Kongen af Danmark facts for kids
Kongen af Danmark (which means "King of Denmark" in Danish) is a special type of hard candy. It has a unique flavor that comes from aniseed. Long ago, people often ate these candies to help with coughs and other general "chest pains."
This candy is also sold in Sweden by a company called Karamellpojkarna. There, it's known as "Kungen av Danmark." These candies are hard, usually a deep red or purple color, and are often thought of as cough drops. You can find them in both regular and sugar-free versions.
The Story Behind the Candy
A King's Sore Throat
The history of Kongen af Danmark candy is quite interesting! It's said that the candy was first made for King Christian V of Denmark. He was the King of Denmark from 1670 to 1699.
One day, King Christian V had a sore throat. His doctor gave him aniseed oil, which was a common medicine for throat problems back then. However, the king found the raw aniseed oil tasted too strong.
So, the doctor had a clever idea! He mixed the strong aniseed oil with sugar to make it taste better. To give the candy a nice color, he added a small amount of juice from beetroot. This sweet and colorful mix became the first "King of Denmark" candy!
From Medicine to Sweet Treat
In Sweden, this candy was once called "the king's of Denmark chest sweets." This name showed that it was used to help with chest problems. Over time, the name changed a little, but the candy remained a popular treat.
