How Sweet It Is! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Divinity

Divinity became popular in the late 19th century with the development of corn syrup. Back then, recipes would often call for corn syrup to be used as a partial substitute for the sugar ordinarily used to make the meringue. It's best to make divinity on a cool, dry day since humid weather will keep it from setting up properly and you'll be left with soft, sticky candy.

Answer: Rock Candy

Rock candy is pure sugar and usually comes on a stick like a lollipop. Besides being sold to kids who need a sugar fix, rock candy has culinary uses. It's used to sweeten hot dessert soups in Asia and, when mixed with aniseed, is used as a breath freshener in India. If you're feeling especially creative, add some food coloring to make rock candy in a rainbow of colors.

Answer: Dragée

Sugar-coated nuts go back to the Middle Ages, when they were often enjoyed during celebrations. Nowadays, these candies are called panned candies because most commercial dragées are made by placing the nuts in a large pan and agitating them while the coating is poured in evenly over the nuts. Those tiny metallic-looking sugar balls used to decorate cookies and cakes are also called dragées.

Answer: Salt Water Taffy

Although taffy originated in England and was brought to America in the 1800s, the word 'salt water taffy' was coined in a candy shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk in 1889. Salt water taffy doesn't contain ocean water but it does get its incredible chewiness and stiff texture from the taffy-making process. Taffy comes in a wide assortment of flavors, as any taffy-lover knows.

Answer: Horehound Drops

The horehound plant originated in Europe but can be found in many parts of the world. Since horehound has a slightly bitter taste, sugar is added to sweeten the flavor. Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used the horehound to cure a variety of illnesses. Europeans brewed it in tea to treat coughs and colds. Should you feel inclined to make horehound drops yourself, dried horehound can be found at health food stores.

Answer: Agar Jellies

Agar means 'jelly' in Malay and has been used as a thickener in desserts, soups, and sauces. It was brought to North America in the 19th century and became popular as a gelatin substitute due to its dense texture. Agar jellies and agar-based candies are sold throughout Asia.

Answer: Candy Corn

Candy corn was invented in the 19th century by George Renninger who worked for the now defunct Wunderlee Candy Company. The company is now owned by Jelly Belly. Candy corn is made up of fondant, sugar syrup, and marshmallows. Halloween isn't the only holiday to enjoy this sweet candy. If you color it red, green, and white you will have reindeer corn. Cupid corn, for Valentine's Day, is red, pink, and white.

Answer: Pralines

Southerners love their pecans and pralines are no exception. The Southern pecan praline is descended from the French praline which arrived in New Orleans during the late 1700s. African-American women sold pralines in the French Quarter and became known as pralinières. The difference between French and Southern pecan pralines is that the French version is made with sugar and almonds.

Answer: Humbugs

Nowadays humbugs are one of the more popular hard candies in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The simple recipe calls for sugar, light corn syrup, and peppermint extract. Food coloring can be used to create the stripes, black and white being a popular color combination.

Answer: Marshmallow

Pâte de guimauve was invented by the French in the mid 1800s. 'Guimauve' is the French word for the plant and is the basis for the marshmallow we know and love today. Marshmallows are so sweet because the recipe calls for sugar, corn syrup, and confectioners' sugar. It's the gelatin that makes a marshmallow spongy.