Once Upon a Time - History of Candy

Once Upon a Time - History of Candy

"Once Upon a Time… in Candy" is a fairytale-themed candy brand where each sweet is inspired by a different enchanted tale, mythical world, or legendary creature. Perfect for kids and nostalgic adults, it transforms candy into a magical, immersive experience.

Signature Collections:

1. Fairy Fizz Crystals

  • Flavor: Popping raspberry-lime stardust

  • Story: Harvested by moonbeam fairies in the Meadows of Mirth. Sprinkle a pinch on your tongue to hear giggles from another realm.

2. Dragon's Breath Caramels

  • Flavor: Spicy-sweet chili caramel wrapped in dark chocolate

  • Story: Forged in the belly of a sleepy mountain dragon. One bite warms your soul — and might make you brave.

3. Unicorn Tears Gummies

  • Flavor: Lychee-peach-pineapple blend, sugar-coated

  • Story: Collected by whispering elves from rainbows after unicorns laugh. Soft, sparkling, and full of joy.

4. Witch’s Orchard Hard Candies

  • Flavor: Blackcurrant, blood orange, and green apple

  • Story: Plucked from a candy tree deep in the Winking Woods. Only those with kind hearts can taste every flavor.

5. Goblin Gold Coins

  • Flavor: Buttery toffee with sea salt, wrapped in edible gold

  • Story: Stolen from mischievous goblins who hoard them in candy caves. Crunch wisely — they say one coin grants a wish.

Packaging:

  • Each candy type comes in a storybook-shaped box with foil-embossed cover art.

  • Inside is a short illustrated fairytale about the candy’s origin.

  • Collectible series — each box’s spine forms part of a magical bookshelf display.

Eco & Ethical Notes:

  • Natural flavors and colors

  • Sustainably sourced sugar and cocoa

  • Compostable wrappers that look like enchanted parchment

 

A Brief & Delicious History of Candy

Ancient Beginnings (2000 BCE – 500 CE)

Before sugar was widely available, the first candies were made with honey — nature’s original sweetener.

  • Ancient Egyptians made honey-coated fruits and nuts.

  • Greeks and Romans used honey to preserve flowers, fruits, and herbs, creating early “candied” treats.

  • In India, around 500 BCE, sugarcane was first boiled into crystals — the earliest form of granulated sugar.

Fun fact: The word candy comes from the Persian qand, meaning “sugar.”

Medieval Sweets (500–1500 CE)

Sugar became known in the Arab world and spread to Europe during the Crusades.

  • Medieval “candies” were often medicinal — herbs and spices mixed with sugar to treat illness.

  • Candied ginger, licorice root, and cinnamon were sold by apothecaries as both treats and cures.

Sugar was rare and expensive, reserved for royalty and the wealthy.

Early Modern Era (1500–1800s)

When sugar plantations expanded during colonization, sugar became more affordable — and candy making flourished.

  • In Europe, boiled sugar candies like toffee, barley sugar, and lollipops began to appear.

  • Chocolate, introduced by the Spanish from the Americas, became a luxury treat.

  • In the 1800s, candy pulled, twisted, and molded into decorative shapes became popular.

Industrial Candy Boom (1800s–1900s)

The Industrial Revolution transformed candy into a mass-market product:

  • Candy became cheap, portable, and colorful — perfect for kids.

  • Iconic brands were born:

    • Tootsie Rolls (1896)

    • Hershey’s Chocolate Bar (1900)

    • Life Savers (1912)

    • Mars/Milky Way (1920s)

    • M&M’s (1941)

Fun fact: By 1908, there were more than 400 candy factories in the U.S. alone!

Modern Candyland (1950s–Today)

  • Post-WWII, candy became globalized and diverse, with flavors and textures from all over the world.

  • Novelty candies like Pop Rocks, PEZ, and gummy bears became childhood icons.

  • Gourmet candy and artisan chocolatiers emerged alongside giant candy corporations.

Today, candy is a billion-dollar industry, with endless variations: sugar-free, vegan, sour, spicy, nostalgic, and even personalized.

 

 

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