We realize that people everywhere seem to have an innate liking for sweets and candy and that the world around us has so much candy to offer. You should consider branching out and becoming more cultured as a person - after all, you are what you eat.
How Sweet It Is
The Arabs' word for it was qandi, from qand, a lump of cane sugar. It came down to us, virtually intact, through successive European languages: Old Italian (zucchero candi), Old French (sucre candi), Middle English (sugre candi). In the 1800s, Americans called it "sugar candy." Now, it's just candy.The word "candy" doesn't cover only pure-sugar concoctions, but also includes an array of tasty confections combining sugar or similar substances with other compatible ingredients such as fruits, nuts or chocolate. And the most popular of these, as most Americans will confirm, is chocolate. When we think of a "candy bar," what generally comes to mind includes chocolate - usually, milk chocolate - although it often contains nuts, along with a variety of sugars, fats and flavorings.
Did You Know?
- Gummy bears were invented in Germany in the 1920's.
- Turkish delight, the favorite sweet in the middle east is called loucum "rest for the throat".
- Thai children love mango sweets that are covered in a sugary, chilli-fish paste.
- The Dutch love SALTY licorice.
- Denmark has the highest per capita consumption of candy in the world at 29.5 pounds.
In China and many other Asian countries, as well as in Hawaii, pickled or preserved fruits covered in li hing, a sweet-sour-salty powder, are a popular treat, along with candied ginger and fruits.
Strong and salty varieties of black licorice, made from the root of a flowering plant, are very popular in many European countries, particularly Holland, Denmark, and Finland.
A thick, extremely sweet form of caramelized milk known as dulce de leche (doce de leite in Portuguese) is a popular favorite in many Central and South American countries.
Nougat is a traditional sweet in France, Italy (where it is called torrone), Spain (where it’s called turrón), and the Middle East, where it’s often made with rose water and pistachios. Some authorities say that the original recipe was brought to Europe via the Middle East, although others say it originated in Greece.
Gummy bears were invented in Germany in the 1920s, which led to the creation of many other kinds of "gummy" candies. Today, gummy candies are a big favorite in many countries.
Made in many Middle Eastern countries, Turkish Delight, or loucum ("rest for the throat"), is a jellied sweet that’s flavored with rose water or fruit and often contains nuts such as pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, or almonds.
Spicy, chewy Ting Ting Jahe candies from Indonesia are made from ginger and potato starch.
Brigadeiros, often served at birthday parties in Brazil, are made with condensed milk and cocoa powder, then rolled in chocolate sprinkles.
In some Southeast Asian and South American countries, many candies are made from a tangy, hot, salty, and sweet mixture of chili pepper, salt, sugar, and fruit, often tamarind or mango.
A traditional Middle Eastern confection is halvah, made from honey and ground sesame seeds or nuts, sometimes with the addition of rose water and saffron.
Botan Ame ("candies") from Japan are made from millet jelly and sweet rice and wrapped in a thin sheet of edible rice paper.
Health Benefits of Chocolate
Recent research has indicated a possible antioxidant benefit in chocolate similar to that found in red wine. Chocolate contains a relatively high amount of phenolic compounds, which possess antioxidant properties. These compounds possess properties that may be beneficial in reducing the risk for coronary heart disease. A 1.5 ounce chocolate bar contains about the same amount of total phenolic compounds as a 5-ounce serving of red wine, which has been associated with a reduced risk for coronary heart disease.Chocolate is increasingly being recognized as an excellent source of minerals that are hard to find elsewhere. Chocolate contains essential nutrients such as iron, copper, calcium and potassium, as well as vitamins A. B1, C, D, and E. The cocoa bean is the richest source of magnesium in nature. Magnesium deficiency is linked with heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and joint problems. Fascinatingly, it turns out the dreaded pre-menstrual syndrome has also been linked with a lack of magnesium; adding magnesium to the diet has been shown to increase pre-menstrual progesterone levels. It's the progesterone dip which is responsible for the mood swings so familiar to women and their partners.
Overheard In The Candy Aisle
"One of my favorite tasting experiences has been eating candy covered grasshoppers. I found them to be crunchy, sweet and a bit oily. It was definitely a protein packed sugar rush!"
