Types of Candy

For those who are unfamiliar with creative cooking- candy and other sugar goods are playful treats, perfect for decorating desserts while also tickling our tastebuds.

Wonderful for a child's birthday or dinner amongst friends, these sweet morsels will bring out the child in us all.  There are dozens of varieties of candy, let's take a moment to look at some typical candy choices:

Gummy Candy

• Gummy candy, as its name would convey, is created by gelling agents which give it a certain tenderness and make it very agreable to chew.

• There are two kinds:

  • Gelatin candies with an animal-based gelling agent.
  • Agar candies with a vegetable-based gelling agent which presents a better gelling power but has a bitter after-taste.
  • Pectin candies with a vegetable-based gelling agent.

• Their look: Available in many different shapes and colors.

Citric Candy

• Citric candy is more acidic and can often be found covered in sugar crystals in order to counter-balance the acidity. 

• Its taste is acidic and strong. 

• Ingrediants :

  • Sugar
  • Glucose syrup
  • Gelatin
  • Acidifiers
  • Flavors
  • Etc.

• Look: It is often in the form of fruits or bands.

Marshmallow

• The Marhsmallow is a part of the family of chewy candy.

• It's taste is sweet and very sugary. 

• Ingrediants :

  • Sugar
  • Glucose syrup
  • Egg whites
  • Gelatin
  • Gum arabic
  • Flavors
  • Etc.

• Other use :

  • Can be placed on a cake or pastry (tooth-picks are useful for this method)
  • Roasted marshmallows (classic tradition)

• Look: Most often of white color and round shape.

Berlingots

• Berlingots are a traditionally French candy.  They are generally fruity or minty and are in the form of a tetrahedron.

• Very hard, cooked candy with a sweet flavor.

• Their flavor is often very fruity.

• Ingrediants :

  • Sugar
  • Glucose syrup
  • Acidifiers
  • Flavors
  • Etc.

• Look: Vibrant colors with white stripes for contrast.

Licorice

• Licorice is extracted from a root and is usually long and thin or wrapped up like a wheel.

• There are two main kinds of licorice :

  • Sugary
  • Salty (less known, typical of Belgium)

• Ingrediants :

  • Syrup of molasses sugar
  • Wheat flower
  • Glucose syrup
  • Starch
  • Licorice extract
  • Salt
  • Flavors
  • Etc.

• Look: Typically black or red and comes in various forms.

Dragées

• Dragées are comprised of a hard core (generally chocolate or almond) covered by sugar.

• Look: They are often found in pastel colors (blue, white or pink) and are oval-shaped and glossy.

Chocolate and Caramel

• Chocolate and caramel can be classified into 2 categories:

  • Candies with a hard center or a chocolate cover
  • Chewable candies:
    • Caramels
    • Pralines
    • Chocolate tablets
    • Chocolate bars

• Look : Different blends of brown and white. Both can take on many different forms, the most extravant of which come out in times for Holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter.

Lollipops and Chewing Gum

• Chewing-gum, as its name states, is for chewing only, never to swallow.

• It generally loses its flavor after a certain amount of time being chewed.

• Sugary, acidic and/ or fruity, it is also available without sugar.

• Ingrediants :

  • Chicle
  • Flavors
  • Sugar (or sugar substitute)
  • Etc.

• Look: Of all the colors, chewing gum is generally presented in the form of sticks, small tablets, or balls.

• Lollipop

  • The lollipop is a candy on a stick that ones sucks.

  • There are many different varieties of lollipops- fruit, chocolate, caramel, sugar-free... Some even hide chewing-gum or other treats at the center.

  • Ingrediants :

    • Sugar
    • Glucose syrup
    • Acidifiers
    • Flavors
    • Etc.

  • Look : They come on a stick, genereally in the shape of a ball, but some are oval, heart-shaped, etc.  These are easy to use as party decorations and even on cake and other soft treats due to the stick (easy to trim to desired length)

Sugar-free Candy

• Sugar-free candy does not contain glucose, but substitutes like xylitol, sorbitol, lacitol, etc.

• They do not affect the blood-sugar level and are thus appropriate for consumption by diabetics and dieters.

• These have had a bigger market in recent times.

• Almost all kinds of candy are available without sugar.