Hard candy
Encyclopedia
A hard candy, or boiled sweet, is a candy
prepared from one or more syrup
s boiled to a temperature of 149 °C (300 °F). After a syrup boiled to this temperature cools, it is called hard crack, since it becomes stiff and brittle as it approaches room temperature
. Hard candy recipes variously call for syrups of sucrose
, glucose
, or fructose
.
Once the syrup blend reaches the target temperature, the confectioner removes it from the heat source, and may add citric acid
, food dye, and some flavouring, such as a plant extract
, essential oil
, or flavorant. One might then pour the syrup concoction (which is now very viscous) into a mold or tray to cool. When the syrup is cool enough to handle, one can fold, roll, and mold it into the shapes desired.
Hard candies and throat lozenge
s prepared without sugar
employ isomalt
as a sugar substitute
, and are sweetened further by the addition of an artificial sweetener, such as aspartame
, or a sugar alcohol
, such as xylitol
.
Among the many hard candy varieties are stick candy
(such as the candy cane
), the lollipop
, the aniseed twist, and the bêtises de Cambrai
.
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
prepared from one or more syrup
Syrup
In cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals...
s boiled to a temperature of 149 °C (300 °F). After a syrup boiled to this temperature cools, it is called hard crack, since it becomes stiff and brittle as it approaches room temperature
Room temperature
-Comfort levels:The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has listings for suggested temperatures and air flow rates in different types of buildings and different environmental circumstances. For example, a single office in a building has an occupancy ratio per...
. Hard candy recipes variously call for syrups of sucrose
Sucrose
Sucrose is the organic compound commonly known as table sugar and sometimes called saccharose. A white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet taste, it is best known for its role in human nutrition. The molecule is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose with the molecular formula...
, glucose
Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate...
, or fructose
Fructose
Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple monosaccharide found in many plants. It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides, along with glucose and galactose, that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion. Fructose was discovered by French chemist Augustin-Pierre Dubrunfaut in 1847...
.
Once the syrup blend reaches the target temperature, the confectioner removes it from the heat source, and may add citric acid
Citric acid
Citric acid is a weak organic acid. It is a natural preservative/conservative and is also used to add an acidic, or sour, taste to foods and soft drinks...
, food dye, and some flavouring, such as a plant extract
Extract
An extract is a substance made by extracting a part of a raw material, often by using a solvent such as ethanol or water. Extracts may be sold as tinctures or in powder form....
, essential oil
Essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove...
, or flavorant. One might then pour the syrup concoction (which is now very viscous) into a mold or tray to cool. When the syrup is cool enough to handle, one can fold, roll, and mold it into the shapes desired.
Hard candies and throat lozenge
Throat lozenge
A throat lozenge, cough drop, troche, or cough sweet is a small, medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs and lubricate and soothe irritated tissues of the throat , possibly from the common cold or influenza...
s prepared without sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
employ isomalt
Isomalt
Isomalt is a sugar substitute, a type of sugar alcohol, used primarily for its sugar-like physical properties. It has only a small impact on blood sugar levels and does not promote tooth decay. It has 2 kilocalories/g, half the calories of sugars...
as a sugar substitute
Sugar substitute
A sugar substitute is a food additive that duplicates the effect of sugar in taste, usually with less food energy. Some sugar substitutes are natural and some are synthetic. Those that are not natural are, in general, called artificial sweeteners....
, and are sweetened further by the addition of an artificial sweetener, such as aspartame
Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. In the European Union, it is codified as E951. Aspartame is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide. It was first sold under the brand name NutraSweet; since 2009 it...
, or a sugar alcohol
Sugar alcohol
A sugar alcohol is a hydrogenated form of carbohydrate, whose carbonyl group has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group . Sugar alcohols have the general formula Hn+1H, whereas sugars have HnHCO...
, such as xylitol
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol sweetener used as a naturally occurring sugar substitute. It is found in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, and can be extracted from various berries, oats, and mushrooms, as well as fibrous material such as corn husks and sugar cane bagasse, and birch...
.
Among the many hard candy varieties are stick candy
Stick candy
Stick candy is a long, cylindrical variety of hard candy, usually four to seven inches in length and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, but in some extraordinary cases up to 14 inches in length and two inches in diameter...
(such as the candy cane
Candy cane
A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint or cinnamon; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and may be decorated with stripes of different colors and thicknesses...
), the lollipop
Lollipop
A lollipop, pop, lolly, sucker, or sticky-pop is a type of confectionery consisting mainly of hardened, flavored sucrose with corn syrup mounted on a stick and intended for sucking or licking. They are available in many flavors and shapes.- Types :Lollipops are available in a number of colors and...
, the aniseed twist, and the bêtises de Cambrai
Bêtises de Cambrai
Bêtises de Cambrai are a French boiled sweet made in the town of Cambrai. "Bêtise" is French for "nonsense" or "stupid mistake" and the sweets are said to have been invented by accident by the son of a confectioner named Afchain. The original flavour is mint, but many others are now produced....
.
Confectioners of boiled sweets
- John Millar & SonsJohn Millar & SonsJohn Millar & Sons is a Scottish confectionery company specialising in Mints and Boiled Sweets.-History:The company began in 1844, when John Millar started bakery in Leith, shortly afterwords, the business began selling sweets manufactured in the back room...
- Jolly RancherJolly RancherJolly Rancher is a brand of candy, including hard candy, gummies, fruit chews, jellybeans, lollipops, and sodas. It is currently owned by Hershey. The product was originally produced by the Jolly Rancher Company, founded in 1949 by Bill and Dorothy Harmsen of Golden, Colorado...
(now a division of The Hershey CompanyThe Hershey CompanyThe Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
) - Jesmona Black Bullets the Original Black BulletsBlack bulletsBlack Bullets, properly called Jesmona Black Bullets, are a confectionery produced by Maxons of Sheffield. They are popular throughout the north of England, most notably in Newcastle, where it is said they gained a great deal of popularity with the local miners...
by Maxons Ltd