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If You See a Hole at the Top of a Lollipop Stick, this is What it Means
The history of lollipops, particularly in the US, is a little skewed. Archeologists believe some version of the sweet treat may have been created hundreds of years ago. However, it was only within the last hundred years that a feature was added, making the stick hollow. However, many wonder why this may be. It turns out there are two main reasons.
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Brief History of Lollipops
Sugar was once a rare commodity. Therefore, people had to be creative in order to enjoy sweet treats like lollipops or gummies. It is believed that before the 17th century, places like Egypt and China made varying nut and fruit concoctions. They then added honey for preservation and a touch of sweetness. Next, sticks were added to make them easier to eat. These examples are some of the earliest recorded variations of today’s confection.
After the 17th century, sugar became more readily available. Thus, countries like Britain began boiling sugar and adding sticks to make lollipops. Although there is some speculation regarding lollipops in the US, George Smith claimed to “invent modern style” lollipops in the early 1800s. The man from New Haven, Connecticut, thought that adding sticks to candy would make it easier to eat. Interestingly, at the time candy was soft or chewy, rather than hard candy.
Another hundred years would pass before lollipops, and their production would see another reboot. In 1908 Racine Confectionary Machine Co. introduced an automated lollipop production machine. The machine allowed for around 4,200 lollipops with sticks to be made per hour. However, a few years later, Samuel Born invented a similar machine known as the “Born Sucker Machine.” He was awarded the keys to the city of San Fransisco for his “innovation.” It differed from previous models because it inserted sticks into the candy rather than on the end of a stick.
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