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Clement Moore’s poem,“’Twasthe Night Before Christmas,”first published in 1823, describes “visions of sugar plums" dancing in the children’s heads as they sleep.Confirming that it’s not amade-upfood like roast beast,Tchaikovsky’sTheNutcrackerfeatures“TheDance of the Sugarplum Fairy,”which debuted in 1892, or nearly 70 years after themost well-known reference.It’s a real food,amuch-discussedsweet come December,but it’s one few see today. What are sugar plums, and why is thatchallengingSanta’s milk and cookies?
What are Sugar Plums and Where Do They Come From?
Well, they’re notsugar-coated plums.
Instead, asugar plum is a piece of hard candy made of hardened sugarcoating and a seed, nut, or spice, nota plum or anotherfruit.In fact, part of the name, "plum," refers toitssmall size and oval shape, not its taste.
This sweet treat was tricky to makewhen it was were popular.Thehardsugar coatings had to be gradually built up over timein aprocess,called “panning,”thathad to be repeated until up to 30 layers of sugar had been added, taking several days to create.Massively labor-intensive,sugar coatedtreats like sugar plumswerea luxury. Sugar plums were originallymadefor aristocrats, not sleepy childrenwaiting for Santa Claus,onlybecomingavailable to the massesin the 1860sthanks tomanufacturers.Once available at a lower price, each manufacturer created their own name for the candy, leadingthe term “sugar plum” to phase out of popularity.
For those excited by the idea of candiedplums, never fear! Around the holidays, a Google search for“sugar plum candy” will provide plenty of options, whether it’s a sugared plum or a modern sugar plum with a center of dried fruits and honey.There are plenty of options to try.Andtoday,moderncandied plums are often served with various cookies, so have a glass of milk on hand.
Are you dreaming of sugar plums yet?
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