Rock candy

Rock candy
Colored and flavored rock candy commonly sold in the United States
Alternative names Rock sugar
Type Confectionery
Course 3
Place of origin Persia
Region or state United states
Main ingredients Sugar, water
Variations About 10
Food energy
(per serving)
 223-400 kcal (-1452 kJ)
Other information 450-225
Traditional brown rock sugar
White rock sugar

Rock candy or sugar candy (in British English),[1] also called rock sugar, is a type of confection composed of relatively large sugar crystals. This candy is formed by allowing a supersaturated solution of sugar and water to crystallize onto a surface suitable for crystal nucleation, such as a string, stick, or plain granulated sugar. Heating the water before adding the sugar allows more sugar to dissolve thus producing larger crystals. Crystals form after 6–7 days. Food coloring may be added to the mixture to produce colored candy.

Nomenclature

Etymologically, "sugar candy" derives from late 13th century English, in the meaning "crystallized sugar," from Old French çucre candi "sugar candy," ultimately from Arabic qandi, from Persian qand "cane sugar," probably from Sanskrit khanda "piece (of sugar)," perhaps from Dravidian (compare Tamil kantu "candy," kattu "to harden, condense"). The sense gradually broadened (especially in the U.S.A.) to mean by the late 19th century "any confection having sugar as its basis." In Britain these are sweets, and "candy" tends to be restricted to sweets made only from boiled sugar and striped in bright colors.

The modern American term "rock candy" (referring to brittle large natural sugar crystals) should not be confused with the British term rock (referring to an amorphous and opaque boiled sugar product, initially hard but then chewy at mouth temperature).[2]

Origins

Candied sugar has its origins in Iran. Islamic writers in the first half of the 9th century described the production of candy sugar, where crystals were grown result of cooling supersaturated sugar solutions.[3] In order to accelerate crystallization, confectioners later learned to immerse small twigs in the solution for the crystals to grow on. The sugar solution was colored with cochineal and indigo and scented with ambergris or flower essence.

Cuisine

Rock candy is often dissolved in tea. It is an important part of the tea culture of East Frisia, where a lump of rock sugar is placed at the bottom of the cup. Rock candy consumed with tea is also the most common and popular way of drinking tea in Iran. In Iran it is called nabat, and the most popular nabat is saffron.[4]

In China, it is used to sweeten Chrysanthemum tea as well as Cantonese dessert soups and the liquor baijiu. In some Chinese provinces, it is used as a part of traditional Chinese medicine. It is a common ingredient in Chinese cooking, and many households have rock candy available to marinate meats and add to stir fry. Rock candy is also regarded as having medicinal properties and is used to prepare food such as yao shan. In less modern times, rock sugar was a luxury only for the wealthy.

Rock candy is a common ingredient in Tamil cuisine, particularly in the Sri Lankan city of Jaffna.

In the Friesland province of the Netherlands, bits of rock candy are baked in the luxury white bread Fryske Sûkerbôle.

In Mexico it is used during the Day of the Dead to make sugar skulls, often highly decorated. Sugar skulls are given to children so that they will not fear death; they are also offered to the dead.

In the US, rock candy comes in many colors and flavors, and is slightly hard to find, due to it being considered old-fashioned.[2]

Misri

Misri
Misri crystals
Type Rock candy or sweetener
Place of origin India and Persia

Misri (Urdu: مسری‬‎, Hindi: मिश्री, Bengali: মিছরি) refers to crystallized sugar lumps, and a type of confectionery mineral, which has its origins in India and Persia, also known as rock sugar elsewhere.[5] It is used in India as a type of candy, or used to sweeten milk or tea.[6][7]

In Hinduism, mishri may be offered to a deity as bhog and distributed as prasad. The god Krishna is said to be fond of makkhan (butter) and misri. In many devotional songs written in Brajbhoomi in praise of Krishna, the words makkhan and misri are often used in combination. In Northern Karnataka people serve mishri along with water to visitors in the Summer season.

Among Indian misri dishes are mishri-mawa (kalakand),[8] mishri-peda, which are more commonly eaten in Northern-Western India, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Orissa, North coastal of Andhra Pradesh and many other states and parts of India.

The Ghantewala Halwai of Delhi, who started his career by selling Misari mawa in 1790[9] is famous for Misarimawa and sells forty varieties of sweets made from Misari.

Beverages

Rock and rye is a term used both for alcoholic liqueurs and cocktails using rye whiskey and rock candy, as well as for non-alcoholic beverages made in imitation thereof, such as the "Rock & Rye" flavor of soda pop made by Faygo.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Judy Pearsal, Bill Truble (editors) (1996). The Oxford English Reference Dictionary, 2nd edition. Oxford University Press. p. 213. ISBN 0-19-860050-X.
  2. 1 2 Richardson, Tim. (2002) Sweets: A History of Candy. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1582342290 p. 90
  3. ↑ "SUGAR". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  4. ↑ http://www.mypersiancorner.com/2013/04/sweet-tea-persian-style.html
  5. ↑ Glossary: Misri Tarla Dalal website.
  6. ↑ Bashir Ahmad Dar (January 1996). Studies in Muslim philosophy and literature. Iqbal Academy Pakistan. p. 168. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  7. ↑ Baden Henry Baden-Powell (1868). Hand-book of the economic products of the Punjab: with a combined index and glossary of technical vernacular words. Printed at the Thomason Civil Engineering College Press. pp. 307–. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  8. ↑ Kalakand. chezshuchi.com
  9. ↑ Hardy's Encyclopaedic Guide to Agra, Delhi, Jaipur, and Varanasi. Hardy & Ally (India). 1970.
  10. ↑ Jan 13, 2015 (2015-01-13). "This is How to Bring Rock and Rye Back from the Dead". Liquor.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  11. ↑ Lawrence L. Rouch (2003). The Vernor's Story: From Gnomes to Now. University of Michigan Press. pp. 34–. ISBN 0-472-06697-8.

Further reading

  • Saiyid Muhammad Hadi (1902). The sugar industry of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. Printed by F. Luker at the Government Press. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  • Exploratorium.edu Recipe for rock candy as an educational exercise in crystal and candy making.
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