Ribbon candy facts for kids
Peppermint ribbon candy
|
|
| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Unknown |
| Region or state | Europe |
| Main ingredients | Sugar, food coloring |
Ribbon candy is a special type of hard candy. It is often seen in stores around the Christmas holiday season in North America. This candy gets its unique shape from warm sugar that is folded back and forth. It looks like a shiny ribbon!
The sugar is often colored to look bright and festive. Ribbon candy usually has a glossy, shiny surface. It is often made with flavors like different kinds of mint or citrus fruits.
Ribbon candy is usually thin, so it melts quickly in your mouth. However, the pieces are often large. If you bite into a stick, it can shatter into small pieces. This candy can also become sticky easily. This happens from the warmth of your hands or just from the air's humidity. People often use ribbon candy as a decoration. They put it in candy dishes or jars. If it sits out for a long time, the pieces might stick together.
Contents
The History of Ribbon Candy
Ribbon candy is a very old Christmas candy. It has been around for hundreds of years in Europe. We do not know exactly where it was first made.
How It Was First Made
Candy makers first created ribbon candy as a decoration for their shops. They shaped the wavy candy by hand, often around their thumb. This gave it its unique wavy look.
Machines Make It Easier
In the 1800s, new machines were invented. These were called mechanical crimpers. They helped shape the ribbons. These machines had finger-like parts that copied the hand-made curls. A candy maker would make the candy. Another person would spin off a ribbon and feed it into the crimper. Someone would turn the crimper by hand. Finally, the curly ribbon was cut with scissors as it moved along a small conveyor belt.
Making More Candy Faster
Mechanical crimpers worked well, but the process was still slow. It took a lot of people to make the candy. As more people wanted ribbon candy, a faster way was needed. Until the 1940s, ribbon candy was not made in large amounts. This was because better machines were needed.
Later, a single spinning roll was developed. This new machine helped make the candy faster. It meant that a person no longer had to spin the candy by hand. The biggest challenge was still cutting the candy with scissors. An automatic cutter was invented by Sevigny Candy. This machine used air to cut the candy. This type of cutter is still used today by F. B. Washburn Candy. F. B. Washburn Candy bought Sevigny Candy in 1986.
