August 29, 2022
Taffy is a popular sweet treat that has been around for over 150 years. While every chef and candy shop has their own way of making their taffy recipes stand out, the best taffy is always made with the same standard ingredients like boiled sugar, water, and a combining fat like oil or butter. There are even unique textures, flavors, and styles of taffy - like “Colorado style taffy” - that feature softer, less sticky, delectable morsels of taffy heaven!
Want to learn more about how this popular candy is made? Keep reading to dive into the world of taffy and get an inside look at how saltwater taffy is made.
How Taffy Came to the U.S.
Most food historians believe that taffy made its way to the U.S. shortly after the Civil War in the late 19th-century. Initially resembling the British version of toffee - a more brittle concoction of syrup and butter - taffy was a popular flavored candy for locals.
Around 1880, saltwater taffy was invented in Atlantic City, New Jersey and soon became a staple for seaside towns, ocean resorts, and amusem*nt parks. Though the characteristic ingredient wasn’t actually present in the recipe, the addition of water to the mixture resulted in a more satisfying (and popular!) consistency.
The Process of Making Taffy
Originally, the candy was hand-pulled using a hook system before being cooled and then cut into smaller, bite-size pieces. However, modern inventions have made this process a bit easier with the help of pulling machines.
Taffy is made using ingredients like corn syrup, sugar, oil, honey, egg whites, salt, and other natural and artificial flavors. Once the candy ingredients are heated to the perfect temperature and mixed thoroughly, it starts to transform into a sticky mixture.
This “candy glob” base must then be transferred to a hollow table filled with water to help the mixture cool evenly while it is worked by hand. Coloring is then added as the taffy mixture continues to take shape into a long taffy rope with the help of machines. The taffy rope then gets added onto the pulling machine as flavors are blended in.
This process is also what adds to the airy texture of the taffy. Once the flavors and colors are fully dispersed, the taffy rope is cut into bite-sized pieces and each piece is carefully wrapped in wax paper.
Best Taffy in Colorado
When it comes to taffy flavors, your options are anything but limited. Saltwater taffy is one of the many candies that features dozens of flavor profiles. Chocolate lovers rejoice with flavored taffy like Chocolate Vanilla Swirl, Chocolate Strawberry, and Chocolate. Brighten your day with tangy fruit flavors like Key Lime, Raspberry, and Blood Orange.
This soft, deliciously light treat is perfectly smooth with a special saltwater taffy recipe formulated from scratch by the owners of Purple Mountain Taffy Co. Shop our collection of over 50 taffy flavors here.
FAQs
However, salt water taffy doesn't actually contain seawater. So how did it get its name? No one knows for sure how salt water taffy got its name, but one legend holds that it came from David Bradley, who owned a candy store in the late 19th century.
How does taffy work? ›
It's fitting that folks have stretched the truth about taffy over the years, since stretching is an essential step in the taffy-making process. Stretching or “pulling” the cooked mixture aerates the candy, creating the tiny bubbles that give taffy its magnificently chewy consistency.
How is taffy stretched? ›
Machines do most of the work in modern taffy making. Long hooks pull taffy, stretching it to help aerate it.
Is taffy made with eggs? ›
Taffy is made using ingredients like corn syrup, sugar, oil, honey, egg whites, salt, and other natural and artificial flavors. Once the candy ingredients are heated to the perfect temperature and mixed thoroughly, it starts to transform into a sticky mixture.
Is Starburst considered taffy? ›
Starburst (originally known as Opal Fruits) is the brand name of a box-shaped, fruit-flavoured soft taffy candy manufactured by The Wrigley Company, which is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.
Is salt water taffy healthy? ›
Salt water taffy is corn syrup, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, oil, salt, an emulsifier (lecithin, usually), and flavorings. One ounce of taffy provides about 4% of your recommended daily allowance of riboflavin. Eat a pound and a half of it, and your vitamin B2 worries are over for the day.
What state is famous for taffy? ›
Its late 19th century appellation most likely originated in New Jersey. Salt water taffy is still sold widely on the boardwalks in Atlantic City (including shops in existence since the 19th century), nearby Ocean City, elsewhere at the Jersey Shore, and other beaches throughout the US like Cape Cod.
What's the difference between saltwater taffy and regular taffy? ›
Traditional taffy is a chewy, stretchy candy that comes in bright colors and a wide variety of flavors. It is often circular in shape and wrapped in wax paper to keep the taffy soft for easy chewing. Salt water taffy is essentially the same thing, though it often comes in a long, cylindrical shape.
Is taffy good for your teeth? ›
5. Caramel. Like taffy, caramels and toffees are not only sticky, they can also pull out fillings. Plus both candies are extremely high in sugar (in fact, they are basically all sugar) and stick to your teeth for maximum bacteria impact.
Who invented taffy? ›
When Was Salt Water Taffy Invented? Most food historians believe salt water taffy was invented in the early 1880s. The story begins with a gentleman named John Ross Edmiston. The owner of a small boardwalk postcard shop in Atlantic City, Edmiston hired a man named David Bradley to sell taffy alongside his wares.
Store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature for the longest shelf life, which can be up to 3 months before the consistency begins to change. Some like to freeze their taffy to preserve its peak flavor for longer, though don't forget to let it thaw completely at room temperature before trying to take a bite!
What is the most popular flavor of taffy? ›
Most Popular Flavors of Taffy
- Fruit Punch – This fruity colorful piece of taffy has earned its spot at number one. ...
- Banana – This bright yellow piece of taffy is loved by many. ...
- Vanilla – This white piece of taffy was the first flavor of taffy made here at Zeno's.
If our taffy feels hard, it is most likely because it is cold; try holding the taffy snugly in the palm of your hand for a few moments, the warmth should soften it right up!
What is the difference between toffee and taffy? ›
The difference is mainly in the candy-making process: taffy is pulled and stretched until it's soft and chewy. Toffee, on the other hand, won't stick in your teeth like taffy, because it is boiled, shaped, and allowed to harden into a delicious, glossy slab.
What's the difference between taffy and salt water taffy? ›
Traditional taffy is a chewy, stretchy candy that comes in bright colors and a wide variety of flavors. It is often circular in shape and wrapped in wax paper to keep the taffy soft for easy chewing. Salt water taffy is essentially the same thing, though it often comes in a long, cylindrical shape.
What's the difference between hard candy and taffy? ›
Taffy, on the other hand, starts as a syrup with a lower concentration of sugar, about 95% and it is boiled to a lower temperature than hard candy. Taffy is cooked to a temperature range of around 132 to 143 °C (270 to 289 °F). Taffy is often pulled, as well, using a candy hook.
