Halloween's Favorite: Candy Corn

Answer 1

What would Halloween be without candy corn? There may not be one child in America who does not recognize the sugary, multicolored treat of fall and more specifically, Halloween. One of the most common candies offered at Halloween and certainly one of the most enjoyed, candy corn has come to symbolize the season itself.

History of Candy Corn

First made around 1880 by Wunderlee Candy Company, candy corn was already quite popular, but it really took off when the Goelitz Candy Company, which also makes Jelly Belly candy, started making it in 1898. Multicolored candy was a novelty at the time and easily caught the interest of the public.

Almost 20 million pounds, or around 8.3 billion kernels of candy corn were sold in 2001, 80% of which were sold within a few weeks of Halloween. That's a seasonal success if there ever was one. That the candy has not changed at all since 1880 is remarkable. Adults of all ages remember eating candy corn and are glad enough to provide it for their children and grandchildren.

How Candy Corn is Made

Today's children still enjoy the candy and it's still made basically the same way, although now there are machines that take the place of people in the various steps of creating the candy corn shape and taste. The candy is made in three separate batches of flavored syrup which is colored three separate colors then poured into molds. First, the white is poured, then the orange and finally, the yellow syrup. Each color is allowed to fully set before the next color is added, which makes each band of color visually separate but fused together.

Why is it so popular? Surely it's the taste, but the special shape and color has a lot to do with it, too. Farmers like it because it reminds people of real corn; grown ups like it because it's "cute" and kids like it because it's candy. And it's undeniably Halloween candy.