How it all began?
According to a few food historians, the earliest known cotton candy dates back to 15th Century Italy, where sculptures were made from spun sugar, a predecessor of cotton candy. This was done by melting sugar and spinning thin strands using forks. Spun-sugar sculptures were popular among the noble classes in the 17th and 18th Centuries. The technique behind the production of spun-sugar was tricky and labour-intensive, and hence it was reserved only for special occasions.
The invention of modern-day cotton candy (also known as cotton floss) is attributed to Americana dentist William Morrison. He invented and patented the electric candy machine and created cotton candy with the help of confectioner John C. Wharton. This candy machine gained popularity at the St. Louis World’s Fair, Missouri, the U.S., in 1904, where Morrison and Wharton sold over 68,600 cotton candy servings packed in wooden boxes and marketed it as ‘fairy floss’.
In the year 1921, Joseph Lascaux, another American dentist invented a similar machine, and chose to call the sugar treat “cotton candy”. Over the years, the process of making the candy became easier.
Science behind the fluffiness
Do you know how the fluffy texture of the sugar candy arises? The chemical composition of sugar allows the candy to gain the airy, cloud-like form. The candy machine melts the sugar and reduces it to syrup. This syrup spins in the machine with strong force and is cooled rapidly. This doesn’t give the sugar molecules enough time to crystallise, resulting in the formation of thin and long strands. The colours and flavours of one’s choice can be added while the sugar spins in the machine.
Beware of moisture!
Th structure of cotton candy and its shelf depends on the humidity. Moisture in the air can make the cotton candy to clump into a dense ball. This is because the candy is composed of hygroscopic sugar (a substance that absorbs moisture from the air). It is therefore better to enjoy the cotton candy right after it is made.
In order to store the candy, plastic packaging is often used to prevent exposure to moisture.
Colours and flavours
Cotton candy without any colouring agent is white-coloured. The most commonly available colours are pink, blue, yellow and purple. Today the cotton candy is available in several quirky flavours such as bubble gum, mango, salted caramel, strawberry, peanut butter, mint, cherry and coconut. In the recent past, cotton candies are also being prepared in creative forms. There are cotton candy burritos, ice-creams, frappuccinos, milkshakes, burgers and cupcakes.
Picture Credit : Google