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Sweet As Sin
Sweet As Sin: The Unwrapped Story of How Candy Became America's Favorite Pleasure | Susan Benjamin
4 posts | 1 read | 3 to read
READERS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF FOOD AND AMERICANA WILL SAVOR THIS CULTURAL HISTORY There's more to candy than its sugary taste. As this 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 Native Americans who created pemmican, an important food, by mixing fruit with dried meat, and the little-known son of a slave woman who invented the sugar-processing machine still in use today. Susan Benjamin traces people's changing palate over the centuries as roots, barks, and even bugs were savored as treats. 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. She notes that 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 by revealing the fascinating backstory behind it.
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MolliesaurusRex
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Chelleo How cool is that? I‘m going to have to check out the book. 5y
Chrissyreadit @Chelleo how far away are you from Harper‘s Ferry? I think you would be interested in the #blackhistory programs. The candy shop is there and the author is often there too. (It‘s her shop) 5y
8 likes2 comments
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MolliesaurusRex
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@Chelleo I finally remembered to post a closeup of the card that explains how each candy is significant. Here‘s part 1. #bhm #blitsyhistorymonth #blitsyswap #historiccandy @Chrissyreadit

Chelleo That‘s for sharing this. I had no idea! What a great swap item! 5y
MolliesaurusRex @Chelleo right?! It‘s so interesting - things you don‘t really think about until they‘re presented to you. I love it! 5y
Chrissyreadit So glad you like it! 5y
6 likes3 comments
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LeahBergen
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Part 2 of my #2018NFBE haul:

@Chrissyreadit sent me the coolest stuff! This (signed!) book is a history of American candy and she included all these wonderful bags of candies from the True Treats Historic Candy shop in Harpers Ferry. They are all described in the book, too! Thank you so very much for all the thoughtfulness you put into my gifts. I love them. 😘😘

#2018NonfictionBookExchange

Mitch That‘s amazing! 6y
ElleSkel Whoa!😲 How cool is that!!?? (edited) 6y
batsy That is awesome! 6y
See All 18 Comments
Kaye What a neat idea 💡 6y
tricours Cool book! 6y
JPeterson Oh, I‘ve been to that candy shop! How sweet! (Pun may or may not have been intended 😂). 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks awesome!!! ❤️ 6y
Chrissyreadit @LeahBergen I hope you are ok I took bookish gifts in a very different direction. The author owns the candy shop and going in there is such a cool experience. She really makes it so interesting! 6y
Mdargusch So cool and creative! 6y
Kalalalatja So cool! 6y
Reviewsbylola What a cool gift!! 6y
rubyslippersreads What a wonderful idea, @Chrissyreadit ! @LeahBergen can do a scientific taste test of each candy as she reads along. 😄🍫🍬🍭 6y
LeahBergen @Chrissyreadit I‘m MORE than okay ... it‘s amazing!! I have such a thing for food history and quirky facts and this is so up my alley. It‘s something I would totally buy for myself. Thank you! 😘😘 6y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Probably not so scientific and more like “stuff my face with one hand while holding the book in the other”. 😂 6y
LeahBergen @JPeterson 😂 And now I want to visit this shop, too! 6y
RaimeyGallant Man, I wish we all lived in the same city. Would make fawning over swaps so much more fun. :) 6y
130 likes1 stack add18 comments
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rainstorm123
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Mehso-so

"Candy was also about fun. Already marketed to kids for over one hundred years when I came around in the late 1950s, candy tasted good, was texturally appealing, and was of my own choosing. At the candy store on my way to school, I got to select the jelly beans, Good & Plenty, and licorice whips and navigate the money to pay for them." -Susan Benjamin, Sweet as Sin