Saving Money While Shopping

Taffy: All About A Classic Confection

28 January 2021 by Clarence Horton

What is taffy made of? 

Taffy is a chewy and soft candy that is usually colorful. It comes in a wide range of flavors. This simple and delicious treat is most often made out of corn syrup, boiled sugar, or molasses cooked with butter or another fat with added flavors. 

How is taffy made?

Taffy is pulled. The ingredients are mixed, and the sugary concoction is brought to a boil before it is turned out and put in a pulling machine that repeatedly pulls the candy until it is thoroughly aerated and loses some of its sheen, leaving a soft candy that is then cut into bite-sized chunks and wrapped in wax paper. 

Where did taffy come from? 

Taffy itself was likely invented in the early 1800s in the United States. It quickly became popular, and even made an appearance in the White House Cookbook in 1887. 

Taffy spread across the country and was especially popular in Atlantic City and on the Jersey Shore, where it was sold on boardwalks and piers to eager vacationers. 

The most famous version of taffy, saltwater taffy, was invented a few years later in the late 1800s. 

There are two stories about how saltwater taffy came to be. In one story, a candy maker accidentally used saltwater instead of freshwater when making candy. The salty-sweet confection turned out to be a hit, and the world has never looked back. 

The other story claims that a spring storm whipped up waves that crashed onto the Atlantic City Boardwalk and splashed a candy seller's chewy candy, leaving a slightly salty taste. Customers were soon asking for the unique taffy.  

However the sweet came to be, it quickly rose to be the most sought after type of taffy. If you have a hankering for some taffy, there are dozens of flavors to choose from. 

Here are just 10 taffy flavors you need to try: 

• Key lime pie- sweet and sour perfection
• Licorice- an old-fashioned classic 
• Molasses- one of the most popular original flavors for taffy
• Banana- a mellow sweet taste
• Watermelon- a juicy burst of flavor 
• Peppermint- refreshing and sharp 
• Strawberry- a classic for any time of the year
• Green Apple- sweet with a tang 
• Cotton Candy- a nod to another wildly popular confection
• Cinnamon- a little heat

You can buy taffy in bulk or pick and choose individual pieces. Some vendors sell mixed bags, so you can get a taste of all their flavors.

Share

Search