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.

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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 world's oldest candy? ›

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 was the first candy in history? ›

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.

Who was the first candy maker? ›

Archeologists believe these documents to be over 2,000 years old. For this reason, some experts give the ancient Egyptians credit for inventing candy. The ancient Egyptians used honey to make candy by combining it with nuts, figs, dates, and spices. They used these candies as part of early religious services.

Who created sweets? ›

We can trace the origins of confectionery back to about 2000BC when the ancient Egyptians satisfied their cravings for something sweet by combining fruits and nuts with honey. Liquorice juice, extracted from the root of the leguminous 'Sweet Root', is known to have been used for medicinal purposes at the same time.

Are M&Ms or Skittles older? ›

Other than the main difference of flavor, there's a couple other variants that are worth noting. 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.

What is the #1 candy bar in America? ›

Snickers is the top-selling candy bar in the United States and is produced by Mars, Inc. This classic chocolate bar is made with nougat, caramel, and peanuts, and it has been a favourite among Americans since its introduction in 1930. M&M's are small, candy-coated chocolates that are produced by Mars, Inc.

What is the most sold candy in the world? ›

Snickers is listed as the most popular candy in the world. M&Ms, with annual sales of over $500 million, is the most popular candy brand in the United States. In duty-free shops, Toblerone is the best selling candy. KitKat's popularity is the highest in Japan, with over 200 distinct flavors available such as green tea.

What candy has been around for 100 years? ›

Clark created the Clark Bar. The crunchy Peanut Butter and Toffee candy bar lasted for over 100 years!

What was the first American candy? ›

After they donated a barrel of sugar, Burkinshaw said she began making her Gibraltars — believed to be the first candy commercially sold in the country. In 1830, confectioner George Pepper bought the business.

Who invented Starburst? ›

History. The brand was introduced by Mars in the UK in 1960, named Opal Fruits by Peter Phillips (known as Peter Pfeffer at the time), the winner of a competition that won him £5. Produced at their factory in Slough, Berkshire, the four original flavours were strawberry, lemon, orange and lime.

What candy was invented in 1912? ›

Since their introduction in 1912, LIFE SAVERS has become an iconic brand across fruit-flavored confections and mints due to their great-tasting flavors and unique candy-with-the-hole shape.

What candy did Egypt invent? ›

The history of the marshmallow

Sometime around 2000 BC, ancient Egyptians harvested the sap from the root of the marshmallow plant, combined it with ground up nuts and honey as a sweetener. This sweet concoction, like many early confections was exclusively reserved for the upper echelons of society.

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.

Who invented lollipops? ›

According to the book Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World, they were invented by George Smith of New Haven, Connecticut, who started making large hard candies mounted on sticks in 1908. He named them after a racehorse of the time, Lolly Pop - and trademarked the lollipop name in 1931.

How old is Kit Kat? ›

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 candy was made in 1924? ›

Dum-Dums were originated by Akron Candy Company, Bellevue, Ohio. A company executive chose the name Dum-Dums for the ball-shaped candy on a stick because it was an easy name for children to say and remember.

What is the longest candy in the world? ›

Look-O-Look International B.V. produced a 2,011 (6597 ft 9.07 in) long strawberry fizzy belt, which took almost 4 hr to produce.

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