1800s Timeline Box with Card

From Medicines to Treats

The 1800s were a time of tremendous change. The rise of industry. The start of candy as we know it. Many sweets began as medicine, such as licorice root which people chewed to clean their teeth. Later licorice was enjoyed as candy. Horehound and rock candy were first used for upset stomachs and sore throats.

Saloons, Soldiers… and Jelly Beans?

Rock candy was also the main ingredient in a popular saloon drink, the Rock n’ Rye. Turkish Delight, a medicine for sore throat first sold in 9th century Arabic apothecaries, became the jelly bean in Boston and was sent to Civil War solders. NECCO Wafers were made in an 1847 apothecary and became one of the first penny candies.

Fun Foods & The Rise of Industry

Some candies, such as buttermints, were just for fun. After the Civil War, industry made new candies possible – like caramel, an American original. Marshmallows were all the rage thanks to new instant gelatin. Salt water taffy, the venerable favorite, was first made by the seashore in the late 1880s – but never actually contained salt!

The Nation’s Oldest Candy Brand…

The rise of industry also meant the rise of candy brands – many of which we still know today! Good & Plenty, the nation’s oldest candy brand, debuted in 1893. Tootsie Rolls, first made in 1896, were named for the creator’s daughter “Tootsie.” The first “kiss” candy, chocolate Wilbur Buds, became popular in the late 1800s. Their more famous rival, the Hershey Kiss, was actually a knock off version of the delicious original – the Wilbur Bud.