Thursday, April 5, 2012
Who Invented Cotton Candy
Cotton candy, also known as candy floss or fairy floss, is a confectionery product made from spun sugar and food coloring. Cotton candy is often served on a stick and the finished product resembles a large piece of cotton, from which it gets its name. It is a popular product at the circus, carnivals and fairgrounds, where it is often made and served from small carts. Cotton candy machines are also available for home use. If you have ever wondered who invented this tasty treat, keep reading to find out.
Who invented cotton candy?
We know that cotton candy was first invented in the 19th century, but spinning sugar was an expensive and time consuming process. This all changed when William Morrison and John C. Wharton invented machine spun cotton candy in 1897. This invention made the process of producing cotton candy much easier and introduced the product into the mainstream market. Their invention became a huge success during the 1904 World’s Fair where they sold over 68,000 boxes at a cost of 25 cents, which was quite expensive at the time. The product was initially called fairy floss, but the name was changed to cotton candy in the 1920′s. In the 1970′s an automatic cotton candy machine was invented. This automated the manufacture and packaging of the product, which allowed for mass production.
Did you know?
December 7 is celebrated as National Cotton Candy Day in the United States.
Ironically, William Morrison who was one of the inventors of machine spun cotton candy was a dentist!
Labels: Who Invented Cotton Candy