How Salt Water Taffy is Made

www.jamescandy.com

Introduction

In 1870 Atlantic City’s first boardwalk opened, just a few feet above the sand. One of the first retailers was a candy merchant who ran a small taffy stand where Salt Water Taffy, the traditional treat known and loved by millions, was accidentally created.

Step 1: Cooking

The first step when making our Salt Water Taffy is cooking! We toss sugar and corn syrup into a copper kettle, along with our secret ingredients. Heat is applied until the proper temperature is reached, and then it’s off to the vacuum chamber!

Step 2: Vacuuming

In the vacuum chamber, the taffy is cooked quickly and the remaining moisture is flashed off. This creates the dry, tender pieces of candy that people can’t get enough of!

Step 3: Cooling and Pulling

Next, the taffy is removed to cool off for the pulling portion. Pulling and folding the candy helps to keep it smooth, while also aerating it. This is how we make the slightly sticky and stretchy texture of our taffy.

Step 4: Flavoring and Color

While the taffy is being pulled, we take the opportunity to add the specialty flavoring and colors to the candy. This is when the taffy finally transforms into the hundreds of different tastes that you see on the shelves!

Step 5: Cutting and Wrapping

Finally, the completed taffy is put into a machine which cuts the large strand into small pieces. Then, each piece is wrapped at a rate of 750 pieces per minute! Once this is done, the taffy is finally ready to be enjoyed.