Here's a few things to know about salt water taffy’s Jersey roots:
Who invented salt water taffy?
As the story goes, an Atlantic City boardwalk candy shop was flooded during a storm in the late 19th century, soaking the supply of taffy. The shop owner, none too eager to lose profits, reportedly rebranded the treat as salt water taffy and sold it to eager tourists.
Confectioner and shop owner Enoch James is actually credited with perfecting the taffy’s recipe, according to the James Candy Company’s online history. He’d been working on a creamier, softer taffy recipe that could be sold in bite- sized chunks, eventually landing on the sweet treat we all know.
Atlantic City and candy go together
James Candy is still in business and often regarded as the grandaddy of boardwalk candy shops.
But the infamous wooden way was dotted with candy shops at the time and they lured in shoppers and day trippers with workers pulling taffy in their storefronts.
Though most taffy making has evolved through automation, the showman tradition lives on with some boardwalk candy shops along the Jersey shore making fudge in their front windows.
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.
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.
Since then, salt water taffy hasn't been caught at high tide. Recipes for salt water taffy vary; none contain actual salt water (and especially not ocean water!). However, both water and salt are usually added at some point during the production process, so the name still fits.
Salt water taffy is a chewy and soft candy. It originated in Altantic City, New Jersey. Although it has the name salt water taffy, it does not have any salt water in it. Instead, it is generally made from sugar, corn syrup, butter, cornstarch, flavoring, and coloring.
Some accounts attribute its creation in the 1880s to a mishap in which seawater was inadvertently added to the recipe for taffy, a stretched and aerated candy popularized in the mid-19th century. Others suggest saltwater taffy was born during an 1883 storm.
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.
Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765
Phone: +5816749283868
Job: Sales Executive
Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles
Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
