Aniseed ball facts for kids
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Aniseed balls are a type of hard, round candy. They are popular in countries like the UK, Ireland, Malta, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. These sweets are usually shiny and dark reddish-brown. They are very hard, similar to Gobstoppers, but smaller. Aniseed balls are about half an inch (1.27 cm) wide.
They get their strong taste from aniseed oil. This gives them a distinct, spicy flavour. Aniseed balls last a long time in your mouth before they slowly dissolve. Inside each ball, there is usually a whole rapeseed. This tiny seed acts as a starting point for building up many layers of sugar around it. Sometimes, other small things like sugar crystals are used instead.
Aniseed Balls as a Timer
Did you know that aniseed balls were once used for a very clever purpose? Back in 1939, during a time of war, a special device was created in Britain. This device was designed to attach to things underwater. It was made to explode after a certain amount of time.
How the Sweet Worked
The device had a spring that would hit a detonator to cause an explosion. But to make sure it didn't explode too soon, an aniseed ball was placed between the spring and the detonator. Each aniseed ball was perfectly round and dissolved in water in exactly 35 minutes. This gave the person using the device enough time to get away safely.
The first of these devices were sent to countries like Yugoslavia and Egypt in the autumn of 1939. It's a fascinating example of how everyday items can be used in unexpected ways!
