The O'Berry Boys

The O'Berry Boys

Monday, September 21, 2009

Hammond's Candy Factory

Shane took the day off work today and we went to Hammonds Candy Factory. They have FREE tours!! It was a lot of fun to watch how candy is made. I seriously could go back again and again to watch and listen to the tour guide tell about how the candy is made, it was very interesting.
Sorry these pictures aren't the greatest, my camera wasn't doing well taking pictures through glass. Above is the copper pots they use to cook the candy; corn syrup, water and sugar, that's all!!
They are making candy canes! They are SO good they don't have to weigh each cane to make sure they are 2oz, they just know.
Below: That is a block of cranberry flavored candy, it weighs over 65lbs!! He made the "Stripe Jacket" by hand and is now putting it around and block of candy. Each flavor has its own special stripe jacket, about 30 total! The candy room can get to be 100degrees, all the working tables and cooking is done on an open flame.
The block was then put on a machine to start making it into the correct shape and size for candy canes or swirl lollipops. They candy puller. He is putting vanilla flavoring on it. This piece of candy grew to 3x that size on the candy puller. We got to try some of this later on when we were watching them package it (vanilla stir sticks)
They have been making candy since 1920 and still do it the exact same way now as they did back then. Most of the machinary for making candy is the same machines they used in 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.
Corin enjoyed watching them make the candy as well.
But he enjoyed eating the candy even more. When we went to see how the packaging is done (which is all by hand too) we got free samples of these yummy vanilla stir sticks that are for hot chocolate or tea, I think I could eat them by themselves.

After the tour was over we got a FREE 2oz candy cane!! They have been making TONS of them gearing up for the holiday season. There hard candy doesn't have an expiration date as long as it is kept in a cool dry place!

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