Candy corn
 candy corn | |
| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Course | dessert/candy |
| Main ingredients | Sugar, corn syrup, carnauba wax, artificial coloring and binders |
| Variations | cupid corn, bunny corn, Indian corn, reindeer corn |
Candy corn is a candy most often found in the United States and Canada.[1] Each piece is approximately three times the size of a real kernel from a ripe or dried ear of corn.
Candy corn is usually made from a mixture of sugar, corn syrup, confectioner's wax, artificial coloring and binders.[2]
History
"Chicken Feed" was the original name of the candy with production starting in the 1880s.[3] Wunderlee Candy Company was the first to produce the candy.[4] Following the 19th century, the Goelitz Confectionery Company (now called Jelly Belly) manufactured the product. Along with other agriculture-inspired treats at the time, the late 19th century, America's confectioners sought to market candy corn to a largely rural society.[5]
Candy corn is a staple of the Fall season and Halloween holiday in the United States of America. The taste of candy corn can be described as somewhat polarizing, and has been a subject of wide debate.[6]
Sales
The National Confectioners Association estimates that 35 million pounds (over 15,000 metric tons) of candy corn are sold annually.[7]
Production
Originally the candy was made by hand.[8] Manufacturers first combined sugar, corn syrup, carnauba wax, and water and cooked them to form a slurry. Fondant was added for texture and marshmallows were added to provide a soft bite.[8] The final mixture was then heated and poured into shaped molds. Three passes, one for each colored section, were required during the pouring process.
The recipe remains basically the same today. The production method, called "corn starch modeling,"[9] likewise remains the same, though tasks initially performed by hand were soon taken over by machines made for that purpose.[10] As of 2016, annual production in the United States is 35 million pounds, or almost 9 billion pieces of candy.[11]
Variants
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A popular variation called "Indian corn" features a chocolate brown wide end, orange center and pointed white tip, often available around Thanksgiving.[3] During the Halloween season, blackberry cobbler candy corn can be found in eastern Canada. Confectioners have introduced additional color variations suited to other holidays.[9] The Christmas variant (sometimes called "reindeer corn")[11] typically has a red end and a green center; the Valentine's Day variant (sometimes called "cupid corn")[12] typically has a red end and a pink center; In the United States during Independence Day celebrations, corn with a blue end, white center, and red tip (named "freedom corn") can be found at celebratory cook outs and patriotic celebrations; the Easter variant (sometimes called "bunny corn") is typically only a two-color candy, and comes with a variety of pastel bases (pink, green, yellow, and purple) with white tips all in one package. There were/are also caramel apple and green apple, s'mores and pumpkin spice, carrot corn (green and orange, with a carrot cake flavor) and birthday cake candy corn flavors.
See also
References
- ^ "History of candy corn. With new colors and flavors, a treat for all seasons". Showcase. The Spectator. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ "Unwrapped Bulk Candy Ingredients". rites.com. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
- ^ a b Broek, Sara. "The History of Candy Corn: A Halloween Candy Favorite," Better Homes and Gardens
- ^ "History of Candy Corn". National Confectioners Association. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ Lewis, Danny. "Candy Corn Hasn't Changed Since the 19th Century". Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ Taylor, Elise (20 October 2017). "Candy Corn: You Either Love It or Hate It, There Is No In-Between". Vogue. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ "Brach's, Nation's Top Candy-Corn Maker, Scares Up Halloween Fun". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Brach's Confections. 13 October 2004. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
- ^ a b "What is Candy Corn and How is it Made?". howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
- ^ a b Saeger, Natalie (29 October 2007). "History of candy corn. With new colors and flavors, a treat for all seasons". Showcase. The Spectator. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ "Candy Corn Bulk Candy". Candyfavorites.com. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
- ^ a b Griggs, Brandon; Maxouris, Christina (10 October 2016). "5 strange facts about candy corn". CNN. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- ^ Jacques, Renee. "10 Things You Never Knew About Candy Corn, The Candy You Love To Hate", Huffington Post, October 17, 2014