Funny Stuff is all around

Salt Water Taffy

Taffy is the term for candy that has been made by the stretching method and Salt Water Taffy is the famous recipe. It’s not clear who invented it but we do know that a man called Joseph Fralinger was the first to package it in boxes and sell it. He opened a store especially to promote the product on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the 1880s. The new invention gained popularity and other companies began to market it. It was very popular at midwestern country fairs. Fralinger’s company still sells taffy today and Atlantic City is synonymous with the product. Holidaymakers there and at other seaside resorts love to take a box home as a souvenir.

Fralinger wasn’t just content with the original recipe and he added twenty five different flavors of his own making. The basic recipe called for sugar, corn syrup, water, cornstarch, salt and butter. The range of Salt Water Taffy products available today is very imaginative. They include chocolate, vanilla, liquorice, peanut butter and peppermint. Fruit flavors can be used too, such as water melon, passion fruit, blueberry, strawberry, peach, orange, lemon, banana and lime. There is also an exotic pina colada version, cinnamon and sugar free.

Curiously, there is a National Taffy Day, which falls on May 23rd each year. In fact, it’s not so bizarre because there are lots of different national candy days through the year! These include National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day, National Toasted Marshmallow Day and National Gummi Worm Day. No one is expected to do anything in particular on these days but remember how great their favorite candy is.

One of the suppliers has a themed range to match the seasons and holidays, with the appropriate shapes and colors. These Salt Water Taffy treats include Christmas trees, red hot Santas, spearmint snowmen, Halloween faces, pumpkin patch pumpkins, valentine hearts, roses and love and spring flowers. There is also peppermint in the shape of candy cane and egg nog in the shape of holly leaves. Patriotic taffy enthusiasts can buy the red, white and blue variety with a picture of the US flag emblazoned on the candy. Their tropical range includes flavors such as mango, coconut and guava. Salt water Taffy is ideal for a present, especially the special seasonal gift boxes. It seems a shame to wait until the next trip to the coast before sampling all these wonderful varieties. Stock up for National Taffy Day.

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