The Craze About Candy Corn

Even though some of my friends may argue that the pumpkin candy corn tastes better, the classic candy corn has always been a Halloween staple for me. Growing up, when I saw the yellow, orange, and white (the white tip resembling a corn kernel) of the Brach’s Candy Corn, I knew that it wouldn’t be long before Halloween arrived, and I would be getting dressed up as Princess Ariel for the third time. 

In the 1880s, the Wunderle Candy Company was the first to invent this confection, but instead of calling it by what we know it today as “candy corn,” they called it “Chicken Feed.” This sweet first became popular amongst Americans living in the countryside who spent most of their days working on farms. Although candy corns were initially handmade, companies now produce this treat using machinery to sell in substantial quantities. From the 1880s to now, the recipe for candy corn remains the same and is still a treat everyone loves, for about nine billion kernels of candy corn are produced every year (equaling more than 9,000 tons of candy). Although companies like Brach’s, Nerds, and Trolli can make all kinds of candy corn, the iconic yellow, orange, and white ones will always bring me back to my childhood memories and hold a special place in my heart or, in this case, my stomach. 

Works Cited

Levy, Matt, director. What’s The Deal With Candy Corn? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS. YouTube, 18 Oct. 2019, https://youtu.be/GnyBaVDOLUg. Accessed 24 Oct. 2021.