47 Cotton Candy Facts Revealed For People Who Have A Sweet Tooth

This popular food has been around for over centuries.

Candy floss is such a labor-intensive treat. Can you imagine that it was invented by a dentist?

There have been many names and different recipes for this treat. Cotton candy grapes have also become popular recently, thanks to genetically modifying the fruit. Cotton candy is made by combining floss sugar concentrate with normal granulated sugar. Liquid sugar also plays a major role.

At the 1904 St. Louis Fair, the two inventors debuted their machine and cotton candy, selling thousands of boxes of cotton candy. At the time, it was referred to as fairy floss rather than cotton candy.

History Of Cotton Candy

Cotton candy as we know it now did not appear until the 19th century.

• It all started when cooks physically melted and spun sugar.
• They used forks to extract the candy into thin strands, which they draped around broom handles.
• These hand-spun candies were not only time-consuming but also expensive.
• Cotton candy was invented by Dr. William Morrison, a dentist.
• In 1897, Dr. Morrison collaborated with candy manufacturer, confectioner John C. Wharton to create a machine that cooked sugar in a rotating bowl with many small holes.
• In the heated, spinning bowl, the sugar caramelized and worked its way through the holes, transforming the melted sugar into light strands of sugary treat.
• This delicious confection was initially called Fairy Floss.
• Candy floss was created in Nashville, Tennessee in 1897.
• Dr Morrison and Wharton collaborated to invent the cotton candy machine that could spin sugar and generate cotton candy, a technique that had previously been done by hand. It used less sugar.
• The origin of cotton candy has been traced back to the 15th century thanks to Tim Richardson's book, 'Sweets: A History Of Candy', which states that the sweet treat was made from sugar sculptures spun by melting sugar in a pan and then pulled out by a fork, creating fine sugar strands collected on a wooden broom handle.
• This manual method of creating cotton candy lasted for many years until a new method of melting sugar was developed using an electric machine with a heat source kept at the base of a funnel-shaped dish.
• The new cotton candy machines replaced the labor-intensive procedure of hurling the material in the pan with a rapidly revolving funnel that used centrifugal force to fling the syrup through small holes in the funnel. It was the way of making spun sugar by automated machines.
• A bowl placed on the rim of the pan of the spinning head would catch the caramelized threads as they cooled to provide a somewhat crunchy texture. Cotton candy was made by gathering these delicate and fluffy threads into an airy cluster.
• This candy floss is available in your sugar confectioneries.
• It became so popular that there is even a day to celebrate it called National Cotton Candy Day.
• National Cotton Candy Day is observed on December 7.
• The gold medal machine is the latest in line.

Invention Details Of Cotton Candy

Dr. William Morrison, a dentist in Nashville, Tennessee, and candy manufacturer John C. Wharton collaborated in 1897 to develop cotton candy threads by melting crystallized sugar and blowing it through a thin screen. The threads were then wrapped in little wooden boxes.

• William Morrison and Wharton spent seven years perfecting their new product before releasing it to the broader public.
• Finally, Morrison and Wharton became business owners when they unveiled their new sweet delicacy at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904.
• The fair was supposed to be the century's biggest event. It officially opened on April 30 and featured a variety of attractions such as a Ferris wheel and a circus.
• Over 20 million people attended the fair from April to December. To Morrison and Wharton's surprise, many of the fairgoers and Ferris wheel lovers were captivated by the sweet confection known as fairy floss.
• Morrison and Wharton developed their company selling cotton candy to friends and clients in Tennessee after marketing cotton candy at the St. Louis World Fair.
• They began marketing both the machine and the sweets in newspapers such as the New York Times.
• Fairy floss became very popular America and only cost 5-10 cents for each box.
• People who wanted to create the dessert themselves brought a hand-made machine from the Electric Candy Company, the company Morrison and Wharton founded to deliver fairy floss to the people.
• Interestingly, Josef Lascaux, another dentist, entered the cotton candy scene in 1921.
• To avoid affiliation with the original fairy floss invented by Morrison and Wharton, Lascaux chose to advertise his version as cotton candy. He felt the treat resembled the cotton cultivated in Louisiana where he lived.
• Cotton candy as we know it now hasn't altered much since the first fairy floss was produced in the 1890s.
• A contraption that looks very similar to Morrison and Wharton's electric candy machine is still used today. However, one of the most noticeable distinctions between the cotton candy we consume now and the cotton candy of the past is the flavor.
• The flavor of cotton candy has evolved over the years due to changing taste preferences.
• The first cotton candy offered at the St. Louis World's Fair was unflavored and white in color.
• Cotton candy has historically been pink and blue for many decades.
• There are now many different flavors of cotton candy. Cotton candy is now available in a variety of flavors, ranging from green dill pickle to a brilliant purple gingerbread.
• Cotton candy has also developed through its use in so-called 'mash-up sweets'. Cotton candy has been used as the foundation for a variety of sweets over the years, for example cotton candy bubble gum.

Calories In Cotton Candy

Cotton candy may not be one of the healthiest snacks, but it is a very delicious one. You must not miss it. Here are some facts about cotton candy nutrition.

• Cotton candy contains no fat because it is manufactured from only two ingredients: air and colored sugar.
• A 12 oz (340 g) can of Coke has far more sugar than a typical paper cone of cotton candy.
• Cotton candy is made with more air than liquid sugar because it is made with a force that draws air into a fibrous texture.
• Cotton candy contains no fat, preservatives, or salt and has around 115 calories per serving.

Shelf Life And Colors Of Cotton Candy

 Cotton candy theoretically does not expire for years because the main component is sugar. The majority of expiry dates represent a date when deflation is possible.

However, this date does not mean the cotton candy has gone bad. Understanding the shelf life of cotton candy is important for events as well as retail shelf placement. National Cotton Candy Day is observed on December 7 every year.

• Cotton candy will melt if exposed to open air for an extended period of time and should not be kept out for more than 10-20 minutes.
• The humidity in the air will instantly begin to melt cotton candy. The higher the humidity, the faster this process will begin.
• Cotton candy will not melt if it is placed in a sealed bag or container.
• Cotton candy can last for years because the main component is sugar with no flavor or color.
• Cotton candy has a short shelf life since it shrinks so fast. Cotton candy begins to shrink two weeks to six months after production, depending on the type of container.
• Cotton candy should not be refrigerated and should be kept at room temperature in sealed packaging in a dry, dark place.
• If the cotton candy will be in an area that is hotter than 80-85 F (27-29 C), it can be placed in a colder location, such as a refrigerator.
• There is a danger that the humidity in a refrigerator will cause cotton candy to deflate if the container is not tightly sealed.
• Cotton candy can be made in natural flavors. There are lots of natural flavors and colors that can be instead of adding dye.
• One of the most popular flavors of candy floss is pink bubble gum flavor is used.
• Cotton candy is usually sold from gold medal wagons and carts at funfairs. These gold medal carts are usually painted with eye-catching designs advertising the cart's contents.
• The best thing about these carts if that consumers can see the spun sugar being made into candy floss. Modern cotton candy machines spin sugar at a high speed.