[{"id":285115416618,"handle":"1500s-1700s","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:00:24-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:22-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"1500s to 1700s","body_html":"\u003ch5\u003eCandied Peels and petals, chocolate sticks, sugar plums, \u0026amp; other sugary treats.\u003c\/h5\u003e\r\nMany common fruits, nuts, and spices arrived in the 1500s to the 1700s and brought with them new forms of confections...and all the symbolism that went with them.","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:22-04:00","alt":null,"width":983,"height":888,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/2376410629-1_7843d4e5-e79c-4bd6-a69b-3e5798613592.jpg?v=1726760302"}},{"id":285115449386,"handle":"1800s","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:32:42-04:00","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":285115482154,"handle":"1900s","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:26:44-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:27-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"1900s","body_html":"\u003ch5\u003eThe rise of candy we know today - from Candy Bars to Sponge Candy.\u003c\/h5\u003e\r\nThe 20th century launched an unprecedented age of candy made for kids, sent to soldiers at war, and reflecting everything from Prohibition to the Cold War. The colors were bright, the scent alluring, and the flavors out of this world.","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:27-04:00","alt":null,"width":2048,"height":2017,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Untitled-design-2023-04-19T123907.127-1_473a8e56-fd45-41fa-8de7-d821f1aae1d9.jpg?v=1726760308"}},{"id":291189227562,"handle":"all-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:26:44-04:00","published_at":"2025-01-30T08:34:32-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"ALL CANDY","body_html":""},{"id":285115580458,"handle":"botanicals","updated_at":"2025-05-08T13:25:15-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:35-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"Botanicals","body_html":"\u003ch5\u003eSweets from Beans \u0026amp; Seeds\u003c\/h5\u003e\r\nIt's hard to imagine, but the origin of all candy began in the ground: roots, flowers, barks, saps, and berries all compose our candy today. As the candies changed, so did their purpose, but the important role of botanicals remains the same.","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:35-04:00","alt":null,"width":1600,"height":1067,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Tea-View-from-house_a377028c-1b4b-473d-b986-ae2f76b17eb0.jpg?v=1726760316"}},{"id":286636113962,"handle":"christmas-delights","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:00:24-04:00","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":"2025-05-08T13:20:19-04:00","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":285116039210,"handle":"only-at-true-treats","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:00:24-04:00","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":"2025-05-08T15:26:44-04:00","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":285115547690,"handle":"retro-treats","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:26:44-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:32-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"depict","published_scope":"web","title":"Retro \u0026 Penny Candy","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the Circus Peanut of the 1800s to the Satellite Wafers of the 1950s. Variety! Memories! Delicious!!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:33-04:00","alt":null,"width":2560,"height":1920,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/Image-19-scaled_b6f0e6f7-b0e2-40d4-a984-8c445a3a8497.jpg?v=1726760313"}},{"id":295426359338,"handle":"retro-candy","updated_at":"2025-05-08T15:26:44-04:00","published_at":"2025-04-15T12:28:46-04:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"Retro Candy","body_html":"","image":{"created_at":"2025-04-17T07:32:06-04:00","alt":null,"width":4032,"height":3024,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/d012120c-b13e-4d6b-a71a-b3d39470a2cd_2.jpg?v=1744889526"}},{"id":285115842602,"handle":"old-time-medicines","updated_at":"2025-05-08T13:25:15-04:00","published_at":"2024-09-19T11:36:53-04:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"web","title":"Yesterday's Medicines, Today's Delights","body_html":null,"image":{"created_at":"2024-09-19T11:38:55-04:00","alt":null,"width":1600,"height":1393,"src":"\/\/truetreatscandy.com\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/untitled-design-2023-02-21t110249.104-3_449ba2ae-d6e7-4b7b-a4bb-b3c7b621fbfa.jpg?v=1726760335"}}]
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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, medicinal candy samplers are made exclusively for True Treats in an authentic 1920s pill capsule mold. The flavors are distinct and fresh, made in small batches we typically receive a few days after they’re made. Each candy is “sanded” meaning it is lightly covered with sugar to keep from sticking. Easy to carry around and simple to store.
But 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). Comes with a keepsake card with the history of each sample’s medicinal purpose on the back and a period picture on the front.
Our Yesterday's Medicine Candy Sampler contains some of the best-known and well-remembered flavors of yesteryear. These include wintergreen (a medicine Native Americans used to treat sore throats), clove (used for dental health and breath freshening), peppermint (a treatment for upset stomach and anxiety), sassafras (to lessen fevers and purify the blood), horehound (a remedy for headaches and sore throats), cinnamon (thought to lower blood sugar and fight infections), cayenne pepper (made for a dentist to help manage his patients’ pain), ginger (implemented for stomach pains and morning sickness), lemon (to cure colds, prevent scurvy), anise (a soothing agent for the stomach), black pepper (circulation and digestion), spearmint (used for nausea and digestive problems). These lozenges are a tasty nod to the wellness practices of the past, and a feel-good indulgence you’re sure to remember. An authentic candy time capsule, Yesterday’s medicine, today’s delight!
Product Details
Size: 12 different samples in a 5 15/16" x 1" x 7 3/4" box
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Clove Oil, Peppermint Oil, Sassafras, Horehound, Cinnamon, Cayenne Pepper, Ginger, Lemon Flavor, Anise, Black Pepper, Spearmint Oil, 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
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
When Sweets Were Medicine: A Sugary Past
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.
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