Did you know that June is National Candy Month? This might just be our favorite month of the year...
To celebrate, here are 10 fun, interesting, or downright weird things you may not know about candy!
1. The First Candy-Making Machine
The first machine to mass-produce candy was invented by Oliver R. Chase in 1847. This invention led to the creation of the first candy brand in the United States, NECCO (New England Confectionery Company), which produced the famous NECCO wafers. This innovation revolutionized the candy industry by making sweets more accessible and affordable.
2. Bubble Gum Wasn't Always Pink
The first successful bubble gum, Dubble Bubble, was created in 1928 by Walter Diemer, an accountant at Fleer Chewing Gum Company. The gum was pink because it was the only dye available at the factory. The color stuck and is now the iconic hue of bubble gum worldwide.
3. PEZ Dispensers' Surprising Start
PEZ candy and its iconic dispensers were originally marketed as an alternative to smoking. Created in Austria in 1927, PEZ mints were sold in tins until the famous flip-top dispensers were introduced in the 1950s. Today, PEZ dispensers are popular collectibles featuring characters from various franchises.
4. Jawbreakers Take a Long Time to Make
Jawbreakers, also known as gobstoppers, are famous for their multiple layers of hard candy. Each layer is added one at a time in a process called hot panning. It can take up to three weeks to make a single jawbreaker!
5. M&M’s and Space Travel
M&M’s were the first candy to go to space. In 1981, they were chosen by NASA as part of the astronauts' space food supply due to their ability to withstand the rigors of space travel and their ease of consumption in a zero-gravity environment.
6. Gummy Bears’ German Origin
Gummy bears were invented by German confectioner Hans Riegel in 1922. The original gummies, known as "Gummibärchen," were inspired by the dancing bears seen at festivals and fairs. Haribo, the company Riegel founded, remains one of the largest gummy producers in the world.
7. The Candy Bar That Helped Invent the Microwave
In 1945, Percy Spencer, an engineer working with radar technology, discovered the microwave cooking process accidentally when a chocolate bar in his pocket melted while he was testing a new vacuum tube. This led to the invention of the microwave oven.
8. Lollipops Are Over a Century Old
The first modern lollipop, as we know it, was created by George Smith in 1908. He named it after a popular racehorse, Lolly Pop. However, the practice of putting sweets on sticks dates back to ancient times when people enjoyed honey on sticks.
9. Pop Rocks' Explosive History
Pop Rocks, the famous candy that pops and fizzes in your mouth, were invented by accident. Chemist William A. Mitchell created them in 1956 while attempting to develop an instant soft drink. The candy didn't hit the market until the 1970s, and it's been surprising taste buds ever since.
10. Skittles: Taste the Rainbow, But Not All at Once
Each Skittle has a distinct flavor and color, but the actual candy inside is flavorless. The flavors come from the outer shell, and each Skittle tastes the same on the inside. It’s the scent and color that trick our brains into thinking they taste different.
Did you learn something new? Share these facts with friends and family...and enjoy some candy this month!
