what the frick is salt water taffy?

Question

what's taffy?

oh, and if you've seen ice age, answer my ice age question too

Answer 1

Here's the history and the recipe.

It appears that there are more myths and legends concerning taffy than actual fact. First, no one really knows who created the original recipe or exactly when.
However, taffy was known to be have been sold in both the Midwest and Atlantic City in the year 1880. Taffy was actually vended at fairs that toured in the Midwest at the time.

It was Joseph Fralinger who first was taffy as a souvenir item from the Jersey Shore. He had great success packaging the product in boxes and selling it to boardwalk strollers. He first purchased 200 boxes which seemed like a huge
number. What happened was incredible. He sold every box in a single Saturday evening and Sunday morning. He had discovered a marketing marvel and the competition caught on.

Another taffy legend, Enoch James, migrated from the Midwest to Atlantic City to find his fortune in taffy. James Salt Water Taffy and Fralinger's are still the big names in taffy in Atlantic City today. The difference between the two manufactures
is the size of the product. James' produces a square bite size taffy; known as a "kiss." Fralinger's makes a longer, skinny shape; known as a "long" or "log" style
cut.

But why is it called salt water taffy? The answer lies, of course, in another legend this time concerning Atlantic City taffy vender David Bradley in 1883. The story goes that Mr. Bradley's boardwalk store was damaged by storm tide water in the
summer of 1883. Included in the damage was his supply of taffy. The next day his first customer was a girl who asked for a bag of taffy. Being in a bit of bad humor because of his soggy taffy, Bradley replied, "You mean salt water taffy." Apparently,
Bradley's mother overheard his remark and suggested that he the candy that name.
In the summer of 1884, he opened his stand selling "Salt Water Taffy." The rest is history. Atlantic City directories show no listing of any store selling "salt water taffy" until 1889. So make what you will of the story.The phrase "salt water taffy," apparently was never copyrighted and has been used by various candy makers
over the years. The peak of the taffy frenzy occurred in the 1920's when there were over400 companies making and marketing the product.

Today, salt water taffy is still the trademark souvenir of the Jersey Shore. A tradition which has now existed for well over 100 years. So when you purchase your next box of salt water taffy, you're getting more than a box of candy. You're actually
taking home some Jersey Shore tradition; a little legend; and a taste of American pop culture. Enjoy!

Listed below is a salt water taffy recipe. Although there are different recipes available, the recipe listed is fairly generic. Sorry, this recipe does not call for the inclusion of actual salt water. Although certain recipes do call for salt as an
ingredient, no one seems to have actually used salt water in the course of making taffy.

Salt Water Taffy Recipe
Makes about one pound.

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup light Corn Syrup
2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
Use a square pan: 8X8X2. Mix sugar, corn syrup,water, cornstarch, butter and
salt in a 2 quart saucepan. Heat to boiling and stir continuously. Then, cook,
without stirring, to 256 degrees using a candy thermometer (hard ball). Remove
from heat and add vanilla. Pour into pan. When the taffy is cool enough to handle,
pull it until it is satiny, light in color and stiff. Pull the taffy into long strips about 1/2
inch wide. Cut the strip into pieces with a scissor. Finally wrap the pieces
individually in plastic or waxed paper to hold its shape.

Answer 2

Its an American sweet - difficult to find in UK.

The origins of the name are unknown. It could be because the recipe for the candy contains both salt and water. The most popular, although probably apocryphal, story concerns a candy-store owner, Mr. David Bradley, whose shop was flooded during a major storm in 1883. His entire stock of taffy was soaked with salty Atlantic Ocean water. When a young girl asked if he had any taffy for sale, he is said to have offered some "salt water taffy." The girl was delighted, She bought the candy and proudly walked down to the beach to show her friends. Mr. Bradley's mother was in the back and heard the exchange. She loved the name and so Salt Water Taffy was born.[1]

Answer 3

Taffy = Toffee, salt water taffy is toffee made with salt water, Taffy is a dialect word for toffee spoken in some parts of the UK.

Answer 4

if you get a mashmallow or a flump and squish it and pull it apart for ages it turns into a gooey mess and that it taffy but i've never heard of salt water taffy, sorry.

Answer 5

It is extremely popular at fairs around where I live, it is just sticky gooey chewey candy that comes wrapped in little pieces of waxed paper and it is usually diferent pastel colors. It isn't realy that good..

Answer 6

It's hard to describe to someone who hasn't had it, but it's a cross between a fruit gum and toffee. It has the consistency of toffee but it's fruity instead. It's good stuff :-)

Answer 7

No need to swear. Can anyone please shed any light on a substance I have heard described as Salt Water Taffy?
Isn't that better? Sorry, never heard of it.

Answer 8

The most sticky candy with no taste. Some people love it though.

Answer 9

It'll yank the fillings right out of your mouth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_taffy

Answer 10

you've never heard of it? it's only the "BEST" taffy you will ever have in your life!