Candy corn seems to be one of the most polarizing candies of all. Every year, we see all of the arguments on social media.
While there are people who like it, the haters seem to be more numerous. In fact, we have seen a number of people declare candy corn to be the worst Halloween candy of all time. It is that serious!
However, candy corn must have enough fans to keep it alive year after year. We see this treat every single year, without fail. So where did this candy first get its start? It probably won’t surprise anyone to learn that it has been in existence for a very long time.
The candy first originated in the 1880s, according to the National Confectioners Association.
As it turns out, an employee at the Wunderlee Candy Company named George Renninger is responsible for the invention. Renninger is not the one that you should be directing your ire at, candy corn haters. The Goelitz Candy Company (which is now known as the Jelly Belly Candy Company) actually produced the candies.
“Sugar, corn syrup and other ingredients were cooked into a slurry in large kettles. Fondant and marshmallow were added to give a smooth texture and bite. The 45 pounds of warm candy was poured into buckets called runners. Men dubbed stringers walked backwards pouring the candy into cornstarch trays imprinted with the kernel shape. It took three passes to make the white, yellow and orange colors,” the NCA site shares.
Back then, due to the number of farmers and shape of the candy, Candy Corn was aptly called “chicken feed,” according to National Geographic.
Eventually, the candy became associated with Halloween somewhere around 1940. When it was handmade, it was only produced seasonally somewhere between August and October, so it makes sense that was tied to that holiday. Candy corn is still comprised of the same ingredients today, but machines do all of the work.
Watch the video below to learn more:
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