Edinburgh rock facts for kids
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Edinburgh rock is a special kind of candy from Scotland. It's also sometimes called Edinburgh Castle rock. This treat is quite different from other hard "rock" candies you might know. It's made from sugar, water, a little bit of cream of tartar, and different colours and flavours. Edinburgh rock is shaped into sticks and has a unique soft, crumbly texture that melts in your mouth.
The Sweet History of Edinburgh Rock
Edinburgh rock was first made a long time ago, in the 1800s. A man named Alexander Ferguson created it. People knew him as 'Sweetie Sandy' because he was so good at making sweets!
Alexander was born in a place called Doune, in Perthshire, in 1798. He learned how to make candy in Glasgow. After that, he moved to Edinburgh to start his own candy business. His Edinburgh rock became so popular that he became very successful. He was even able to retire back to Doune as a wealthy man.
In the early 1900s, this famous candy was made and sold at a shop called 1 Melbourne Place in Edinburgh. This spot was near the George IV Bridge and the Lawnmarket.
How Was Edinburgh Rock Discovered?
There's a fun story about how Alexander Ferguson might have discovered Edinburgh rock. It's an old tale that might not be completely true, but it's still interesting!
The story says that one day, Alexander found a tray of sweets he had forgotten about for many months. They had dried out. He decided to try a piece of the old, dry candy. To his surprise, he found it tasted delicious! And so, the unique Edinburgh rock was supposedly born from this happy accident.
