Hard Candy Happiness

Hard candies are more than a tasty treat. They come in just about every flavor, from spicy cinnamon to buttery butterscotch, have a variety of textures, too, from the creamy interior of the strawberry-filled candies to the hole of the Lifesaver. So, it may be a surprise that hard candies started as a medicine two centuries ago. Hard candies were used to ease sore throats, calm upset stomachs, sooth motion sickness, and quell thirst. The War Department sent tons of hard candies to the troops in the two World Wars and grandmothers carried handfuls in their purses. Good for the spirit. Good for the soul. From car rides to cabinets, they always belong.