I always wondered how my least favorite Halloween candy came about. I get the corn harvest/fall and Halloween connection. Heck I even decorate my house with a display of Indian Corn that I keep up until the Christmas decorations go up after Thanksgiving.
But candy corn?
It’s something akin to vanilla-flavored wax.
Not that I don’t eat it. Apparently, I suffer from some form of candy amnesia and every couple of years I think, oh, candy corn, I like that don’t I?
Two pieces later, I realize I don’t like that.

So apparently, back in the 1880’s the Wunderlee Candy Company made the first candy corn. It became an overnight sensation with farmers because the fat, yellow end resembles corn kernels. But the main appeal was the three colors.
Three! I guess multi-colored taffy and those Christmas ribbon candy weren’t around then.
Anyhoo, the autumnal colors made it perfect for all those Gilded Age Costume balls.
Since it was rather labor intensive it was only available in the fall (having to be made by hand). For more on the process read here: http://www.candy-corn.info/cc/Candy_Corn_History.asp
Now, of course, automation has taken control, we are blessed with Christmas Corn-red, green and white (aka reindeer corn), Valentine’s Day corn-red, pink and white, Thanksgiving Corn–brown’s in the mix, and I’m sure there’s been Independence Corn–red, white and blue.
So why am I obsessing about Candy Corn?
My son loves the stuff. So I buy it. And yes, I’ve bought them for as many holidays as it’s been out.
And he gives it to me because he loves him.
And I eat it because I love him.