When Was Penny Candy Invented?
Candy was originally sold in apothecary shops as early as A.D. 700 as digestive aids and to flavor medicines. The penny originated as the pfennig. The composition of the pfennig was set by Charlemagne in the late 700s. Thus, despite the misconception that penny candy originated in the U.S. in 1896 with the sale of the Tootsie Roll, penny candy has existed for over 1300 years. The term "penny candy," no longer refers to its cost. The term is now used for any candy invented and distributed 50 years ago or more.
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History of Penny Candy
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The earliest candy in recorded history was halvah, made with sesame seeds and honey. The first historical records of halvah appear in 3000 B.C., according to Rosson House of Phoenix, Arizona's "Candy History Fun." Sugar from Asia and India, introduced in the Middle Ages, allowed candy to be made into the hard sticks, lozenges and drops that became popular in the 1650s, according to Beth Kimmerle, in her book, "Candy, the Sweet History."
Origin and Etymology of Penny Candy
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The word "candy," comes from the Arabic word, "qandi," which means "made from sugar," according to John F. Mariani, in "The American Encyclopedia of Food and Drink." Penny candy is a catchall term used for bulk confections made from sugar. Bulk candy was originally sold in apothecary shops, as digestive aids and to mask the taste of medieval-era medicines. The earliest recorded apothecary shop was established in Baghdad in the late 700's, by Al-Razi, an Arabian physician. The word "penny," comes from the German word pfennig, a coin made by dividing a 1-pound bar of silver into 240 equal pieces. This value was set by Charlemagne. The coin was introduced to Charlemagne by King Offa of Mercia.
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Penny Candy in the US
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The Tootsie Roll was the first individually wrapped penny candy sold in the United States. Introduced in 1896, this chocolate-flavored variant of Turkish Delight launched a candy empire that has endured 113 years. Tootsie Roll Industries owns 22 of the world's most popular candy brands, and makes 62 million Tootsie Roll candies every day, according to the company website's history page.
Penny Candy Today
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The term "penny candy," now refers to any candy invented and distributed more than 50 years ago, and does not refer to its price. Most candies in this category cost between 5 cents and 99 cents per piece. Many once-popular penny candies are no longer manufactured, although nostalgic candy companies are doing their best to find sources of the most popular candies of each decade. Gold-foil-wrapped candy lipsticks, Black Cow suckers, Dynamints and Wacky Wafers are just a few examples of once popular candies that can no longer be found.
Misconceptions and Additional Reading
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Internet searches on the history of penny candy are biased toward U.S. history. These searches give the skewed and mistaken impression that world history began in 1620 at Plymouth Rock, and that candy history begins in 1896. Candy has been sold for centuries, mostly as sticks, drops, lozenges and comfits, which are candied fruits and nuts.
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