Some assume everything came from India centuries ago. They’re right about candy. Five thousand years ago, when the world only had fruits and honey, Indians made sugar from sugar cane sap. It was a black, semi-solid sugar, a sugar-molasses blend. Sanskrit terminology for “sugar” and “candy” refers to sugar crystals.
India’s sugar spread, but slowly. The Greeks and Romans called it “Indian salt.” When travel and trade were limited, it was unusual and expensive. By then, India had created two candies. The original was rock candy and sugar crystals. India is the home of candying or glazing, when seeds, nuts, dried fruits, or even vegetables are boiled or dipped in sugar syrup.
Early in the Middle Ages, Iranians created two new candies that Arabs brought to the West. Marzipan is a popular European nut paste. Original marzipan-making required no technological skills. You blended ground almonds with sugar syrup or rose-water-dissolved sugar. The Iranians also produced pulled taffy, a more sophisticated candy that didn’t require sugar knowledge. The syrup can be boiled to either the hard ball or soft crack stage. When cooled, the amorphous substance produces small crystals, creating the first chewy candy.
Europe once used sugar as medicine. Apothecaries prescribed little doses as a laxative or stimulant, with or without plants or medications. Apothecaries manufactured gums and pastilles that melted slowly in the tongue with gum Arabic. Europeans considered sugar a remedy until it became affordable, which took time. The Venetians began importing sugar from Egypt in the 14th century and dominated the European confectionery business for 200 years. Sugar was still rare and expensive until the West Indies became Europe’s main source in the 17th century.
France’s candy-making expertise must have come from Venice. We’re speculating. In 1555, Nostradamus published recipes for marzipan and other French delicacies (and noted, for the first time in print, the negative effects of hot and humid weather on candy-making). Candy-making was long the domain of apothecaries and confectioners’ guilds. You vowed not to expose guild secrets when you joined. Several of the first sweets recipes were written by palace cooks who weren’t in guilds.
When Columbus introduced sugar cane to the Caribbean in 1493, candy-making boomed. Francois-Pierre de La Varenne described the phases of boiling sugar syrup in 1677. Based on this accurate knowledge, battered candies, with their wide diversity of textures, formed the basis of modern candy making. Fondant, the filling for chocolate creams, requires syrup boiled to the soft-ball stage so it forms tiny crystals when beaten, giving it a creamy texture.
The softball makes marshmallows (which are whipped and dipped in starch), the hard ball makes divinity, and the soft crack forms nougat. 17th- and 18th-century cooks made chocolate preserves and chocolate olives. In those days, chocolate was mostly a beverage, and it was difficult to create because whole cocoa beans don’t dissolve well in hot water till 1825.
C.J. van Houten patented the Dutch cocoa-making process that year. Cocoa powder produced an easier-to-mix drink, but there remained leftover cocoa butter. Fry & Sons of England invented chocolate candy in 1847 by adding cocoa butter to pulverized cocoa beans.
Cool Facts that you need to know About Rock Candy
Rock candy is a type of candy that is made from sugar and flavorings. The candy is produced by boiling sugar and water and then adding flavorings such as fruit or mint. The mixture is then left to cool and harden into a rock-like form. Rock candy has been around for centuries and was even used as a medicine in ancient times. Today, rock candy is enjoyed by people all over the world as a sweet treat. While you may know a thing or two about rock candy, there are some facts that you may not be aware of. In this blog post, we will share some cool facts about rock candy that you need to know. So, read on to learn more!
What is Rock Candy?
Rock candy is a type of sugar candy that is made from sugar and water. The sugar is boiled in water until it forms a syrup, and then the syrup is cooled and crystallized. Rock candy can be flavored with fruit juices, spices, or other flavorings. It is often used as a decoration on cakes and other desserts.
The History of Rock Candy
Rock candy is a type of sugar candy that is made by boiling sugar and water together until the mixture becomes supersaturated, then adding flavorings and colorings. The mixture is then allowed to cool and crystallize.
Rock candy has been around for centuries, and its origins are thought to date back to ancient India or China. Rock candy was probably first made by dissolving sugar in hot water, then allowing the mixture to cool and crystallize.
The earliest known recipe for rock candy comes from an English cookbook from 1692. The book, titled The Compleat Cook, included a recipe for “crystallized ginger,” which is basically rock candy with ginger flavor added.
Rock candy became popular in Europe in the 18th century, when it was used as a decoration on cakes and pastries. It was also used to make medicinal syrups and potions.
In the 19th century, rock candy became increasingly popular as a treat for children. It was often given out as a reward for good behavior or good grades in school. Rock candy was also used to decorate Christmas trees.
Today, rock candy is still enjoyed as a delicious treat. It can be found in many colors and flavors, and is often used to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts.
How is Rock Candy Made?
Rock candy is a type of sugar candy that is made from sugar and water. The sugar is heated until it dissolves and then the water is added. The mixture is then cooled and the sugar crystallizes.
To make rock candy, you will need:
-Sugar
-Water
-A pot
-A candy thermometer
-A spoon
-A glass jar or container
-A piece of string
-A pencil
First, you need to make a syrup by boiling sugar and water together in a pot. Boil the mixture until the sugar has dissolved completely, then continue to cook it until it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer. Once it reaches this temperature, carefully remove the pot from the heat.
Next, take your glass jar or container and dampen the inside with some water. This will help the sugar crystals form on the sides of the jar later on. Pour the syrup into the jar, using a spoon to help guide it if necessary. Allow the syrup to cool for a few minutes so that it isn’t too hot when you add the string later on.
To create your rock candy “seed”, tie one end of your string around your pencil and lower it into the center of the jar so that it hangs down without touching any of the sides or bottom. The string should be long enough that you can still hold onto the end of it outside of the jar.
How to Eat Rock Candy
Rock candy is a type of sugar candy that is made from sugar and water. It can be flavored or colorless, and is often used as a decoration on cakes and other desserts.
To eat rock candy, simply hold the piece in your hand and lick it like you would any other candy. The hard candy will gradually dissolve in your mouth, leaving you with a sweet treat to enjoy. You can also bite into the candy if you prefer, but be careful not to break your teeth!
Cool Facts about Rock Candy
Rock candy is a type of sugar candy that is made from sugar and water. It is usually clear or white in color. Rock candy has a long history, and it was first mentioned in pliny the elder’s natural history, which was written in the 1st century ad.
Rock candy is said to have originated in India, and it was first brought to Europe by Crusaders. Rock candy was also popular in Victorian England, where it was often used as a decoration on cakes and other desserts.
Today, rock candy is still popular, and it is often used as a decoration on cakes and other desserts. It is also sometimes used to make lollipops and other types of hard candy.
