1. PEZ was invented in Austria by a man named Edward Haasand. He named PEZ after the German world "peppermint." It was an adult breath mint that he decided to market as an alternative for smoking. In 1952 PEZ wanted to expand their sales, so they set their sights on the U.S.A. To make their product more appealing to Americans, they placed heads on the dispensers and marketed it for children.
2. The melting point of cocoa butter is just below the human body temperature -- which is why it literally melts in your mouth.
3. Candy Corn was invented in 1880 by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Co. The three colors of the candy are meant to mimic corn. Each piece is approximately the size of a whole kernel of corn, as if it fell off a ripe or dried ear of corn. The secret ingredient is marshmallows..that is what makes them so soft! It remains one of the best selling Halloween candies of all times.
4. Candy was used as an offering to the gods of ancient Egypt. Honey was used as the sweetener until the introduction of sugar in medieval Europe. Among the oldest types of candies are licorice and ginger from the Far East and marzipan from Europe. Candy making did not begin on a large scale until the early 19th century, when with the development of special candy making machinery it became a British specialty. In the United States the candy industry began to grow rapidly during the mid-19th century with the invention of improved machinery and a cheaper process for powdering sugar. In 1911 the first candy bars were sold in baseball parks; by 1960 candy bars made up almost half of all U.S. candy production.
5. Chewing Gum became an important part of American culture and is often associated with being the catalyst behind the vending business. Early chewing gums were a challenge as they were hard to chew and the flavor, if any, lasted a very short time.
6. Circus peanuts date to the 1800s when they were a seasonal treat and one of the original penny candies. No one knows how circus peanuts got their shape and name or how they long they've been around. One theory is that they originated with the traveling circuses where vendors sold salted peanuts and candy. Spangler Candy Co., is one of the few remaining makers of circus peanuts. People can't wrap their brains around circus peanuts, because they are orange and look like peanuts, they taste like banana. And they are chewier than a traditional marshmallow. Even those who like circus peanuts can't agree whether they are better soft and fresh or stale and hard after sitting out for a week.
7. Flashback of the Candy from the 1980's: 1980's - Atomic Fire Balls, Bit-o-Honey, Bubblicious Radical Red, Candy Necklace, Candy Cigarettes, Charleston Chew Chocolate, Lemonheads, Wonka Tart ‘n Tiny, Bubble Gum Cigarettes, Pixy Stix, Ass’t Saf’T’Pops, Jawbusters, Now & Later-Grape, Now & Later, Wax Fangs, Wax Bottles, Clark Bar, Laffy Taffy Watermelon, Bottlecaps, Zours, Astro Pops & Cinnamon Toothpicks.
8. OK,OK I will give some of you hippi's the candy form the 1970's: Rocky Road Milk Chocolate Bar, Clark Bar, Pixy Stix, Tart 'N Tiny, Gold Rock Nugget Bubble Gum, Goobers, Bubble Gum Cigar, Charms Assorted Squares, Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip, Bubble Gum Cigarettes, Wonka Strawberry/Banana Laffy Taffy, Slo-Poke Jr. Suckers, C. Howard Lemon Mints, Boston Beans, Cherryheads, Red Licorice Pipes, Willy Wonka Chocolate Bar, Necco Chocolate Wafers, Sugar Lips Wax Chewing Gum, Double Bubble Bubble Gum, Candy Buttons, Caramel Bun Bar, Charms Sweet & Sour Pops, Razzles Candy/Gum, Nestle's Oh Henry Candy Bar, Wonka Bottlecaps, Teaberry Gum, Strawberry Pop Rocks, Sen-Sen Breath Refreshments, Zotz Candy, Reeds Rootbeer Candies, and Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles.
9. Halloween is the holiday with the highest candy sales, followed by Easter, Christmas and Valentine's Day.
10. Candy is made simply by dissolving sugar in water. The different heating levels determine the types of candy: Hot temperatures make hard candy, medium heat will make soft candy and cool temperatures make chewy candy.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
