What are the different types of caramel. How is caramel made. What are the culinary applications of caramel. What is the difference between caramel, butterscotch, and toffee. How does caramelization affect flavor and color. What are the most popular caramel candies. How can caramel be used in desserts and confections.

The Science of Caramel: Understanding Caramelization

Caramel is a versatile confection created through a process known as caramelization. This chemical reaction occurs when sugar is heated to temperatures between 320 and 340 degrees Fahrenheit. As the sugar molecules break down under intense heat, they form new compounds, resulting in the characteristic golden-brown color and rich flavor profile associated with caramel.

How does caramelization affect the flavor and color of sugar? The process transforms simple sugars into complex flavor compounds, producing notes ranging from buttery and nutty to slightly bitter. The color changes from clear to golden, amber, and eventually dark brown, depending on the duration and intensity of heating.

Factors Influencing Caramel Production

• Temperature control
• Sugar type and quality
• Cooking duration
• Additional ingredients (e.g., cream, butter)

Exploring the Spectrum of Caramel Types

Caramel’s versatility extends beyond its basic form, with various types created by adjusting ingredients, cooking methods, and temperatures. Let’s explore some of the most common caramel variations:

Light vs. Dark Caramel

What distinguishes light caramel from dark caramel? Light caramel, with its golden hue, is heated for a shorter duration, resulting in a milder, sweeter flavor. Dark caramel, on the other hand, is cooked longer, developing a deeper amber color and a more complex, slightly bitter taste profile.

Caramel Sauce

Caramel sauce is a liquid form of caramel, often used as a topping or flavoring agent. It typically combines caramelized sugar with cream, butter, and sometimes vanilla for a smooth, pourable consistency. How is caramel sauce made? The process involves carefully heating sugar until it melts and caramelizes, then stirring in cream and butter to create a silky texture.

Chewy Caramel Candies

These popular confections offer a satisfyingly chewy texture and rich, buttery flavor. What ingredients are essential for chewy caramel candies? The key components usually include sugar, corn syrup, heavy cream, butter, and vanilla extract. The precise balance of these ingredients, along with cooking temperature and duration, determines the final texture and flavor.

Top 10 Caramel Candy Varieties

The world of caramel candies is diverse and delightful. Here are ten popular varieties that showcase the versatility of this beloved confection:

1. Hard Caramels
2. Chewy Caramels
3. Caramel Cremes
4. Sea Salt Caramels
5. Pralines
6. Caramel Nougats
7. Peanut Brittle
8. Turtles
9. Caramel Candy Corn
10. Caramel-filled Chocolates

Spotlight on Sea Salt Caramels

Sea salt caramels have gained immense popularity in recent years. Why does the combination of sea salt and caramel work so well? The salt enhances the caramel’s sweetness while providing a contrasting flavor, creating a more complex and satisfying taste experience. Many artisanal chocolatiers offer variations that include dark or milk chocolate coatings for added indulgence.

Caramel in Culinary Applications

Beyond standalone candies, caramel plays a crucial role in various culinary creations. Its rich flavor and versatile nature make it a favorite among pastry chefs and home bakers alike.

Desserts Featuring Caramel

• Crème brûlée
• Flan
• Caramel apple
• Salted caramel cheesecake
• Caramel pecan pie

How does caramel enhance these desserts? In crème brûlée and flan, it forms a delicate, crisp topping that contrasts with the creamy custard beneath. For caramel apples, it creates a sweet, glossy coating that complements the fruit’s tartness. In cheesecakes and pies, caramel adds depth of flavor and a luxurious texture.

Caramel as a Binding Agent

Caramel’s sticky nature makes it an excellent binding agent in certain confections. In pralines and peanut brittle, it holds nuts together while adding sweetness and flavor. How does caramel function as a binder in these treats? As the hot caramel cools, it hardens around the nuts, creating a cohesive and crunchy texture.

Caramel vs. Butterscotch vs. Toffee: Understanding the Differences

While often confused, caramel, butterscotch, and toffee are distinct confections with unique characteristics. Let’s explore the key differences:

Caramel

Made primarily from sugar heated to the point of caramelization, often with the addition of cream or milk.

Butterscotch

Contains a higher proportion of butter and is typically made with brown sugar rather than white sugar. The flavor profile is richer and more buttery than caramel.

Toffee

Similar to butterscotch but cooked to a higher temperature, resulting in a harder, more brittle texture. It often includes nuts and is sometimes coated in chocolate.

What sets these confections apart in terms of taste and texture? The primary differences lie in their ingredient ratios, cooking temperatures, and resulting textures. Caramel is generally softer and more pliable, butterscotch is smoother and more buttery, while toffee is hard and crunchy.

The Art of Caramel Making: Tips and Techniques

Creating perfect caramel requires skill, patience, and attention to detail. Here are some tips for aspiring caramel makers:

• Use a heavy-bottomed pan for even heat distribution
• Monitor temperature closely with a candy thermometer
• Avoid stirring once the sugar begins to melt to prevent crystallization
• Have all ingredients measured and ready before starting
• Exercise caution when working with hot sugar syrup

What are common pitfalls in caramel making? Crystallization, burning, and uneven cooking are frequent issues. To avoid these, use clean equipment, avoid sudden temperature changes, and resist the urge to stir excessively.

Troubleshooting Caramel Problems

Even experienced confectioners encounter challenges when making caramel. Here are solutions to common issues:

• Grainy texture: Gently brush down the sides of the pan with water to prevent sugar crystals from forming
• Burnt caramel: Start over with fresh ingredients; burnt caramel cannot be salvaged
• Too thin: Continue cooking to allow more water to evaporate
• Too thick: Carefully whisk in small amounts of warm cream or milk

The Future of Caramel: Innovations and Trends

As culinary techniques evolve and consumer preferences shift, the world of caramel continues to innovate. What emerging trends are shaping the future of caramel confections?

Artisanal and Craft Caramels

Artisanal caramel makers are experimenting with unique flavor combinations and high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. Examples include lavender-infused caramels, bourbon caramel sauce, and single-origin chocolate caramels.

Health-Conscious Alternatives

To cater to health-conscious consumers, some confectioners are developing lower-sugar or sugar-free caramel alternatives using natural sweeteners like dates, coconut sugar, or stevia.

Savory Caramel Applications

Chefs are increasingly incorporating caramel into savory dishes, such as caramel-glazed roasted vegetables or caramel-based meat glazes, showcasing its versatility beyond desserts.

Molecular Gastronomy and Caramel

How is molecular gastronomy influencing caramel production? Chefs are using techniques like spherification to create caramel caviar or employing liquid nitrogen to produce instantly frozen caramel shards with unique textures.

As we’ve explored, caramel is a fascinating and versatile confection with a rich history and bright future. From its humble origins as heated sugar to its myriad applications in modern cuisine, caramel continues to captivate taste buds and inspire culinary innovation. Whether you’re a passionate home baker, a professional pastry chef, or simply a caramel enthusiast, there’s always something new to discover in the world of this golden, sweet treat.

10 Types of Caramel Candies

Caramel is a type of candy created when sugar is heated to approximately 320 to 340 degrees Fahrenheit. As the sugar heats up, the molecules start to break down and form different compounds, a process known as caramelization. The resulting mixture features a rich flavor and golden brown color. The rich and delicious flavor of caramel adds silky smooth sweetness to dozens of our favorite treats. It’s a classic dessert that has countless applications.

What Is Caramel and What Isn’t?

Caramel can be mixed with cream and other ingredients to turn it into different consistencies, such as caramel sauce or chewy caramel candies. It can also be heated more or less, depending on the color and flavor you’re looking for. Light caramel has a light golden brown hue, while dark caramel features a dark amber color with a slightly more bitter taste than light caramel.

Various candies, confections, desserts, and beverages are made with caramel. Desserts such as flan and creme brûlée even contain a topping of caramel. It also acts as a binding agent in candies such as pralines and peanut brittle. Surprisingly, toffee and butterscotch are considered different types of candy altogether. Butterscotch contains too high of a percentage of butter, while toffee is made with brown sugar.

If you want to indulge in a delicious caramel treat, consider our Salted Caramel Cheesecake Platter made with TWIX® Cookie Bars. It comes with a variety of caramel treats, including caramel-covered cheesecakes topped with TWIX® Cookie Bars, strawberries topped with TWIX® Cookie Bar crumbles and white chocolate, apple wedges covered in TWIX® Cookie Bars, and banana bites covered in TWIX® Cookie Bars. Or, check out our Sea Salt Caramels, featuring a variety of milk and dark chocolate sea salt caramels topped with chardonnay and Mediterranean sea salt.

Top 10 Types of Caramel Candies

You’ll find hundreds of confections that feature this versatile candy. Here are just ten of the most delicious types of caramel candies:

1. Hard Caramels

Image by Paul Hurst, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Hard caramels melt smoothly in your mouth, leaving a buttery sweet taste that will satisfy your cravings. Some other types of hard caramels contain other sweet treats in the middle, such as creamy caramel, chocolate liquor, and so much more.

2. Chewy Caramels

Sweet, chewy, and delicious, chewy caramel candies feature a rich and buttery taste. Typically made with heavy cream, butter, salt, sugar, corn syrup, water, and vanilla extract, you can also top them with sea salt for extra indulgence.

3. Caramel Creme

Screenshot via goetzecandy.com

An old-fashioned classic, caramel cremes feature a decadent chewy caramel with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cream in the center. Chewy but not sticky, the cream at the center of these caramels adds an extra touch of sweetness that makes them irresistible.

4. Sea Salt Caramels

The combination of sea salt and caramel intensifies the flavor of caramel, bringing out the contrasting tastes of sweet and salty. Some sea salt caramels also include a layer of milk or dark chocolate for extra decadence.

5. Caramel Sauce

Perfect for drizzling on ice cream or cakes, caramel sauce combines sugar, water, butter, heavy cream, and vanilla, all heated to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You can even add a pinch of salt for an extra layer of flavor.

6. Pralines

A southern staple, pralines combine nuts (usually pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts) and caramel for the perfect sweet treat. They feature an unmistakable, fudge-like texture that contrasts nicely with the crunchiness of the nuts.

7. Caramel Nougats

Caramel nougats combine silky smooth caramel, chewy nougat, and rich milk chocolate for the ideal decadent treat. These delightful treats come in all shapes and sizes and include some of the most well-known candies of today, including SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, and many more.

8. Peanut Brittle

Peanut brittle combines crunchy peanuts with a thin, hard, smooth caramel layer. Typically, candy makers pour the liquefied candy onto a cookie sheet in a thin layer and then break it up into pieces once cooled.

9. Turtles

Made with pecans and caramel dipped in chocolate, turtles get their name from their shape, which resembles the aquatic animal. The perfect decadent treat, they perfectly combine crunchy pecans, chewy caramel, and creamy milk chocolate.

10. Caramel Candy Corn

Screenshot via Amazon.com

Caramel candy corn takes regular candy corn up a notch with a rich caramel flavor. Considered a mellow cream made from corn syrup and sugar, candy corn combines perfectly with the buttery caramel.

Caramel adds an unmistakable rich, smooth, sweet flavor to any confection. Try one of these delicious treats today if you’re craving some of that quintessential caramel taste.

Difference Between Caramel, Butterscotch, and Toffee

Toffee, caramel, and butterscotch are three classic desserts. From butterscotch sundaes to decadent English toffee, each features an irresistible combination of sugar and butter. Whether you operate an ice cream shop, bakery, candy store, or catering company, it’s important to understand the difference between butterscotch, toffee, and caramel. Keep reading below to learn more about each type and how to make them.

Shop All Candy Making Supplies

Click below to read our different topics we cover:

• Toffee vs Caramel vs Butterscotch
• Sugar Temperatures Chart
• How to Make Caramel
• How to Make Butterscotch
• How to Make Toffee
• Tips for Candy Making

Toffee vs Caramel vs Butterscotch

Read below to understand their unique differences:

What Is Butterscotch?

Butterscotch is butter and brown sugar that has been slowly heated together to create a soft-crack candy. Just like caramel, the brown sugar molecules break down and, thanks to the addition of molasses in the sugar, caramelize into a richer, deeper flavor than classic caramel.

To create a sauce, topping, or candy, additional ingredients like vanilla, salt, and cream can be added once caramelization has occurred.

What Is Caramel?

Caramel is white granulated sugar that’s been heated slowly to 340 degrees Fahrenheit. This gradual heating process breaks down the sugar’s molecules and creates a deep golden brown color and rich flavor.

While caramelization can be achieved by simply heating sugar, other ingredients including butter, milk, and vanilla are often added afterward to produce a thick, creamier caramel used in sauces, drizzles, candies, and classic caramel apples.

When creating caramel, there are typically two different versions: wet caramel and dry caramel. Wet caramel refers to caramel that has been made by adding water to the sugar during the heating process. Adding water can help to distribute heat evenly across the mixture to prevent burning and crystallization. Dry caramel simply refers to sugar caramelized without water added.

Butterscotch vs Caramel

The difference between butterscotch and caramel is that caramel is made with white granulated sugar and cooked to 340 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas butterscotch is made with brown sugar and cooked to 289 degrees Fahrenheit. Both are often enhanced with additional ingredients to alter the texture, taste, or consistency depending on their intended purpose or the recipe used to make them.

What Is Toffee?

Toffee is butterscotch that has been cooked for a longer period of time. Toffee begins as a base of butter and brown sugar that is gradually cooked to the hard-crack sugar stage between 295 and 309 degrees Fahrenheit.

Toffee vs Butterscotch

While butterscotch is cooked to a soft-crack stage, toffee is produced by allowing that same butter and brown sugar mixture to reach the hard-crack stage. Butterscotch tends to be chewy and pliable; toffee is brittle and more breakable.

Toffee vs Caramel

The difference between toffee and caramel is that caramel is made with white granulated sugar and cooked to 340 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas toffee is made with butter and brown sugar and cooked to 295 – 309 degrees Fahrenheit.

Back to Top

Sugar Stages Temperature Comparison

When sugar is boiled, the concentration of sugar molecules increases as water is evaporated. The longer sugar cooks, the higher the sugar concentration becomes. This sugar concentrate is what creates the varying stages of sugar.

The comparison list below outlines the most common sugar temperature stages needed to achieve each stage.

Thread

• Example of Candy: Syrup
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 230 to 234
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 80%

Soft Ball

• Example of Candy: Fudge
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 234 to 241
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 85%

Firm Ball

• Example of Candy: Soft Caramel
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 244 to 248
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 87%

Hard Ball

• Example of Candy: Gummies
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 250 to 266
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 92%

Soft Crack

• Example of Candy: Butterscotch
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 270 to 289
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 95%

Hard Crack

• Example of Candy: Toffee
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 295 to 309
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 99%

Light Brown

• Example of Candy: Flan or caramel cages for decorating
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 320
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 100%

Brown Liquid

• Example of Candy: Caramel
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 340
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 100%

Burnt

• Example of Candy: N/A
• Temperature (in Degrees Fahrenheit): 351
• Percentage of Sugar Concentrate: 100%

Back to Top

How to Make Caramel

The trick to making caramel is to constantly stir the sugar while slowly and gradually heating the mixture. This keeps sugar crystals from burning instead of caramelizing.

There are many different varieties of caramel, but this recipe can be used to create a caramel sauce or drizzle that’s perfect for topping sundaes, cakes, and other desserts.

Caramel Recipe

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Cool Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Caramel Ingredients:

• 3 cups white sugar
• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• Pinch of salt, or 2 teaspoons of salt to make salted caramel

Caramel Directions:

1. Place sugar into a pan on medium heat.
2. Watch the sugar on edges of pot begin to turn to liquid.
3. Using a heat-resistant spatula or spoon, stir sugar every few seconds. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot for any bits that may start to stick.
4. Continue to stir as sugar clumps together in large lumps and begins transitioning into a golden-colored liquid.
5. Stir constantly until the clumps are gone and the sugar is now completely liquid.
6. Turn the heat off as you carefully add in the butter. Use a spoon or spatula if possible, as the butter will cause the caramel to bubble up when added.
7. Stir in butter for two minutes.
8. While stirring, carefully pour the cream into the mixture. Once fully combined, remove the pot from the stovetop and allow to cool.
9. Serve immediately or store in jars and refrigerate for future use.

Back to Top

How to Make Butterscotch

Butterscotch’s main ingredients include butter and brown sugar, but the addition of some heavy cream and vanilla extract makes it perfect for topping sundaes and other sweet treats in your kitchen.

Butterscotch Recipe

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Cool Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Butterscotch Ingredients:

• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 Tablespoons vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Butterscotch Directions:

1. Using a heavy-bottomed pot, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Once butter has melted completely, add brown sugar and stir until sugar is completely coated.
3. Watch mixture closely and stir occasionally for three to five minutes. Be sure to scrape the bottom and corners of the pot to prevent clumps from burning. The mixture should turn from grainy and lumpy to smooth and bubbly.
4. Using a whisk or rubber spatula, carefully pour in the heavy cream, lower the heat, and stir until cream has been completely mixed in.
5. Turn the heat back up to medium and continue to stir occasionally until the desired color and a thick, smooth consistency are reached, about 10 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool slightly.
7. Stir in vanilla extract and sea salt. If the butterscotch is cool enough, taste as you go, and add more vanilla and salt if needed.
8. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator for later use.

Back to Top

How to Make Toffee

To make toffee, follow the directions above to make butterscotch. In addition, you’ll want to use a candy thermometer to track when your butterscotch-to-toffee reaches the hard crack stage, which is around 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Toffee is often combined with nuts such as almonds and semi-sweet chocolate to create classic English toffee. This is done by spreading the hot toffee out flat over a sheet pan and topping it with semi-sweet chocolate chips. Allow the chips to melt for about 30 seconds and carefully use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate over the entire top of the toffee. Top with chopped or slivered almonds. Allow the English toffee to cool for about 3 hours before breaking it into small pieces.

Back to Top

Tips for Making Caramel, Butterscotch, and Toffee

While the three may differ in taste and texture, the methods used to cook them are similar. To produce decadent-tasting sugars, be sure to keep the following tips in mind:

• Never step away from the sugar when it’s cooking. It only takes a few seconds of neglect for sugar to burn.
• Do not try to touch or taste the sugar while it’s cooking, it will be extremely hot and sticky.
• Cook your mixture in a larger pot than you think is necessary because the sugar can produce large bubbles as it turns into a liquid or additional ingredients are added.
• Opt for a stainless steel pot to best handle the high temperatures. Some non-stick coatings may be affected by the hot sugars.
• When making caramel, wait to add ingredients such as cream and butter until after the caramelization process has occurred.
• Squeezing a small amount of lemon juice into your sugar while it’s cooking can help prevent crystallization.
• Keep ice water on hand in case you accidentally come into contact with the hot sugar.

Back to Top

While some may think caramel, butterscotch, and toffee taste the same, any candy connoisseur knows each of these delectable sweets has its own unique flavor, texture, and consistency. And now that you know the difference, you can confidently create and serve customers the best sugar candy in your candy store.

Posted in:

Bakeries|Recipes|By

Rachel Jenkins

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Please refer to our Content Policy for more details.

Related Resources

types, composition, calorie content, benefits and harms for the body – JSC RAKHAT

CONTENT

• Types of caramel
• Composition
• Calorie content
• Benefit and the harm of caramel

Caramel is one of the most popular and affordable sweets. For the first time, such a delicious dessert became known in ancient Egypt and ancient China. Its feature was the possibility of preservation for a long time. Thanks to this, candies traveled to different countries following the trade caravans. Nowadays, children and adults are not averse to enjoying a delicious candy of a certain taste or with an unusual filling. In this material, we will dwell in detail on the features of the production of caramel, their varieties, composition, calorie content, benefits and harms. After reading the article to the end, you will learn a lot of useful information.

Types of caramel

Almost everyone mentally returns to a carefree childhood in colorful wrapping. There is nothing more pleasant than throwing a lollipop on the cheek, enjoying the pleasant taste of sweetness. In terms of variety, they are very different. In the middle of the 20th century, lollipops began to appear everywhere in shops, parks and fairs. One of the most famous of these candies is Chupa Chups. But caramel is in the greatest demand in Kazakhstan. Modern technological lines and recipes make it possible to produce lollipops and caramels of various shapes, flavors, and fillings. The assortment of the Rakhat factory includes a wide variety of caramel:

• glazed;
• candy;
• with fruit filling;
• with fondant fillings;
• oversalted with various fillings;
• with liqueur fillings;
• with milk fillings;
• with whipped fillings.

Composition

The composition of caramel depends on their taste and filling. In 100 g of the product, about 97 g are carbohydrates (the main part is sugar derivatives), fats are about 0.1 g, and there are practically no proteins. Fruity taste – nothing more than components based on fruit juices and syrups. The composition may contain a small amount of water. There are also flavor enhancers, preservatives (responsible for long-term preservation), fillers and thickeners.

Calories

On average, the calorie content of caramel is 350-390 kcal. That is why athletes always have several caramels with them, as well as people prone to nervous irritations and panic attacks. The sugar and energy dose is so high that candy helps nicotine addicts with the desire to smoke.

Benefits and harms of caramel

Caramel and lollipops are popular and convenient to take with you. They can quickly compensate for the fall in blood sugar. Everyone in this way can be temporarily distracted from the obsessive feeling of hunger. Some people use lozenges as an effective way to fight extra pounds. However, not all caramel is suitable for this purpose. It is important to pay attention to calories and not overdo it. It is necessary to select special sweets with a low content of sugar and additives.

The health benefits of caramel have been studied and proven. For people who are prone to motion sickness and motion sickness, sucking on a lollipop is an effective way to calm the body and tone up. Resorption of just one caramel can instantly improve mood – due to the simple sugars present in the composition, which contribute to the rapid release of serotonin into the blood. A small caramel candy is a source of energy. Just imagine: the calorie content and sugar content of a medium-sized caramel is enough to overcome a distance of 4-5 km by running. Some use lozenges to improve microflora and eliminate bad breath.

Caramel candy can be harmful if consumed in excess. The main negative impact of such sweetness, containing a large dose of sugar, has on the teeth. For this reason, young children with their fragile tooth enamel are not recommended to give a lot of lollipops. The same rule applies to older people. In addition to the oral cavity, sugar can negatively affect the body’s metabolism. Metabolic disorders can cause the gastrointestinal tract to malfunction, and certain flavorings/fillings can cause itching and an allergic reaction. Over time, or even immediately, skin and hair problems may appear. Do not lean on lollipops for people prone to obesity. The greatest danger from the abundant use of sweets is diabetes mellitus. Therefore, sweet tooth should periodically take a blood test.

If the caramel is absorbed in moderation, there will be no harm. You can prepare such delicacies on your own, but the easiest way is to buy by weight or in a package of caramel of your favorite taste. On our website you will find detailed information about Rakhat factory sweets. If you have any questions, please contact our managers.

SEE ALSO:

• Candy caramel: composition and calorie content, benefits and harms
• Interesting facts about caramel that you didn’t even know

types and applications

12/11/2018

Share on social networks:

Someone is ready to just eat caramel with a spoon from a jar

It is hard to imagine that ten centuries ago there were no desserts that each of us has been familiar with since childhood. Only natural sweets, such as honey, were available to people. But it was not so easy to get it, since the domestication of bees did not happen immediately, and the extraction of wild honey was a difficult craft. Therefore, many peoples were looking for alternative options. In our article we will talk about caramel. One of the first to learn how to extract something like caramel in ancient India were representatives of the lower caste – the untouchables (dalits). It was obtained by roasting sugarcane stalks over a fire.

Researchers note that in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, barley sugar was extracted from barley groats. Caramel was then made from this sugar and water. There were similar delicacies in China, but in Asia, the received sweets were still rolled in fried sesame seeds.

An analogue of modern cane sugar was made in the Middle Ages. The process was not the easiest, so sugar cost a lot of money and was available only to the elite of that time. For the Middle Ages, it was a common situation when a person lived life without ever tasting anything sweet. To modern children, this can be told like a horror movie before bedtime.

The name caramel comes from the Latin word cannamella, which means “sugar cane”. The fact is that from about the 14th century, sugar from cane began to be used to create caramel. The technology is simple – in huge copper boilers, actively stirring, they heated water and sugar. When the mixture reached the desired temperature, it was poured into special molds, and then cut into pieces.

Modern molds for caramel lozenges

Where caramel is used

• Culinary purposes . Today this is the main application. Caramel itself is a great sweetness, but desserts are also decorated with it. For example, with the help of caramel, French confectioners created the Croquembush cake. Caramel is poured over pastries and toasts, pancakes and biscuits, added to tea or coffee.
• Medical purposes . At the end of the 19th century, the daughter of Lucy fell ill with the German pharmacist Karl Soldan. The child flatly refused to drink bitter mixtures and herbal infusions. The doctor had to go for a trick – add extracts from medicinal herbs to the boiling caramel syrup. Thanks to the healing sweets, Lucy got better. Shortly thereafter, Dr.C.Soldan’s lollipops became known throughout Germany.
• Candies on a stick . In many countries, they tried to sculpt unusual figures from warm, not yet frozen caramel. For example, lollipops in the form of a cockerel on a stick were a common delicacy at Russian fairs. In China, dragon figurines are similarly molded. Well, the most famous lollipops were invented by Spaniard Enrique Bernat, the creator of lollipops.
• Food supplement . Sweetness is used not only as an additive for confectionery, but also in the creation of carbonated drinks.

Caramel can be poured over pastries, and also eaten as an independent dessert

Types of caramel

According to domestic food standards, caramel is divided into candy and stuffed.