In 1670, the choirmaster of the Cologne
Cathedral in Germany devised an ingenuous way of keeping the kids
quiet and still without offending the church rules and regulations
by handing them sugar sticks that were shaped like shepherd's staff
during the long Living Creche ceremony. These J-shaped candy canes
hit off with the masses and in 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant
called August Imgard used it to decorate his spruce tree at
Christmas in Wooster, Ohio. Later, red and white Christmas colors
and peppermint flavors made the candy canes more beautiful to look
at and tastier to eat. 1920s saw Bob McCormack working hard at
pulling, twisting and bending candy canes as a special Christmas
treat for his children.
In 1950s, his brother-in-law, Gregory Keller automatized the
process by inventing a machine for the candy cane production and
thus, it could be expanded to a larger scale. Still, candy canes
hold their place as one of the traditional and most favorite holiday
foods and Christmas confectionary. We have noted some recipes for
making candy canes and other candies, which you can try at home. The
basic techniques of making candy cane involve vacuum cooking sugar
and corn syrup in large kettles and then cooled by poring it to a
large bowl. Peppermint and starch is then added to it. Starch
prevents the stickiness. The mixture is kneaded until it attains a
golden brown color and then, it is pulled until it becomes silky
white. It is then shaped like 'J'. Red stripes can also be added to
it.
