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[[Image:Cotton candy Μαλλί της γριάς.JPG|thumb|right|Spinning cotton candy at a [[funfair]].]]
[[Image:Cotton candy Μαλλί της γριάς.JPG|thumb|right|Spinning cotton candy at a [[funfair]].]]


'''Cotton candy''' ([[American English|U.S.]], [[Canadian English|Canada]]), '''candy floss''' or '''candyfloss''' or candy buttox ([[British English|UK]], [[Irish English|Ireland]], [[New Zealand English|New Zealand]] and [[South African English|South Africa]]), or '''fairy floss''' ([[Australian English|Australia]]) is a form of spun [[sugar]]. Since cotton candy is mostly air, a small initial quantity of sugar generates a tremendously greater final volume, causing servings to be physically large and voluminous. A typical serving on a stick is approximately one [[ounce]]/30 [[gram]]s and contains roughly 115 kilocalories. It is sometimes sold in bags containing several servings (see accompanying photos).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/01/earlyshow/health/main4222191.shtml|title=Best Of Worst -- July 4th Foods|publisher=cbsnews.com|date=July 1, 2008|accessdate=2009-09-13|quote=Cotton Candy (1.5 oz serving) 171 calories, 0g fat, 45g carbs, 45g sugar, 0g protein}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090820/STATEFAIR/908200303/1010/FEATURES/Enjoy+the+fair++but+don+t+wreck+your+diet|title=Enjoy the fair, but don't wreck your diet|last=Carter|first=Darla|newspaper=Louisville Courier-Journal|date=August 20, 2009|accessdate=2009-09-13|quote=A 5½-ounce bag of cotton candy can have 625 calories.|postscript=<!--None-->}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270304/-1/NEWS|newspaper=Pocono Record|date=2006-09-27|accessdate=2009-09-13|title=Cotton candy on a stick (about 1 ounce) has 105 calories, but when bagged (2 ounces) it has double that number: 210.|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> Cotton candy is often served at [[funfair|fairground]]s or [[circus]]es. [[Food coloring]] is used to change the natural white color. A similar confectionery is the Persian [[Pashmak]], and the Turkish [[Pişmaniye]], although the latter is made with flour in addition to sugar.
'''Cotton candy''' ([[American English|U.S.]], [[Canadian English|Canada]]), '''candy floss''' or '''candyfloss''' or candy buttox ([[British English|UK]], [[Irish English|Ireland]], [[Canadian English|Canada]], [[New Zealand English|New Zealand]] and [[South African English|South Africa]]), or '''fairy floss''' ([[Australian English|Australia]]) is a form of spun [[sugar]]. Since cotton candy is mostly air, a small initial quantity of sugar generates a tremendously greater final volume, causing servings to be physically large and voluminous. A typical serving on a stick is approximately one [[ounce]]/30 [[gram]]s and contains roughly 115 kilocalories. It is sometimes sold in bags containing several servings (see accompanying photos).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/01/earlyshow/health/main4222191.shtml|title=Best Of Worst -- July 4th Foods|publisher=cbsnews.com|date=July 1, 2008|accessdate=2009-09-13|quote=Cotton Candy (1.5 oz serving) 171 calories, 0g fat, 45g carbs, 45g sugar, 0g protein}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090820/STATEFAIR/908200303/1010/FEATURES/Enjoy+the+fair++but+don+t+wreck+your+diet|title=Enjoy the fair, but don't wreck your diet|last=Carter|first=Darla|newspaper=Louisville Courier-Journal|date=August 20, 2009|accessdate=2009-09-13|quote=A 5½-ounce bag of cotton candy can have 625 calories.|postscript=<!--None-->}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270304/-1/NEWS|newspaper=Pocono Record|date=2006-09-27|accessdate=2009-09-13|title=Cotton candy on a stick (about 1 ounce) has 105 calories, but when bagged (2 ounces) it has double that number: 210.|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> Cotton candy is often served at [[funfair|fairground]]s or [[circus]]es. [[Food coloring]] is used to change the natural white color. A similar confectionery is the Persian [[Pashmak]], and the Turkish [[Pişmaniye]], although the latter is made with flour in addition to sugar.


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 20:22, 13 December 2011

"Candyfloss" redirects here. For the novel, see Candyfloss (novel). For other uses, see Cotton candy (disambiguation).
Spinning cotton candy at a funfair.

Cotton candy (U.S., Canada), candy floss or candyfloss or candy buttox (UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa), or fairy floss (Australia) is a form of spun sugar. Since cotton candy is mostly air, a small initial quantity of sugar generates a tremendously greater final volume, causing servings to be physically large and voluminous. A typical serving on a stick is approximately one ounce/30 grams and contains roughly 115 kilocalories. It is sometimes sold in bags containing several servings (see accompanying photos).[1][2][3] Cotton candy is often served at fairgrounds or circuses. Food coloring is used to change the natural white color. A similar confectionery is the Persian Pashmak, and the Turkish Pişmaniye, although the latter is made with flour in addition to sugar.

History

Maple-flavored candy floss at the cabane à sucre (sugar shack), Pakenham, Canada

Cotton candy was first recorded around the 1900s. At that time, spun sugar was an expensive, labor-intensive endeavor and was not generally available to the average person.[4] Machine-spun cotton candy was invented in 1897 by the dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton and first introduced to a wide audience at the 1904 World's Fair as "Fairy Floss"[5] with great success, selling 68,655 boxes at the then-high price of 25¢, half the cost of admission to the fair. Fairy floss was renamed to "cotton candy" in the 1920s.[6] In the 1970s an automatic cotton candy machine was created which made the product and packaged it. This made it easier to produce and available to sell at carnivals, fairs, and stores.

Tootsie Roll of Canada Ltd., the world's largest cotton-candy manufacturer, makes a bagged, fruit-flavored version called Fluffy Stuff.[7]

The United States celebrates National Cotton Candy Day on December 7.[6]

Production

Typical machines used to make cotton candy include a spinning head enclosing a small "sugar reserve" bowl into which a charge of granulated, colored sugar (or separate sugar and food coloring) is poured. Heaters near the rim of the head melt the sugar, which is squeezed out through tiny holes by centrifugal force. Precolored sugar packaged specially for the process is milled with melting characteristics and a crystal size optimized for the head and heated holes; granulated sugar used in baking contains fine crystals which spin out unmelted, while rock sugar crystals are too large to properly contact the heater, slowing the production of floss.

The molten sugar solidifies in the air and is caught in a larger bowl which totally surrounds the spinning head. Left to operate for a period, the cottonlike product builds up on the inside walls of the larger bowl, at which point the machine operator twirls a stick, cone, or their hands around the rim of the large catching bowl, gathering the sugar strands into portions which are served on stick or cone, or in plastic bags. As the sugar reserve bowl empties, the operator recharges it with more feedstock. The product is sensitive to humidity, and in humid summer locales, the process can be messy and sticky.

Modern innovations in Cotton Candy equipment include vending machines which automatically produce single-servings of the product, developed in the United Kingdom[8] and in Taiwan,[9] and lighted or glowing sticks.[10]

Machines

In 1972 the first automated machine was used for the production of cotton candy. Since then the creations and innovations of this machine have become greater and greater. They range in sizes from counter-top accessible to party and carnival size. In today’s world we can find machines that do so much at once, instead of its traditional use of having one flavor at a time. Today’s machines that are made for commercial use can hold up to 3 pounds of sugar and have compartments for storage of extra flavors. The rotating bowl at the top spins at 3,450 revolutions per minute.[11] That is what creates the threadlike candy from the sugar that is melted.

Texture

Sticky and sweet, it dissolves quickly in the mouth (due to its amorphous nature) although it feels like wool to the touch. It does not have much of an aroma although the machine itself has a cooked sugar smell when in operation. When it comes in contact with moisture, it becomes sticky and damp. Because the sugar is hygroscopic, and has a very large surface area, it will become coarser, harder and generally less "flossy" once exposed to the atmosphere.

  • Cotton candy making
    Cotton candy making
  • Cotton candy making dish
    Cotton candy making dish
  • Cotton candy shop
    Cotton candy shop
  • Cotton candy
    Cotton candy
  • Candy floss shop
    Candy floss shop

References

  1. ^ "Best Of Worst -- July 4th Foods". cbsnews.com. July 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-13. Cotton Candy (1.5 oz serving) 171 calories, 0g fat, 45g carbs, 45g sugar, 0g protein
  2. ^ Carter, Darla (August 20, 2009). "Enjoy the fair, but don't wreck your diet". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2009-09-13. A 5½-ounce bag of cotton candy can have 625 calories. [dead link]
  3. ^ "Cotton candy on a stick (about 1 ounce) has 105 calories, but when bagged (2 ounces) it has double that number: 210". Pocono Record. 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  4. ^ Lynne Olver. "history notes-candy". The Food Timeline. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  5. ^ "Cotton Candy". The Straight Dope. 2000-02-07. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  6. ^ a b "Cotton Candy Fun Facts". Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  7. ^ "Welcome to Tootsie - Product Information - Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy". Tootsie.com. 2010-05-22. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  8. ^ The Unique Cotton Candy Vending Machine | www.cottoncandyvending.com[dead link]
  9. ^ http://www.vendever.com/resources/VT_Article_April+2010.pdf
  10. ^ "Glo Cone - Patented Cotton Candy Light Sticks". YouTube. 2009-11-16. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  11. ^ Venzon, Christine (2009-12-03). "How Stuff Works Inc. "Cotton Candy Machines and Marketing Today." Howstuffworks.com. Web. 14 Sept. 2011". Science.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  • The complete Confectioners, pastry, Cook And Baker by M. Sanderson (Lippincott: Philadelphia)
  • Cotton Candy Express, . "History of Cotton Candy." Cotton Candy Express. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sep 2011.
  • Fri, Linda. "Cotton Candy History." Cotton Candy. N.p., 11 Aug 2010. Web. 14 Sep 2011.
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