[{"id":285115449386,"handle":"1800s","updated_at":"2025-05-09T20:23:13-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:25-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"depict","published_scope":"web","title":"1800s","body_html":"\u003ch5\u003eThe Industrial Revolution brought a tidal wave of change in sweets.\u003c\/h5\u003e\r\nThe 1800s saw the growth and demolition of enslavement with its close connection to sugar cane; the introduction of new sugars promoted by abolitionist; and the massive shifts in foods due to the Industrial Revolution, including the candy we know today.","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:25-04:00","alt":null,"width":1735,"height":2048,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled-design-2024-02-07T163445-582_e10ae7ea-2a45-4424-8199-cfe5833ac1db.jpg?v=1726760305"}},{"id":291189227562,"handle":"all-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-09T21:30:17-04:00","published_at":"2025-01-30T08:34:32-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"ALL CANDY","body_html":""},{"id":286636113962,"handle":"christmas-delights","updated_at":"2025-05-09T17:25:23-04:00","published_at":"2024-10-31T13:15:22-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"Christmas Delights","body_html":"","image":{"created_at":"2024-10-31T13:15:19-04:00","alt":null,"width":1170,"height":1055,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/IMG_9211.jpg?v=1730394921"}},{"id":285115613226,"handle":"gift-boxes","updated_at":"2025-05-09T11:45:24-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:37-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Exclusive Gifts","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnique Gifts - ONLY AVAILABLE at True Treats! From pre-history – today! Plus stories and period illustrations on TT packaging!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:38-04:00","alt":null,"width":1170,"height":1088,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled-design-2023-02-14T103111.798-1_3f4318d0-87ab-4be1-87c1-5077c58d4c6e.jpg?v=1726760319"}},{"id":285115711530,"handle":"military-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-09T17:00:16-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:45-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"Military Candy","body_html":null,"image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:46-04:00","alt":null,"width":2048,"height":1176,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled-design-2024-05-10T143934.187-1_155d54f1-edee-4b6c-a262-8d76e3cd3acf.jpg?v=1726760327"}},{"id":285116039210,"handle":"only-at-true-treats","updated_at":"2025-05-09T17:20:19-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:37:04-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"Only At True Treats","body_html":null,"image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:39:07-04:00","alt":null,"width":2259,"height":2112,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/IMG_2267-scaled-e1657311617531_769562dd-003d-414e-be10-0757e094f8a1.jpg?v=1726760347"}},{"id":290043822122,"handle":"quick-order","title":"Quick Order","updated_at":"2025-05-09T21:30:17-04:00","body_html":null,"published_at":"2025-01-03T14:49:08-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"quick","disjunctive":false,"rules":[{"column":"variant_price","relation":"greater_than","condition":"0"}],"published_scope":"web"},{"id":285115940906,"handle":"top-sellers","updated_at":"2025-05-09T17:20:19-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:59-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Top Sellers","body_html":"","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:39:01-04:00","alt":null,"width":1170,"height":833,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/turkish-delight-blog-photo_e7c94cdf-81b3-47e8-adac-d436d1ff84b9.jpg?v=1726760342"}}]
["buy candy","buy candy box","Buy gift","buy gift basket","buy gift box","buy historic candy","buy historic military candy","buy historic military treats","buy historic tea","buy retro candy","buy tea","buy vintage candy","candy box","candy gift basket","Civil War Candy","Civil War Gift","gift","gift basket","gift box","gifts","historical military treats","Military Candy","retro gift basket"]
AS SEEN ON - Jeopardy!, History Channel, PBS, Atlas Obscura, New York Times, NPR, Ologies, WBUR, Delish, Food Network Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Huff Post, CNN, Tasting Table, Gastro Obscura, Voice of America, Daily Mail UK, Oxford University Press, Pittsburg Post, Southern Living...
Civil War soldiers valued sugars as medicine, food, and morale boosters throughout the Civil War.These early forms of civil war era candy were vital for survival and comfort. Favorites came in packages from home for lucky soldiers, likely jelly beans, a direct descendant of the 9th century Arabic sore throat remedy turned treat Turkish Delight. Also medicinal in origin was stain glass candy - a version appeared in Martha Washington's cookbook - and lemon drops. Many of these sweets are now part of what we celebrate in our civil war candy box today.
Civil War Sweets & Sugars
Some soldiers made favorites for themselves at the start of the war, such as molasses pulls. Hospitals and other organizations sent packages, many items such as cacao and sugar recommended by the new US Sanitary Commission. Cane sugar was common at first, replaced by beet sugar, among others, all able to grow in cool climates. Soldiers bought or found dried fruit and other goods will foraging. These early sweets reflect the ingenuity that would later shape popular 1800s candy traditions.
Government Sweets & Sutlers
The government provided a small variety of sweets. Figures such as Grant shipped large quantities of cranberries, rich in sugar and vitamin C, to Union troops at the Battle of St. Petersburg. Soldiers with enough money bought goods from sutlers, disreputable merchants selling over-priced, hard-to-find items such as ginger and coffee, which troops used boiled or ate whole. Today, some of these flavors are captured in historical recreations like the civil war candy box, offering a tangible link to civil war era candy. The sutlers were later replaced by commissaries, providing approved goods at a reasonable cost.
Product Details
Size: 12 different samples in a 5 15/16" x 1" x 7 3/4" box
Lemon Drop (Sugar, Glucose Syrup, dextrose, citric Acid, natural lemon flavor, yellow #5),White Sugar (cane sugar), Stain Glass (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Flavor, FD&C Colors. Jelly Beans (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Cornstarch, Modified Cornstarch, Maltodextrin, FD&C Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1, Red 3, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Carnauba Wax, Beeswax, Confectioner's Glaze.), MolassesPulls (Corn Syrup, Sugar, Milk, Vegetable Oils and Fats, Molasses.), Bugs (Crickets and Mealworms) Cranberries (Dehydrated Cranberries), Cacao Beans (Organic Cacao Beans Packaged in the same facility as peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and milk products), Coffee (organic Ethiopian Coffee). Amber Beet Sugar (Raw beet sugar), Ginger (Organic Ginger, Organic Raw Cane Sugar). Necco Wafers (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Gelatin , Natural & Artificial Flavors, Vegetable Gums (Gum Tragacanth Arabic & Xanthan), Chocolate , Citric Acid, Fd & Colors Yellow 5& 6, Blue 1, Red 3, and Red 40)
Allergen Disclaimer: Please note that our products are made in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, soy, and wheat. While we take precautions to prevent cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee that our products are allergen-free.
Ideas and Inspiration
Shipping
📩 Check Your Email for the Tracking Number! 📩 📢 B2B orders may take longer to ship than estimated
Please allow 3-5 business days for processing new retail orders. Many of our products are hand-made and assembled, so some orders may experience some delays depending on availability. Most orders are shipped within 5 business days. If you have any questions or concerns about your order please reach out to us.
100% Satisfaction GuaranteeWe provide service the old-fashioned way. If something isn’t right, contact us, and we’ll make it right. Need ideas for a gift? For party favors? Let us know
Fast, Fresh, and Reliable Shipping!We carefully pack and ship every order to ensure it arrives fresh and on time. If your order is damaged or delayed due to carrier issues, contact us with details, and we’ll work with you to find the best solution.
100% Authentic Historic Candy The ONLY research-based historic candy company in the U.S., proudly offering genuine historical candies with the story of each
Sugar, Medicine, and Morale: Civil War Era Candy, 1800s Candy, and Sweets in the Civil War
Civil War soldiers relied on sweets for survival, comfort, and even medicine. From home, they received jelly beans, inspired by Turkish Delight, and “stained glass” candy, similar to lozenges used for sore throats. Hospitals and the U.S. Sanitary Commission provided cacao and sugar, both considered essential for health. Soldiers made molasses pulls themselves, an early version of taffy, while sutlers sold expensive treats like ginger and dried fruit. As cane sugar production declined, alternatives like beet sugar and sorghum became crucial. Even in the harshest conditions, soldiers found ways to enjoy maple sugar, licorice root, and rock candy—proving that even in war, the taste of sweetness was never forgotten. These civil war era candy favorites were often packed into a civil war candy box, bringing comfort to soldiers far from home. Many of these treats, like molasses pulls and licorice, became classic 1800s candy staples, cherished for their simplicity and sweetness.
True Treats is the only historically accurate candy store in the world, bringing the past to life through researched sweets, teas, syrups, and more. Every product is rooted in history, telling the story of how people from all walks of life enjoyed treats through time. Leading this effort is Susan, a nationally recognized candy historian, researcher, and author who appears regularly on TV, radio, and in major publications. With over 40 years of experience, she has written ten books and founded True Treats to share the fascinating history of candy in a fun and delicious way. Susan’s work uncovers the surprising origins of America’s favorite sweets, from ancient uses of sugar to the candies of the 1900s. Through True Treats, Susan makes history an interactive experience, allowing customers to taste the past while learning the stories behind every bite.
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
