Wednesday, May 23rd: Old time candy, current day pleasure. It’s NATIONAL TAFFY DAY. Taffy’s popularity goes back over 200 years. Although, taffy has changed a little over the years. Taffy was typically made with a molasses, and occasionally sorghum, base (cheaper and more abundant than either sugar or honey). And it was made by hand. Taffy pulls turned into a favorite winter-time social activity among young people. (You know, back in the “good-ole-days” before the movie theaters and malls. Back when everyone walked to school, six miles in snow, uphill both ways …)
Enter the late 1800’s, and anAtlantic Oceancandy store owner. The popular story has that his shop was flooded during a major storm in 1883 and his entire stock of taffy was spritzed with a salt water spray. It’s reported that a young girl came into his shop searching for some taffy. He offered her some “salt water taffy” … and the name stuck, over a hundred years later.
What? No salt water in ‘salt water taffy’? That’s okay; it’s still one of my favorites. And with over 70 flavors available I’m sure you can find at least one that you like.
Here are directions on how to make Banana Salt Water Taffy: http://www.ehow.com/how_4809962_banana-salt-water-taffy.html
Happy Taffy Day!
