Confectionery

Confectionery is the art of making sweet foods called confections. These are rich, sugary treats that come in many tasty forms. Confections are usually divided into two main groups: baker's confections and sugar confections.

Baker's confections, also known as flour confections, include sweet pastries, cakes, and other special baked goods. These are different from everyday breads, and are made by a skilled baker.

Sugar confections are perhaps the most familiar type of candy. In the United States, this is called candy making, and includes candies (called sweets in many English-speaking countries), chocolates, chewing gum, and other sugary treats made mostly from sugar. Some people even treat chocolate confections as their own special group.

The work of a confectioner includes skills from both the French patissier (pastry chef) and the confiseur (sugar worker). The history of confectionery goes back to ancient times, and it has been enjoyed throughout the Middle Ages and into today.

Etymology

The word confectionery was first used in 1540 by Richard Jonas. He called it "confection nere," which described items made by a confectioner. By 1743, the word came to mean the art and business of making sweet foods. And by 1803, it was used to name a shop selling these sweet treats.

Main article: Confectionery

History

Before sugar was commonly used, people made sweet foods using honey. Ancient civilizations like Ancient China, Ancient India, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome used honey to preserve fruits and flowers or to make sweet treats.

Later, sugar became known in Europe. At first, doctors used sugar for medicines. Over time, people began making sweet foods for fun, not just for health. Special workers called confectioners began making sugary candies and treats. One popular sweet from the Ottoman Empire was Turkish delight, which became very popular in Europe. The first confectionery shop in Manchester, England was opened by Elizabeth Raffald.

Sweetening agents

Confections are special sweet foods that contain sweeteners, usually sugars. Common sweeteners include table sugar, which is made from glucose and fructose. Another type of sweetener is invert sugar, which is sweeter than regular sugar and often used in commercial candies. Confections can also be sweetened with various syrups, such as corn syrup, made from the hydrolysis of starch. There are even sugar-free options, like sugar-free peppermints.

Baker's confectionery

Baker's confectionery includes sweet baked goods, especially those served for the dessert course. These treats have flour as a main ingredient and are baked. Common types include cakes, sweet pastries, doughnuts, scones, and cookies. In places like the Middle East and Asia, foods made from flour are often the most popular sweet treats.

Cakes can range from simple to very fancy. Some, like stollen or king cake, are similar to bread but very sweet. Pastries include many different baked items made from flour dough, such as choux pastry, pie, baklava, and mooncake. Doughnuts can be fried or baked, and scones are sweet versions of quick breads. Cookies are small, sweet baked treats that can be soft or crisp, like pizzelle or lebkuchen.

Sugar confectionery

Sugar confections are sweet foods made from sugar. People often eat them as snack food. They include sugar candies, chocolates, candied fruits and nuts, chewing gum, and sometimes ice cream. In some cases, chocolate confections are treated as a separate group, as are sugar-free versions of sugar confections.

Different English-speaking places use different words for sugar confections. In Britain, Ireland, and some Commonwealth countries, they are called "sweets." In Australia and New Zealand, they are known as "lollies." In North America, the word "candy" is used, though it does not include all types of sugar confectionery, such as ice cream.

Cultural roles

Baker's and sugar confections are often shared with guests to show hospitality. They are also used to celebrate special occasions like Christmas, Easter, weddings, birthdays, and Halloween.

Tourists often enjoy local confections as special treats. For example, visitors to Vienna might try Sachertorte, while those visiting seaside resorts in the UK enjoy Blackpool rock candy. Treats like fudges and tablet are popular souvenirs to take home.

Nutrition

Confections often have few vitamins and proteins but are high in calories. Some, like fried doughs and chocolate, also have a lot of fat. Many are called "empty calories" because they are made with lots of processing.

In the United States, some sugar treats such as caramel-coated popcorn and different types of sugar candy are officially listed as foods with minimal nutritional value.

Main article: Empty calories

Risks

Some ingredients in candy, like certain colorings, can be harmful to children. For example, some yellow colorings can cause allergic reactions. To keep children safe, rules have been made to limit harmful substances in candy.