Barley sugar

Barley sugar is a traditional variety of hard candy or boiled sweet that is made from sugar, water, and an extract of barley. It is often formed into sticks, lozenges or clear, yellowish disks. The candy is known for its characteristic barley flavor, which is derived from the process of boiling down barley grains in water and then adding sugar to the resulting extract.

History

The origins of barley sugar are believed to date back to the 17th century in England. It was originally used as a soothing agent for sore throats and upset stomachs. The candy was traditionally made by boiling down barley in water to extract the grain's natural sugars and then adding sugar. This mixture was then boiled until it reached the hard crack stage and poured into molds to harden.

Production

The production of barley sugar involves boiling barley grains in water to extract their natural sugars. This extract is then combined with sugar and boiled until it reaches the hard crack stage, which is between 149 to 154 degrees Celsius. The mixture is then poured into molds and allowed to harden. The resulting candy has a clear, yellowish color and a characteristic barley flavor.

Uses

Barley sugar is often consumed as a hard candy. It can also be used in baking and confectionery, as a sweetener in hot drinks, or as a flavoring in other foods. In addition, it has been used medicinally as a soothing agent for sore throats and upset stomachs.

See also

• Candy making
• List of candies
• Barley water
• Barley wine