Candy is a sweet confection. It relies on sugar or other forms of sweeteners to give it that rich taste. While sweet treats are not a new invention, it was not until the Middle Ages that sugar candy became popular. However, it was extremely expensive. Only the wealthy and aristocrats could afford it, making candy a rarity and not readily available on order from some large candy warehouse.
Candy and the Development of Civilization
Sugar was a highly valuable commodity. It was both a special sweetener and a recognized drug. Apothecaries of the time sold it to their patients as a cure for a variety of elements including balancing the “bodily humors.” Of course, sugar also made bitter medicines taste better. Sugar was also a type of commerce as well as an ideal material for creating grandiose confectionery sculptures – ideal for that special banquet.
As the accessibility of sugar increased in the 17th century, more people had access to the sweet treat. In the United States, sugar candies were created from boiled sugar. These hand candies or boiled sweets often contained fruit and nuts. By the end of the 18th century, Americans also treated their palate to two other types of sweet treats – caramels and lollipops. It seems as civilization grew, so, too, did the variety of available candies. The first significant step in this industry was the establishment of the country’s first chocolate factory in 1765 in Dorchester, Massachusetts by John Hannon and Dr. James Baker. They are also possibly responsible for creating the first chocolate candy warehouse in the country.
As the country became urban, cities continued to build candy factories of various types. Shops that catered to those who wanted confectionaries began to open. The entire system was abetted by the introduction of the sugar beet. Mechanization and further advances in technology also contributed to the growth industry.
Enter the Machine Age
Instead of handmade and hand-dipped candies, companies could now mass-produce them. Now, candy was available like never before. Hard candies such as lemon drops and peppermints, became popular as well Turkish delight, various boiled sweets, caramels and, of course, chocolate creams. Some remain popular today.
In Chicago, IL, by the 1900s the factories produced a vast array of sweets for the public. They helped make the city the “Candy Capital of the World” by 1900. They became the center for innovative candy making and launched such recognizable and desirable products as:
* Baby Ruth
* Brach’s
* Butterfingers
* Cracker Jack
* Fannie May
* Frango
* Jawbreakers
* Lemonheads
* Red Hots
* Snickers
* Tootsie Rolls
* Wrigley Gum
These are just some of the candy that traces its roots to the Windy City.
Candy Warehouse Heaven
Chicago has always been a stronghold for candy production. The city has been responsible for producing as much as one third of all candy production in America. Small or large concerns, they have made their mark in history making the city candy warehouse heaven.