Special Section

Sweet Facts About Candy.

Candy is one of the most beloved treats in the world, enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures. From the sweet simplicity of chocolate bars to the colorful allure of gummy bears, candy holds a special place in our heart. But beyond its delightful flavors, candy has a fascinating history, science, and culture that few people know about. Source: factsmostly.com

關於糖果的甜蜜小知識。糖果是世界上最受歡迎的零食之一，深受各個年齡層和文化背景的人們的喜愛。從香甜簡單的巧克力棒到色彩繽紛的小熊軟糖，糖果在我們心中佔據著特殊的地位。然而，除了令人愉悅的口味之外，糖果還有著鮮為人知的迷人歷史、科學和文化。

The Origins of Candy Date Back Thousands of Years.

Candy has a long history that stretches back over 4,000 years. The first candies were made by ancient civilizations who combined honey with nuts, fruits, and spices to create sweet treats. Ancient people also discovered how to crystallize sugar, creating the first form of “sugar candy.” These early sweets were much simpler than today’s candies but laid the foundation for the modern candy industry.

糖果的起源可追溯至數千年前。糖果有著悠久的歷史，可以追溯到4000多年前。最早的糖果是由古代文明發明的，他們將蜂蜜與堅果、水果和香料混合在一起，製成甜食。古人也發現如何結晶糖，創造了最早的「糖糖」。這些早期的糖果比今天的糖果簡單得多，但卻為現代糖果產業奠定了基礎。

Chocolate Bars Were Originally Considered Health Food.

When chocolate bars first became widely available in the late 19th century, they were marketed as health food. Early manufacturers promoted chocolate as a nutritious snack that could provide energy and vitamins. While modern science has debunked the idea of chocolate as a health food, dark chocolate with a high cocoa content does contain antioxidants that have been linked to heart health benefits. But remember, moderation is key!

巧克力棒最初被認為是健康食品。19世紀末，巧克力棒首次廣泛普及，當時被當作健康食品銷售。早期製造商將巧克力宣傳為一種營養豐富的零食，可以提供能量和維生素。雖然現代科學已經推翻了巧克力是健康食品的說法，但高可可含量的黑巧克力確實含有抗氧化劑，這些抗氧化劑已被證實對心臟健康有益。但請記住，適量食用至關重要！

Licorice Is Made from the Root of a Plant.

Unlike most candies that are primarily sugar-based, licorice is made from the root of the licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra). This root has a naturally sweet flavor that has been used for thousands of years in medicine and food. Today, the flavor of black licorice candies is usually enhanced with anise, which has a similar taste. However, consuming too much real licorice root can be harmful due to a compound called glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure.

甘草取自植物根部。與大多數以糖為主要成分的糖果不同，甘草取自光果甘草（Glycyrrhiza glabra）的根部。這種根部具有天然的甜味，數千年來一直被用於醫藥和食品。如今，黑甘草糖果通常會添加茴香來增強其風味，茴香的味道與甘草類似。然而，過度食用真正的甘草根可能有害，因為其中含有一種名為甘草甜素的化合物，會導致血壓升高。

Cotton Candy Was Invented by a Dentist.

It may sound ironic, but cotton candy, one of the world’s sweetest treats, was co-invented by a dentist! In 1897, dentist William Morrison partnered with confectioner John C. Wharton to create a machine that spun heated sugar into thin threads. They introduced their invention, which they called “Fairy Floss,” at the 1904 World’s Fair, and it was an instant hit. Later, the name changed to “cotton candy,” and it’s been a carnival favorite ever since.

棉花糖竟然是由一位牙醫發明的。這聽起來可能有點諷刺，但世界上最甜的零食之一——棉花糖，竟然是由一位牙醫共同發明的！ 1897年，牙醫威廉·莫里森與糖果製造商約翰·C·沃頓合作，發明了一台能將加熱後的糖紡成細絲的機器。他們在1904年的世界博覽會上推出了這項名為「仙女絲」的發明，並立即引起了轟動。後來，它的名字改成了“棉花糖”，從此就成了嘉年華的熱門食物。

Gummy Bears Were Inspired by Real Dancing Bears.

Gummy bears were created by German candy maker Hans Riegel in the 1920s. He was inspired by European traditions of dancing bears, which were often showcased at festivals and fairs. He molded his gummy candies into bear shapes and called them “Dancing Bears.” Today, gummy bears come in various flavors, shapes, and sizes and are enjoyed worldwide.

小熊軟糖的靈感來自真正的跳舞熊。小熊軟糖由德國糖果製造商漢斯·里格爾 (Hans Riegel) 於 20 世紀 1920 年代發明。他受到歐洲傳統舞蹈熊的啟發，這些舞蹈熊經常在節慶和市集上展出。他將自己的小熊軟糖塑造成熊的形狀，並稱之為「跳舞熊」。如今，小熊軟糖口味多元、形狀各異、大小各異，深受世界各地人們的喜愛。

Pez Dispensers Were Originally Designed for Adults.

Pez candies, which are now a favorite among kids, were initially created as a mint for adults in Austria in the 1920s. The original Pez dispensers were marketed as an alternative to smoking, with the mints meant to curb tobacco cravings. It wasn’t until the 1950s that Pez began making fruity flavors and creating character dispensers, shifting its target market to children and turning Pez into a cultural icon.

Pez糖果最初是為成年人設計的。如今深受孩子們喜愛的Pez糖果，最初是1920年代在奧地利為成年人設計的薄荷糖。最初的Pez糖果盒被宣傳為吸煙的替代品，其薄荷糖旨在抑制菸癮。直到1950年代，Pez才開始推出水果口味的糖果，並設計了卡通人物糖果盒，將目標市場轉向兒童，並將Pez打造成了一種文化偶像。

Bubble Gum Was Accidentally Invented.

Bubble gum as we know it was invented by accident. In 1928, Walter Diemer, an accountant for the Fleer Chewing Gum Company, was experimenting with new chewing gum recipes in his spare time. He stumbled upon a formula that was less sticky and stretched more than regular gum, allowing people to blow bubbles. Diemer dyed the gum pink, as it was the only color available, and it became an instant hit.

泡泡糖的發明純屬偶然。我們熟知的泡泡糖其實是偶然發明的。 1928年，弗利爾口香糖公司的會計沃爾特·迪默在閒暇時嘗試了新的口香糖配方。他偶然發現了一種配方，這種配方比普通口香糖粘性更低，延展性更強，方便人們吹泡泡。迪默把這款口香糖染成了粉紅色，因為當時只有粉紅色可供選擇，這款口香糖一推出就大受歡迎。

M&Ms Were Created for Soldiers.

M&Ms were initially designed as a convenient and mess-free candy for soldiers during World War II. Inspired by a similar British candy, Mars Inc. created M&Ms in 1941 with a hard candy shell that prevented the chocolate from melting. The candy’s famous tagline, “Melts in your mouth, not in your hand,” was a nod to this design. Today, M&Ms are one of the most popular candies in the world, with countless flavors and varieties.

M&M 巧克力豆是為士兵而生的。M&M 巧克力豆最初是為二戰期間的士兵設計的一款方便攜帶、不傷手的糖果。受一款類似的英國糖果的啟發，瑪氏公司於 1941 年發明了 M&M 巧克力豆，其硬殼可以防止巧克力融化。這款糖果著名的宣傳語「入口即化，不入口即化」正是對這種設計的致敬。如今，M&M 巧克力豆是世界上最受歡迎的糖果之一，擁有無數種口味和品種。

Jelly Belly Flavors Are Developed by Chemists.

The creators of Jelly Belly jelly beans take candy-making to a new level by working with flavor chemists. Each jelly bean flavor is developed to taste exactly like the intended flavor, whether it’s buttered popcorn, watermelon, or even jalapeño. The process involves extensive research, development, and testing to achieve the authentic taste. Jelly Belly also produces a line of “weird” flavors, including flavors like stinky socks and vomit for the BeanBoozled game.

Jelly Belly 的口味由化學家研發。Jelly Belly 糖豆的創作者與風味化學家合作，將糖果製作提升到了一個全新的高度。每種糖豆口味都經過精心研發，力求與預期口味完全一致，無論是奶油爆米花味、西瓜味，還是墨西哥辣椒味。整個研發過程涵蓋了廣泛的研究、開發和測試，以確保口味的地道。 Jelly Belly 還生產一系列「奇特」口味，包括為 BeanBoozled 遊戲打造的臭襪子味和嘔吐味。

Pop Rocks Create an Explosive Reaction.

Pop Rocks, the iconic candy that fizzes and pops in your mouth, was invented by chemist William A. Mitchell in 1956. The secret to Pop Rocks’ explosive reaction lies in carbon dioxide, which is added to the candy at high pressure. When the candy dissolves in your mouth, it releases the trapped gas, causing the popping sensation. Despite urban legends, Pop Rocks are perfectly safe to eat, though the intense popping can catch some people by surprise!

爆米花糖能引發爆炸反應。爆米花糖，這款標誌性的糖果，入口即化，會發出嘶嘶聲，然後爆開，它是由化學家威廉·A·米切爾於1956年發明的。爆米花糖爆炸反應的秘訣在於二氧化碳，二氧化碳是在高壓下添加到糖果中的。當糖果在口中融化時，會釋放出其中的氣體，產生爆裂感。儘管爆米花糖的爆裂聲可能會讓某些人措手不及，但儘管存在一些都市傳說，但它實際上完全可以安全食用！