How Candy Conquered America/ The Future of Candy

It was 1847, and for months Oliver Chase of Boston had been tinkering with a brand-new invention. Soon it would change America and the world.

Chase wasn’t really an inventor. He was a pharmacist, a person who sold medicines. Like most pharmacists at the time, Chase made his own remedies.

Among his most popular were lozenges—small round discs made of mashed-up herbs and chemicals.

People bought them to cure their scratchy throats and aching heads. They didn’t really work, and they tasted disgusting. That’s why most lozenges were covered with a sugary shell.

In 1847, Oliver Chase of Boston was working on a new invention. Soon it would change America and the world.

Chase wasn’t really an inventor. He was a pharmacist. That’s a person who sells medicines. Like most pharmacists at the time, Chase made his own remedies.

His lozenges were his most popular remedies. These lozenges were small round discs made from herbs and chemicals.

People bought them to cure scratchy throats and aching heads. The lozenges didn’t really work. And they tasted disgusting. That’s why most lozenges were covered with a sugary shell.

Making lozenges took a long time— each one had to be cut by hand. And that’s why Chase was so excited about his new invention: a machine that let him make lozenges in big batches.

But it was his next idea that would make Chase famous: using his new machine to make candy.

Back in the early 1800s, sugar was very expensive. There were only a few kinds of candy, such as hunks of tooth-busting rock candy and sticks of homemade peppermint. Fancy ladies carried tin boxes of sticky lemon drops. Most kids who craved sweets settled for dried fruit or puddings.

Making lozenges took a long time. Each one had to be cut by hand. That’s why Chase was so excited about his new invention. It was a machine that made lozenges in big batches.

But his next idea made Chase famous: He used his new machine to make candy.

Back in the 1800s, sugar was very expensive. There were only a few kinds of candy. There were hunks of tooth-busting rock candy and sticks of homemade peppermint. Fancy ladies carried tin boxes of sticky lemon drops. Most kids who craved sweets had to eat dried fruit or puddings.

But Oliver Chase was about to put candy into the mouth of almost any American who wanted it. He named his new candies Chase Lozenges. The hard, quarter-sized sugar wafers were a hit.

Even more important to candy history was Chase’s new machine. Soon it was being sold across the U.S. For the first time, candy makers could create sweet treats in large quantities. Also, sugar became cheaper. Candy prices dropped.

Suddenly, you didn’t have to be rich to buy chewy gumdrops or mouth-watering butterscotch. Stores sold dozens of different kinds of “penny candy.” During the Civil War, soldiers carried candies in their pockets along with bullets and packets of gunpowder.

But Oliver Chase was about to put candy into the mouth of almost any American who wanted it. He named his new candies Chase Lozenges. They were hard, quarter-sized sugar wafers. And they were a hit.

Chase’s new machine was even more important to candy history. Soon it was being sold across the U.S. Now candy makers could create sweet treats in large quantities. Also, sugar became cheaper. Candy prices dropped.

Everyone could buy chewy gumdrops or mouth-watering butterscotch. Stores sold dozens of different kinds of “penny candy.”

As the years went by, companies created new kinds of scrumptious candies with different flavors and textures. Chewy jelly beans. Waxy candy corn. Gooey caramels. Fluffy marshmallows. Every year, it seemed there were new surprises and delights.

U.S. candy makers even sent spies to Europe, to steal secret candy recipes. They competed fiercely with each other to create the next big candy hit.

Probably the biggest candy breakthrough came in 1899. That was when Pennsylvania candy maker Milton Hershey figured out how to turn chalky, bitter cocoa into creamy milk chocolate. His Hershey’s Kisses and bars became best-sellers.

Over the years, companies created new kinds of scrumptious candies. They had different flavors and textures. Chewy jelly beans. Waxy candy corn. Gooey caramels. Fluffy marshmallows. There were new delights almost every year.

Candy makers tried to come up with the next big candy hit. Candy companies even tried to steal secret recipes from one another.

Probably the biggest candy breakthrough came in 1899. It was made by Pennsylvania candy maker Milton Hershey. He figured out how to turn chalky, bitter cocoa into creamy milk chocolate. His Hershey’s Kisses and bars became best-sellers.

By the 1930s, kids (and grown-ups) could choose from thousands of different kinds of candies.

Many are still available today, including Milky Way Bars, Tootsie Rolls, and Snickers.

Sadly, Chase Lozenges, later called Necco Wafers, are no longer sold. In July 2018, the company that made them went out of business.

But America’s candy makers continue dreaming up new candies to delight us. What mouth-watering treats will they think of next?

By the 1930s, there were thousands of different kinds of candies.

Many are still available today, including Milky Way Bars, Tootsie Rolls, and Snickers.

Sadly, Chase Lozenges, later called Necco Wafers, are no longer sold. In July 2018, the company that made them went out of business.

But America’s candy makers continue dreaming up new candies to delight us. What mouth-watering treats will they think of next?