What is the origin of candy?

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In Ancient Egypt, they mixed dates, nuts and honey, rolling this mass into balls - and here you have the first "candies

The concept of sweets originated from the use of honey as a sweetener in ancient times. Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, considered honey paired with fruits, nuts, and even flowers, creating the first types of confectionery. Over time, the development of sugar processing and the expansion of trade routes led to the widespread availability of sugar and the evolution of sweets as we know them today. The Industrial Revolution played a pivotal role in the development of mass production.

What was eaten for sweets in ancient times

Sugar cravings are in our blood. Our ancestors also realized that they got more energy from ripe fruits with a higher sugar content than from unripe ones. So, in the process of evolution, people began to associate sweetness with pleasant sensations. This primal need may explain why sweets figure in the religious ceremonies of many cultures. For example, Mesopotamian chefs made cakes as an offering to the goddess Ishtar. In India, the goddess Kali was presented with a mixture of sugar and milk.

In ancient Egypt, dates, nuts, and honey were mixed, rolling this mass into balls — these are the first “candies” for you. The ancient Greeks and Romans also had a sweet tooth. They enjoyed dried fruits soaked liberally in honey and nuts rolled in honey glaze. Honey has been the primary sweetener for thousands of years, a real liquid gold for creating sweets.

However, in India and the Middle East, they have learned how to evaporate sugarcane juice, producing sugar crystals. It was a real revolution! Sugar was slowly but surely conquering the world, opening up new opportunities for confectioners.

How sugar became popular in Europe

By the 15th century, master confectioners had emerged in Italy and France, creating elaborate sugar sculptures and candied fruits for the royal courts. Such treats completed the meal.

Medieval Europe acquired knowledge of sugar through Arab merchants and Crusaders. At first, it was costly, an absolute luxury available only to kings and nobles. Pharmacists, who were considered chemists at the time, used it to prepare medicines, often candying bitter herbs or spices. These “medicines” were so delicious that they quickly turned into exquisite delicacies.

By the 15th century, real pastry chefs had appeared in Italy and France, creating intricate sugar sculptures and candied fruits for the royal courts. Visit . A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. Such delicacies completed the meal. Ordinary people couldn’t afford sweets.

With the development of plantations in the colonies, sugar became cheaper and more accessible. At the beginning of the 19th century, people learned how to extract sugar from beets, and this made production even more affordable.

When did the candies appear

The Industrial Revolution gave the world steam engines that mechanized the process: devices for boiling syrup, molding caramel, and wrapping candies appeared. Sweets ceased to be a luxury and entered the mass market

In 1847, Englishman Joseph Fry mixed cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and sugar, creating the first chocolate bar. This opened the way for chocolates. In Switzerland, Daniel Peter figured out how to add milk to chocolate (1875), and Rudolf Lindt invented a machine that made chocolate incredibly smooth (1879). Cocoa beans turned into exquisite candies.

In parallel, the production of caramels, lollipops, and fudge was developing. The Industrial Revolution introduced the world to steam engines, which mechanized the process. Devices for boiling syrup, forming caramels, and wrapping sweets emerged. Sweets have ceased to be a luxury and have entered the mass market.