Can you remember a summer that didn’t include enjoying Wockenfuss saltwater taffy while walking the Ocean City boardwalk?
Can you remember a summer that didn’t include enjoying Wockenfuss saltwater taffy while walking the Ocean City boardwalk? For most Marylanders, saltwater taffy is the taste of summer. No matter which flavors you prefer, there’s a saltwater taffy that brings back childhood memories of summers well spent at the beach. With a history as sweet as it tastes, saltwater taffy has been a popular East Coast treat for over one hundred years!
How It All Started
Originally produced in Atlantic City, New Jersey, soft taffy was invented in the late 1800s. This was about the same time that many American candy-makers, like Wockenfuss Candies in Baltimore, were getting their start. An Atlantic City candy store owner thought he lost his candies when the store was flooded during a severe storm. A young girl came into his shop after the storm and asked for some taffy. He jokingly offered her some “salt water taffy” after his taffy stock was soaked in ocean water. She agreed to try a piece and liked it so much that she happily purchased some and shared it with her friends. After overhearing the conversation, the store-owner’s mother said she liked the name “saltwater taffy”, and that’s what the summer sweet has been called ever since.
How It’s Made
Originally, taffy was cooked in large copper pots that were placed over an open fire. After cooking, the taffy was cooled on marble slabs and then pulled from a large hook called the “taffy pull.” After being pulled to five feet in length, the taffy was looped over itself to create more aeration in the candy, keeping it soft and pliable. The taffy was then hand-rolled on a marble surface and cut into two-inch pieces before being wrapped in wax paper that was twisted at either end.
The Good Stuff
Whether you like peanut butter, chocolate, or an assortment of taffy flavors, all saltwater taffy is made with the same main ingredients. Wockenfuss saltwater taffy is made with corn syrup, sugar, water, oil, salt, and flavorings. Despite its name, though, it’s not actually made with Atlantic Ocean salt water!
A Wide Selection of Chocolate Treats from Wockenfuss Candies
Head to WockenfussCandies.com and browse our wide selection of chocolates and candies; we promise you will not be disappointed! Wockenfuss Candies is one of the oldest candy makers in Baltimore. We opened our doors in 1915 and have proudly served the people of Baltimore ever since. If you have any questions about our wide selection of chocolates, please contact Wockenfuss Candies by calling 1-800-296-4414 or email info@Wockenfusscandies.com. When you’re not savoring our sweets, stay satisfied by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!