From Medicines to Treats

Hard candies such as stain glass originated as throat lozenges and treats. The boiled sugars of the 1600s evolved into drops in the 1700s – and of course stain glass. By the mid to late 1800s, familiar hard candies like butterscotch disks, clove balls, sour balls, and others were all the rage.

Stain Glass… Candy?

Colorful stained glass spans these time periods and was often made at home. It’s even featured in Martha Washington’s cookbook! As for oranges, not just the flesh and the juice were used to create treats at home. Candied orange peels were used in cakes and enjoyed as a tart and sweet snack in the 1700s.