Overview

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.

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9781633881402

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Reviews

Who knew candy was so closely interwoven with the very fabric of American culture? Sweet as Sin takes us on a stirring journey through the evolution of confections, from the early innovations of the Native Americans to the industrialized candy craze of the twentieth century.Infused with wit and candor, the writing explores the intriguing backstory of our guiltiest pleasure and the extraordinary relationship between candy and American history. Tucia Lyman, television director, and executive producer for historic recreations Here s what is so fantastic about Sweet as Sin you think you re just going to be reading about the history of candy, but intertwined you find so many untold stories of the history of America. Sweet as Sin is filled with exciting stories of slavery, spies, inventors, and men and women who helped shape and define America in their quest to succeed; and how glad are we that they did?Thanks to them we have delicious, heavenly sweet candy, in every size, shape, color, and flavor! Sweet as Sin will be the candy bible in my museum stores. Thank you, Susan Benjamin, for making my job so much fun! Michele Schulz, visitor services manager, Days of 76 Museum Susan Benjamin has delivered a witty and charming account of candy s rise to sweetheart status in American society. Shifting between personal anecdotes and big-picture narrative, Sweet as Sin provides an engaging blend of micro- and macro-history. This book claims to be a history of candy, but actually delivers more than it promises, serving up healthy doses of social, cultural, and environmental history along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I appreciated the author s efforts to preserve both the history of candy and the memories she and so many other Americans associate with confections. Dr. Keith Alexander, assistant professor of history, Shepherd University Sweet as Sin is a delightfully delicious look at the history of candy. It is a wonderful journey from start to finish and is filled with intriguing facts, pictures, and anecdotes. This is a must-read for anyone with a sweet tooth! Jonathan Clough, director of marketing, SWEET! Hollywood Superbly sweet! Benjamin brings her passion and love for all things sweet and delivers a meticulous account of how candy became a powerful force in our early and modern societies. Every candy connoisseur can revisit the sweets of their youth in detail. Steve Weiss, competitive chef and sugar artist on Food Network and director, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College culinary program Who knew that a book on candy could contain so much fascinating history? Susan Benjamin s wonderfully written chronicle of America s love affair with candy is edifying, entertaining, and delicious! Susan Erony, independent scholar of art history

Who knew candy was so closely interwoven with the very fabric of American culture? <i>Sweet as Sin </i>takes us on a stirring journey through the evolution of confections, from the early innovations of the Native Americans to the industrialized candy craze of the twentieth century.Infused with wit and candor, the writing explores the intriguing backstory of our guiltiest pleasure and the extraordinary relationship between candy and American history. Tucia Lyman, television director, and executive producer for historic recreations Here s what is so fantastic about<i>Sweet as Sin</i> you think you re just going to be reading about the history of candy, but intertwined you find so many untold stories of the history of America.<i>Sweet as Sin</i>is filled with exciting stories of slavery, spies, inventors, and men and women who helped shape and define America in their quest to succeed; and how glad are we that they did?Thanks to them we have delicious, heavenly sweet candy, in every size, shape, color, and flavor!<i>Sweet as Sin</i>will be the candy bible in my museum stores. Thank you, Susan Benjamin, for making my job so much fun! Michele Schulz, visitor services manager, Days of 76 Museum Susan Benjamin has delivered a witty and charming account of candy s rise to sweetheart status in American society. Shifting between personal anecdotes and big-picture narrative, <i>Sweet as Sin</i> provides an engaging blend of micro- and macro-history. This book claims to be a history of candy, but actually delivers more than it promises, serving up healthy doses of social, cultural, and environmental history along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I appreciated the author s efforts to preserve both the history of candy and the memories she and so many other Americans associate with confections. Dr. Keith Alexander, assistant professor of history, Shepherd University <i>Sweet as Sin</i>is a delightfully delicious look at the history of candy. It is a wonderful journey from start to finish and is filled with intriguing facts, pictures, and anecdotes. This is a must-read for anyone with a sweet tooth! Jonathan Clough, director of marketing, SWEET! Hollywood Superbly sweet! Benjamin brings her passion and love for all things sweet and delivers a meticulous account of how candy became a powerful force in our early and modern societies. Every candy connoisseur can revisit the sweets of their youth in detail. Steve Weiss, competitive chef and sugar artist on Food Network and director, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College culinary program Who knew that a book on candy could contain so much fascinating history? Susan Benjamin s wonderfully written chronicle of America s love affair with candy is edifying, entertaining, and delicious! Susan Erony, independent scholar of art history

Who knew candy was so closely interwoven with the very fabric of American culture? Sweet as Sin takes us on a stirring journey through the evolution of confections, from the early innovations of the Native Americans to the industrialized candy craze of the twentieth century.Infused with wit and candor, the writing explores the intriguing backstory of our guiltiest pleasure and the extraordinary relationship between candy and American history. Tucia Lyman, television director, and executive producer for historic recreations Here s what is so fantastic aboutSweet as Sin you think you re just going to be reading about the history of candy, but intertwined you find so many untold stories of the history of America.Sweet as Sinis filled with exciting stories of slavery, spies, inventors, and men and women who helped shape and define America in their quest to succeed; and how glad are we that they did?Thanks to them we have delicious, heavenly sweet candy, in every size, shape, color, and flavor!Sweet as Sinwill be the candy bible in my museum stores. Thank you, Susan Benjamin, for making my job so much fun! Michele Schulz, visitor services manager, Days of 76 Museum Susan Benjamin has delivered a witty and charming account of candy s rise to sweetheart status in American society. Shifting between personal anecdotes and big-picture narrative, Sweet as Sin provides an engaging blend of micro- and macro-history. This book claims to be a history of candy, but actually delivers more than it promises, serving up healthy doses of social, cultural, and environmental history along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I appreciated the author s efforts to preserve both the history of candy and the memories she and so many other Americans associate with confections. Dr. Keith Alexander, assistant professor of history, Shepherd University Sweet as Sinis a delightfully delicious look at the history of candy. It is a wonderful journey from start to finish and is filled with intriguing facts, pictures, and anecdotes. This is a must-read for anyone with a sweet tooth! Jonathan Clough, director of marketing, SWEET! Hollywood Superbly sweet! Benjamin brings her passion and love for all things sweet and delivers a meticulous account of how candy became a powerful force in our early and modern societies. Every candy connoisseur can revisit the sweets of their youth in detail. Steve Weiss, competitive chef and sugar artist on Food Network and director, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College culinary program Who knew that a book on candy could contain so much fascinating history? Susan Benjamin s wonderfully written chronicle of America s love affair with candy is edifying, entertaining, and delicious! Susan Erony, independent scholar of art history

Who knew candy was so closely interwoven with the very fabric of American culture? Sweet as Sin takes us on a stirring journey through the evolution of confections, from the early innovations of the Native Americans to the industrialized candy craze of the twentieth century.Infused with wit and candor, the writing explores the intriguing backstory of our guiltiest pleasure and the extraordinary relationship between candy and American history. Tucia Lyman, television director, and executive producer for historic recreations Here s what is so fantastic aboutSweet as Sin you think you re just going to be reading about the history of candy, but intertwined you find so many untold stories of the history of America.Sweet as Sinis filled with exciting stories of slavery, spies, inventors, and men and women who helped shape and define America in their quest to succeed; and how glad are we that they did?Thanks to them we have delicious, heavenly sweet candy, in every size, shape, color, and flavor!Sweet as Sinwill be the candy bible in my museum stores. Thank you, Susan Benjamin, for making my job so much fun! Michele Schulz, visitor services manager, Days of 76 Museum Susan Benjamin has delivered a witty and charming account of candy s rise to sweetheart status in American society. Shifting between personal anecdotes and big-picture narrative, Sweet as Sin provides an engaging blend of micro- and macro-history. This book claims to be a history of candy, but actually delivers more than it promises, serving up healthy doses of social, cultural, and environmental history along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I appreciated the author s efforts to preserve both the history of candy and the memories she and so many other Americans associate with confections. Dr. Keith Alexander, assistant professor of history, Shepherd University Sweet as Sinis a delightfully delicious look at the history of candy. It is a wonderful journey from start to finish and is filled with intriguing facts, pictures, and anecdotes. This is a must-read for anyone with a sweet tooth! Jonathan Clough, director of marketing, SWEET! Hollywood Superbly sweet! Benjamin brings her passion and love for all things sweet and delivers a meticulous account of how candy became a powerful force in our early and modern societies. Every candy connoisseur can revisit the sweets of their youth in detail. Steve Weiss, competitive chef and sugar artist on Food Network and director, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College culinary program Who knew that a book on candy could contain so much fascinating history? Susan Benjamin s wonderfully written chronicle of America s love affair with candy is edifying, entertaining, and delicious! Susan Erony, independent scholar of art history Here s what is so fantastic about Sweet as Sin you think you re just going to be reading about the history of candy, but intertwined you find so many untold stories of the history of America. Sweet as Sin is filled with exciting stories of slavery, spies, inventors, and men and women who helped shape and define America in their quest to succeed; and how glad are we that they did?Thanks to them we have delicious, heavenly sweet candy, in every size, shape, color, and flavor! Sweet as Sin will be the candy bible in my museum stores. Thank you, Susan Benjamin, for making my job so much fun! Michele Schulz, visitor services manager, Days of 76 Museum Sweet as Sin is a delightfully delicious look at the history of candy. It is a wonderful journey from start to finish and is filled with intriguing facts, pictures, and anecdotes. This is a must-read for anyone with a sweet tooth! Jonathan Clough, director of marketing, SWEET! Hollywood

Author Information

Susan Benjamin is a candy historian and owner of the nation's only historic candy stores located in Historic Harpers Ferry, WV, and Fredrick, Maryland. Ms. Benjamin receives thousands of customers a year- for many her shop is a destination. She has been featured on numerous television stations, such as Fox News and Voice of America, newspapers and blogs from the Sacramento Bee to the Pittsburgh Press, and radio programs. She is currently being considered to host her own television program on historic candy with a major network and she is working with a PBS veteran producer of 23 years to create a series of YouTube videos on candy on her own channel. As a speaker, Ms. Benjamin regularly appears at museums, business meetings, historical societies, and tourist events. An accomplished author of nine books, a journalist, former college professor and radio show host, Ms. Benjamin is also a member of the Press Club in Washington D.C. and the Culinary Historians of Washington.

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