Wikipedia says that Candy Corn was invented by George Renninger in 1880 and that 90 billion pounds are sold annually. The numbers are staggering and represent the start of the holiday season when no one loses weight and most of us gain five to fifteen pounds.
So what is it that makes Candy Corn so popular?
It can’t be the color because it now comes in different colors with the popular addition of brown. The chocolate brown coat appeals to many, while most of us prefer the traditional colors of a yellow base, orange center, and white top.
I guess its small size is one of the reasons for its popularity, although there is now a new optional larger size. You feel innocent while eating a couple dozen at a time because they are so small. “Just a few won’t hurt me.” You say to yourself as you put another 2-3 in your mouth. And before you know it, the bag is half empty and the guilt begins.
As an adult I overdo it, perhaps because as a child they wouldn’t let me go trick-or-treating. I envied my neighbors for their success and hoped my parents would give up, but that never happened. So eventually I rebelled by encouraging my kids to start early and finish late on that one night.
As I was talking about that night, I would take several children to a part of town that had a higher density of houses per block where candy production would be higher, and then charge them a fee for my services. My fee was reasonable and required that they give me any and all Clark or Butterfinger bars, leaving the rest to them. This mutual benefit system worked for many years and made its predictable contribution to my current physical stature.
Over the years I have had love affairs with different treats. It started with Clark chocolate bars and progressed to Butterfinger, as mentioned above, but with age there was a subtle change to include Easter Peeps and Candy Corn.
For those severely addicted to Candy Corn, a recent addition to the fall lineup is Candy Pumpkin. You know that orange pumpkin with the green top. This candy is about the same volume as 4-5 Candy Corns and provides a bigger sugar rush. One can feel less guilty when eating fewer pieces while ignoring the undeniable fact that the total amount of sugar consumed is significantly higher.
I am glad that someone has thought of making a special day for this wonderful gastronomic invention. If I had realized earlier that October 30 was the day to celebrate this sweet, I would have made sure to eat them with everyone else. In the past, I’ve hunted for them at a bargain price a few days after Halloween to get them for half price or less, then eat them throughout November. But now that I know about this special “Candy Corn” day, I’ll spend the extra dough and buy it sooner.
And you?