Sweet as Sin: The Unwrapped Story of How Candy Became America’s Favorite Pleasure

There’s more to candy than its sugary taste. As this delightful book shows, candy has a remarkable history, most of it sweet, some of it bitter. The author, a food historian and candy expert, tells the whole story, from the harvesting of the marshmallow plant in ancient Egypt to the mass-produced candy innovations of the twentieth century. Along the way, the reader is treated to an assortment of entertaining facts and colorful characters. These include a deposed Mexican president who ignited the modern chewing gum industry, the little-known son of a slave woman who invented the sugar-processing machine still in use today, and the Native Americans who created an important food by mixing fruit with dried meat. The name of the product was pemmican.

The author traces humanity’s changing palette over the centuries as roots, barks, and even bugs were savored. She surveys the many uses of chocolate from the cacao bean enjoyed by Olmec Indians to candy bars carried by GIs in World War II. As she notes, many candies are associated with world’s fairs and other major historical events.

Fun and informative, this book will make you appreciate the candy you love even more and help you discover new treats.