, confectioner's glaze, gelatin, and honey. Luckily, there are vegan alternatives to these cruelly begotten animal ingredients commonly found in Halloween candy.
What is candy usually made of? ›
Sweeteners. Sugar, mainly sucrose from sugar beets or sugarcane, is the major constituent of most candies. Other sweeteners employed in candy manufacture include corn syrup, corn sugar, honey, molasses, maple sugar, and noncaloric sweeteners. Sweeteners may be used in dry or liquid form.
What is the most unpopular candy in America? ›
According to the study, American's hate to receive candy corn the most on Halloween.
What is the most popular candy in the world? ›
Best-selling Candy in the World
- Snickers.
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
- Toblerone.
- Kit Kat.
- Dove.
- Cadbury Dairy Milk.
- Twix.
- Milka.
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.
Swedes are the world's no. 1 consumer of candy, accounting for roughly 35 lbs. per capita per year according to the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Despite the cavalcade of candy, however, Sweden consistently ranks as one of the healthiest countries on Earth, often near the top of many world's healthiest countries lists.
Is marshmallow a candy? ›
marshmallow, aerated candy that originated as a versatile medicinal syrup and ointment; it was made from root sap of the marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis), sugar, and egg white. The modern marshmallow candy is made from corn syrup, dextrose, gelatine, and egg albumen.
Is Kit Kat an American candy? ›
The KIT KAT® candy bar dates back to 1935 when the wafer crisp chocolate bar was launched in England. Originally, it was known as “Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp,” but in 1937 the candy bar was renamed as "KIT KAT® Chocolate Crisp".
What are the ingredients in candy? ›
Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Mineral Oil, Carnauba Wax, Natural and Artificial Flavours, Colour.
What materials are used to make candy? ›
At the heart of almost every candy recipe lies sucrose crystals, making sugar the main ingredient. Complementing sugar is syrup, often derived from starch sources like corn or tapioca. This combination of sugars provides a stable and flavourful base for a variety of candies.
Is candy just pure sugar? ›
Commercially, sugar candies are often divided into three groups, according to the amount of sugar they contain: 100% sugar (or nearly so), such as hard candies or creams. 95% sugar or more, with up to 5% other ingredients, such as marshmallows or nougats, and.
Is candy just sugar? ›
Candy and sugar are related, but they're not exactly the same thing. Candy is a sweet food that is typically made with sugar as one of the main ingredients.
