Salt Water Taffy (2024)

FAQs

Why do they call it salt water taffy? ›

The sweet is said to have received its name after a boardwalk candy shop flooded with water from the Atlantic Ocean in 1883, soaking all the taffy in salty seawater. Reportedly, the shop owner joked with a customer that all he had was salt water taffy, and the name stuck.

There was little or no salt added to the candy over 100 years ago or now. Manufacturers of the candy in seaside towns capitalize on the name of salt water taffy, but there is truly no difference between salt water and regular taffy.

Salt water taffy is a tasty treat that's right at home in shops all along coastlines everywhere. If you've ever had a mouthful of seawater, though, you probably know that salt water taffy is sweet and doesn't taste anything like seawater.

There really is no wrong way to eat a piece of taffy. But we give super props to anyone that can keep it in their mouth without eating it for longer than it takes to chew it.

Though it contains no saltwater, taffy—and fudge, its sister seaside treat—may benefit from being made in a beach climate. Perhaps the salty air simply gives people a hankering for something sweet; it's also possible that the candies' decelerated drying and oxidation in humid air give them a unique “coastal” flavor.

Salt water taffy

Its late 19th century appellation most likely originated in New Jersey. Salt water taffy is still sold widely on the boardwalks in Atlantic City (including shops in existence since the 19th century), nearby Ocean City, elsewhere at the Jersey Shore, and other beaches throughout the US like Cape Cod.

Starburst (originally known as Opal Fruits) is the brand name of a box-shaped, fruit-flavoured soft taffy candy manufactured by The Wrigley Company, which is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.

Tootsie Roll (/ˈtʊtsi/) is a chocolate-flavored candy that has been manufactured in the United States since 1907. The candy has qualities similar to both caramels and taffy without being exactly either confection. The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Furthermore, a seven-piece serving of taffy contains 23 grams of sugar. Considering that the daily recommendation for sugar consumption for adult men is 36 grams and for women is 25 grams (according to the American Heart Association), you may want to choose a healthier alternative to fill this quota.

Why is salt water taffy pulled after it is cooked? ›

The pulling process aerates the taffy, incorporating tiny air pockets into the stiff candy mixture. The taffy is transformed into a light, fluffy, and easy-to-chew candy.

Taffy is a candy with a high content of sugar, corn syrup, and other ingredients, generally free of preservatives. That means the shelf life of your saltwater taffy is about a week long. After seven days, store bought and homemade salt water taffy starts to harden and becomes difficult to eat.

Ingredients: MALTITOL SYRUP, COCONUT OIL, SEA SALT, EGG WHITES, MALIC ACID, EVAPORATED MILK, NATURAL FLAVOR, ARTIFICIAL COLOR (INCLUDING FD&C BLUE1) *CONSUMPTION MAY CAUSE STOMACH DISCOMFORT AND/OR LAXATIVE EFFECT.

Every brand will have its own special recipe, but taffy and salt water taffy are often considered to be the same candy, with one key difference—the design. While traditional taffy can come in all shapes and sizes, salt water taffy has a signature look.

Instead, it is generally made from sugar, corn syrup, butter, cornstarch, flavoring, and coloring. Also usually known as a boardwalk snack, it is said to have received its name due to a candy shop being flooded with water from the Ocean in 1883.

In this taffy recipe, glycerin helps give the candy a soft, creamy consistency. Glycerin can be found in many drugstores, as well as some supermarkets and craft stores in the baking supplies section, or in cake-decorating stores.

Taffy is a gender-neutral name of Welsh origin. It's a shortened form of the Welsh name Dafydd, a variant of the Hebrew name David, meaning “beloved” or “friend.” A fitting name for a little one who's sure to be loved by everyone they meet!

The purpose of pulling the taffy is to add air in to the candy. This allows for millions of air bubbles to form which is how a clear batch of cooked taffy all of a sudden begins to turn bright white. The added air into the product also adds volume, and turns the candy into a much larger piece.