Musk stick facts for kids

Musk sticks are often pink and extruded in the shape of a star

Musk sticks are a popular sweet treat found mainly in Australia and New Zealand. They are a type of candy that comes in the shape of a semi-soft stick. Most musk sticks are pink and have a special ridged shape, like a star. Their taste and smell are quite flowery, a bit like musk perfume. People sometimes call them "musk sweets" or "musk lollies."

What Are Musk Sticks Made Of?

Musk sticks are made from a soft, sugary substance called fondant. Fondant is a type of icing used to decorate cakes, but in musk sticks, it's shaped into a stick. This makes them chewy but also a bit crumbly. The unique musk flavor comes from special ingredients that give them their distinct floral taste.

Where Do Musk Sticks Come From?

The exact beginning of musk sticks is a bit of a mystery. Experts think they probably first appeared in the early 1900s or even a little before that. The oldest known mention of them in writing was in 1927. An Australian newspaper called Australian Worker talked about "pink curly musk sticks" that had been around for about 25 years already. This shows they were popular even way back then!

How Popular Are They?

Musk sticks are very popular in Australia and New Zealand. While no one tracks all the sales, one big supermarket chain in Australia, Woolworths, sells a huge amount. They reportedly sell around 24 million musk sticks every single year! That's a lot of pink, star-shaped candy!

What Do People Think of Them?

People have very strong feelings about musk sticks – they either love them or don't! Some people, especially those from Australia, really enjoy their unique flavor. However, others, especially tourists, sometimes find the taste unusual or even a bit strange. In fact, in 2018, a museum in Sweden called the Disgusting Food Museum even included musk sticks in its collection! This shows just how unique their flavor is.

Other Musk-Flavored Treats

Besides the classic musk sticks, you can also find other similar candies.

• Fruit sticks: These look a lot like musk sticks but come in different colors and fruit flavors instead of musk.
• Musk-flavored mints: Some companies make mints that have a musk flavor. These are often sold in supermarkets or through community groups.