Candy corn is likely to turn up in plenty of trick-or-treat bags this Halloween. But the sweet, divisive treat wasn’t always tied to the holiday.
It dates back more than a century. George Renninger, who worked for Philadelphia’s Wunderle Candy Company, is credited with inventing it in the 1880s. The candy was shaped to resemble kernels of corn, following a popular trend of making sweets inspired by nature. At first, it was marketed as imitation chicken feed.
Making candy corn was no simple task. Its three-color layers were difficult to produce without automated equipment, and it eventually became a seasonal candy. Production typically starts in late August and continues through the fall.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Goelitz Confectionery—now the Jelly Belly Candy Company—began making candy corn. The company didn’t invent it, but helped produce it on a larger scale and build its association with Halloween.
Today, roughly 35 million pounds are made each year. Still, people have strong feelings about it. One fan said they’d choose candy corn over most treats while trick-or-treating, though another admirer admitted that a handful is about all they can manage before the sweetness gets to be too much.
Others aren’t convinced at all, describing the candy as chalky, lacking flavor, and unpleasant in texture. The color, apparently, doesn’t help.
And candy corn has made its way beyond the candy aisle. Earlier this fall, Brach’s introduced a limited-edition perfume called Ode to Candy Corn, which its maker says captures the scent of the familiar treat.
