The history of candies can be traced back to our ancients. The caveman, one of our primal forefathers might as well have been the first candy cruncher with his ‘experiments’ of honey and honey combs.Slowly, this experiment evolved,and that evolution has led the candy to be a multi-billion dollar industry around the globe.

Around three and a half millennia ago (circa 1500 B.C.), the Egyptians made candy from fruits and nuts rolled in honey. A few centuries later the Olmec Indians, around 1200 B.C cultivated cacao. Some Mayan tombs were also found to contain remnants of chocolate drinks (circa 250 B.C.). The cacao plant and hence chocolate seemed to have been lost after that period as there is no historical evidence for cacao from that period till the time it was rediscovered.

The Spanish rediscovered cacao in Mexico in 1500s and it was in this century that the modern civilized man tasted his first chocolate drink. The English went on to become the first cocoa seller during this century. Later in 1876, David Peter from Switzerland made the first milk chocolate.

During the middle ages, sugar was a rare privilege and hence only the wealthier class of Europe had access to it. Owing to the expensive sugar, only these people could afford sugar candies. But by the 17th century, the price of producing sugar had fallen considerably. So it was during this period that the hard candy became much popular. By the 18th century, numerous sugar factories sprang up around Europe and by the mid-century, there were already more than 400 industries in the United States producing candies.

Early colonists made the first candy hearts with inscribed loved notes. Today billions of candy hearts are sold around the world, especially on the Valentine’s Day. The Valentine’s Day candy box was introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1868. The box was decorated with a painting of his daughter with her kitten. Cotton Candy, still a favorite among many was once known as ‘fairy floss’. A machine to make the cotton candy was patented in the year 1899.

George Reinninger, in the 1880s introduced a tri-color candy – the Candy Corn, mimicking the kernel of a corn. The candy corn is still the same with a yellow base followed by a tapering orange one and then a white tip. Also George Smith invented the first lollipop in 1908, naming it after his favorite horse – the Lolly Pop. He even trademarked the name, but it eventually fell into public domain.

It was in 1893 that William Wrigley introduced the ‘Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum’ and the ‘Wrigley’s Spearmint Chewing Gum’. But the chewing gum was already around with John B. Curtis being the first person to sell commercial chewing gum in 1848. He had named it State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum.

From the cave man days to the present, candies have come a long way. They have continuously grown in popularity and consumption. Even in the period of the economic depression candies didn’t lose their sweetness. Hence it is no wonder that it is one treat that is found in almost all homes.