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Cotton Candy Day
"Beneath carnival lights, in a time long ago,
Cotton candy spun dreams, in a gentle, warm glow.
With each bite, memories of laughter so true,
Nostalgia's sweet taste, wrapped in pink and blue."
~ Cotton Candy Dream
How sweet it is! This candy-coloured fashion pastel tartan brings back sugary memories of a favourite childhood treat, cotton candy also known as fairy floss! In one of life's amusing ironies, cotton candy was invented in 1897 by a dentist, William Morrison, along with John C. Wharton, a confectioner, from Nashville, Tennessee! Together they created a machine that heated and liquefied sugar so that it could be spun into thin sugar threads. They named this fluffy candy "fairy floss"! First introduced to the public at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, it was a huge hit, selling over 68,000 boxes and becomin a staple at fairs and carnivals ever since! Yum! ❤️ 💙 💛 💗 🍬 🍭
Early Beginnings and Invention
The origins of cotton candy can be traced back to the 18th century, where it began as a luxury treat in Europe, known as "spun sugar." The labor-intensive process of making spun sugar involved melting sugar and then manually spinning it into thin strands using a fork. Due to the difficulty of production, spun sugar was a delicacy reserved for the wealthy and was often used to create elaborate decorations for desserts.
Modern Cotton Candy MachinJohn C. Wharton. In 1897, they developed the first electric cotton candy machine, which they initially called "Fairy Floss." The machine used centrifugal force to spin the sugar and push it through a fine mesh screen, creating the light and fluffy texture we associate with cotton candy today.
Cotton candy made its grand debut at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. Morrison and Wharton's invention was a huge hit, and they sold 68,655 boxes of Fairy Floss at 25 cents each, a significant price at the time. The popularity of this new confection helped to establish cotton candy as a favorite treat in fairs and carnivals across the United States.
The term "cotton candy" was adopted in the United States in the 1920s, replacing the original name "Fairy Floss." Meanwhile, in Australia, the name Fairy Floss is still used to this day. In the UK, cotton candy is commonly referred to as "candy floss."
The invention of the cotton candy machine paved the way for further innovations. In the 1940s, Gold Medal Products, a company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, made significant improvements to the original design. Their new machine was more efficient and reliable, making it easier for vendors to produce cotton candy at fairs and amusement parks.
Today, cotton candy is a global treat enjoyed by people of all ages. Modern machines have become even more sophisticated, allowing for the creation of cotton candy in various shapes, sizes, and colors. The introduction of flavored sugars has also expanded the variety of cotton candy available, offering flavors such as cherry, blue raspberry, and grape.
For more details on its history, click the cotton candy!