A person’s childhood memories aren’t complete without the candy. Whether they love those adorable Gummy Bears, chewy candy gummies, Candy Corns and Candy Apples for Halloween, Candy Canes and pinwheels for Christmas, or even those Sour Strips and Jawbreakers, there’s always a candy that impact a person’s life even through adulthood.
Also known as sweets, lollies, and sugar confectionary, candies mainly feature melted sugar added with flavorings and colorings, shaped into different forms to make both hard and soft candy. These cheerful delights are your dentist’s worst enemy but it won’t stop you from eating these or making homemade candies for special occasions.
Candy Trivia
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups was Texas’ favorite Halloween candy for 2019. However, it was dethroned by Starburst in 2020.
- White Chocolate is technically a sugar confectionary because it lacks cocoa.
- Candies were much loved in the White House. Ronald Reagan was s o fond of Jelly Belly that he installed special Jelly Belly holders in Air Force One. Mars Candy also released the “Presidential M&M’s” during his term.
Candy Buying Guide
We all know every kid goes nuts in the candy store. With over a thousand varieties, we’ll give you a brief guide of our top choice.
Caramels are confections made by boiling sugar, water, and milk. Caramel squares, Caramel Crunch, Caramel Balls, Chocolate Caramels are some of the must tries.
Gummies are chewy candies that come in all shapes, flavors, and colors. Gummy cola, Gummy Fangs, Gumdrops, Gummy Bears, Gummy Orange Slices, along with others are some of your choices.
Chewing Gums or Bubble Gums are a sweet exercise for our mouth. Colorful bubble gum balls, thin strips, round tablets and pillow tablets, and sour powdered chewing gum are available everywhere.
Licorice – you either love it or hate it. With the endless options, it can be overwhelming. Trusty, black and red licorice, fruity licorice, peppermint licorice, and chocolate licorice can satisfy your cravings.
Nougats and marshmallows are popular homemade desserts. Nougats traditionally uses egg whites and sweetener, the mixed with dried fruits and nuts. Marshmallows owe its elasticity to gelatin. It’s usually covered in cornstarch or powdered sugar to avoid it from sticking
Candy Production & Farming in Texas
Texas is home to several commercial candy manufacturing companies such as Texas Candy Company, Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company, Alamo Candy Company, The Caramel Candy Company, and Lindale Candy Company among others.
Alamo Candy Company is one of the largest candy manufacturers in Texas catering both wholesale and retail candy quantity to its customers. Some on their popular homemade candy confections include candy syrups, candy belts, sour lemon balls, choose more at their physical stores and websites.
Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company has been selling candy for 30 years. They source their pecans from their 340-acre, family-owned farm, dotted with over 15,000 trees growing different types of pecans such as Choctaw, Pawnee, Wichita, Kiowa, and Cheyenne.
Can candies be healthy? While sugar can be unhealthy if consumed in larger quantities, making small batches of homemade candy can be a delight if you want to control your candy intake, avoid chemical preservatives and artificial food coloring, and opt for more natural flavors.
Preservatives and Chemicals
People recognize that the health risks of candy outweighs its deliciousness. Emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, preservatives and chemical antioxidants, leavening agents, synthetic food coloring, and other chemical components can be detrimental to your health.
Some commonly used harmful preservatives and chemicals added in commercially produced include:
Potassium Sorbate – a candy preservative that consists of sorbic acid’s potassium salt. Potassium Sorbate causes allergic reactions.
Maltodextrin – Maltodextrin powder can be used as a sweetener additive, stabilizer, and thickener. This candy additive has a high glycemic index and is notorious for spiking blood sugars. It also causes stomach irritation by inhibiting the growth of good bacteria. Without good probiotics, consumers are more vulnerable to auto immune disorders. Maltodextrin increases the risk of E.Coli infection and supports the proliferation of salmonella bacteria triggering other inflammatory diseases.
Artificial food colorings and flavorings – These candy additives cause allergic reactions, trigger asthma or skin allergies, and harm your gut resulting to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Early consumption of candies can affect mental development as these chemicals were found to be the culprit of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.
Partially hydrogenated oils – Also called as Trans Fat, hydrogenated oils increase the risk of heart disease by lowering your good cholesterol levels (HDL) and increasing your bad cholesterol levels (LDL). High LDL levels causes cholesterol plaque, clogging arteries, restricting blood flow, putting you a risk of heart and liver diseases.
How can candies be heathy? Is there sugar-free candy? Are homemade candies healthier than their commercial counterparts? Sugar free candy is considered the healthier candy because it contains less calories and fat. Home-made candies are healthier because you have options to control sugar or skip the artificial flavorings and preservatives.
Packaging
There are so many ways to package your sweet delights depending on your needs. Whether you’re it’s for short term storage such as for snacks and potlucks, giving it away as edible presents, or a small start to your home-made candy business, candy packaging is always fun to choose!
Candy Trays use individual mold to prevent your candies from sticking to each other.
Pillow bags, pouches, and foil wrappers are the most effective way to protect candies from being exposed, elongating freshness and shelf life.
Candy boxes packaging vary from paper boxes, clear boxes, laser cut boxes, and customized boxes depending on your needs and occasions. These premium candy boxes elevate your product’s looks.
Enjoying Candies
Because of its high sugar content and dangers, candies should be eaten in regulation. To optimize flavors, it’s best to suck hard candies rather than chew it to protect your teeth. If you love Pop Rocks, try to press the hard treats using your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
Candies are great for any occasions. Whether you need one for a quick sugar rush r or making your own for special occasions. Purchase some rock candies or make your own marshmallows and use it to decorate your baked treats such as cookies, bars, and cakes.
Storage
Depending on the type, there are different ways to store candy. One opened, soft jelly candies including gum and caramels should be stored in a covered container away from sunlight.
Be sure to cover candies such as caramels, nougats, and taffies. Individually wrap these treats to avoid exposure. Treats like taffies and truffles can be frozen; however, its best to avoid freezing candied fruits and nuts.
Cooking
Classic Candied Bacon.
This Southern treat makes your favorite better into a sinister treat. You can’t stop munching on the candied bacon once you bite into it.
INGREDIENTS
½ c (110 g) packed brown sugar
8 oz (227 g) bacon
PROCEDURE
- In a skillet, fry bacon in two batches. Once crispness is achieved, drain in a paper towel.
- Remove bacon fat from the skillet. Heat and arrange bacon in a single layer. sprinkle sugar and cook bacon over low heat. Once the sugar has caramelized, lower the heat and flip bacon to coat all sides.
- After 8-10 minutes, transfer the bacon to a flat dish covered with wax paper.
