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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...
These wonderful, medicine-inspired candies are made exclusively for True Treats in an authentic 1920s pill capsule mold. The flavor is distinctly lemon, somewhat tart in the old-fashioned way… not so tart it overwhelms. Each candy is “sanded” meaning it is lightly covered with sugar to keep from sticking. Easy to carry around and simple to store.
So why medicine-inspired hard candy? Because hard candies started as medicines, made in apothecaries in various iterations for centuries. Hard candies straddled the line between candy and medicine starting in the 1800s…and still do today (think cough drops). Among them is the venerable lemon.
As a non-candy curative, lemons have been used in ancient China, as antidotes for poisons, in ancient Egypt, to combat the plague. Closer to the turn-of-century, lemons were prized for just about all that ails you. In the Pittsburgh Press of 1914, one unnamed lemon fan said, “There’s a whole medicine cabinet packed under its yellow skin.” We at True Treats honor the medicinal history of lemons. We also honor today’s use of lemon – not as medicines but definitely delights.
Love lemon? Then enjoy our historic lemon candies and teas: Napoleon Sours, Regal Lemon Sours, Lemon Drops, and Lemon crystals, ready to use any time. And don’t forget – candied lemon peel and lemon peel tea.
Want ideas for lemon candy? Want to know what our lemon fan said about the medicinal powers of lemon in 1914? See our Ideas and Inspirations dropdown.
Product Details
Size: 6 ounce plastic jar
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Lemon, Natural and Artificial Flavoring and Colors
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
Yesterday’s medicines are a great gift for any event and a special get-well gift, too!
Enjoy your Yesterday’s Medicine Sugar Candy:
In hot tea– enjoy as it slowly dissolves
As a breath freshener any time of day
A non-medicinal coating to ease a cough or sore throat
A welcome, low-cal treat, so tasty it makes you feel good.
How ‘bout that lemon?
Proclaimed medicinal powers of lemon in 1914:
Nervous headache drink a cup of strong tea with two or three lemon slices
Bilious headache drink a teaspoon of lemon is a cup of strong black coffee
Liver corrective in summer drink half a lemon in a cup of hot water first thing in the morning
For fever mix a concoction of lemon Italian-style
For rheumatism and gout use lemon (when and how, unknown)
For a teasing cough in wet weather drink lemon juice with honey
For a sore throat any time drink lemon juice with honey
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.
As improbable as it seems, candy got its start in pharmacies, AKA apothecaries. And if you think about it, most flavors in today’s candy reflect a medicinal past: mint, lemon, licorice, vanilla – and, of course, chocolate, to name a few. Sugar, the most controversial food around, was considered medicinal, used to ease sore throats, cure stomach ailments, and even take on the plague. So significant was sugar to medicine, from the 13 th through 18 th centuries, the expression “like an apothecary without sugar” referred to a dire situation. Today, some experts, including those at the Harvard School of Public Health, find that candy is actually good for your health…in moderation! To learn more about the Health-Candy connection, check out our blog - Old Fashion Candy – The Wonder Drug.
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.
