How Lollipops are Made
A Brief History:
A lollipop, or sucker, is a type of hard candy consisting mostly of flavored sucrose and corn syrup that is mounted on a stick for sucking or licking. Lollipops have been around for about 100 years and over that time these candies have evolved in both shape and size. Several types have a special treat when you get towards the middle such as gum or chewy tootsie center. Some, found mostly at carnivals or theme parks, come in huge sizes that take all day to eat. Regardless of shape and size, lollipops have become a beloved confection in our society today.
How
lollipops are manufactured:
Step 1: Most manufacturers bring in huge quantities
of raw materials and produce in mass quantities. Typically, about
90 tons (180,000 lb) of sugar is dumped into water that is heated
to about 180 degrees Fahrenheit to dissolve. Once this process
is done, the sugar and water mix is pumped into a pre-cooker.
Step 2: As mentioned earlier, the other main
ingredient of lollipops is corn syrup. The corn syrup is pumped
into the pre-cooker as well until a mixture of about 45% corn
syrup and 55% sugar and water is reached. The new concoction is
now heated at 228 degrees Fahrenheit in the pre-cooker and then
sent to the final cooker for further heating.
Step 3: In the final cooker, the mixture is heated
to a temperature of 290 degrees Fahrenheit in a vacuum environment.
The vacuum environment is to remove the heat and moisture from
the mixture.
Step 4: After it is cooked, all the coloring
and flavorings are added. Also citric and malic acid are added
to promote certain flavors. Citric acid enhances the flavor of
fruit flavored lollipops whereas malic acid enhances non-fruit
flavored suckers.
Step 5: The batch is then sent to a kneading
machine that mixes the flavor and color in by using two large
mechanical arms to roll the batch over itself. This type of action
also incorporates air bubbles into the candy
making it lighter and easier to break.
Step 6: The lollipops are almost finished and
are sent through a machine that forms the entire mix into a ropelike
shape. Depending on the end product, the lollipops are either
shaped in a machine or they are wrapped around a stick by hand.
If you would
like to make homemade candy corn lollipops, please click on the
link below:
Candy
Corn Lollipop Recipe
Additional Fun Facts About Lollipops:
- The world’s
largest lollipop that is certified by Guinness World Records
was over two tons (4016 lb), 62.8 inches in diameter and 18.9
inches thick. Now that’s one huge sucker!
- National
lollipop day is honored on July 20th.
- The term lollipop comes from a race horse named “Lolly Pop”.
