At Truffly Made, we do our best to stay ahead of candy trends and innovation. As we often look at what the future holds for the candy industry, it’s also important to stay true to its classical roots.
When talking about candymaking, Germany is bound to come up — the country is a giant in the global candy industry. In 2023, Germany was the only nation to export more than $2 billion in confectionary goods, landing far ahead of other major exporters like Mexico, the United States, and China. Accounting for chocolate as well as other confections, the total value of their exports climbed to more than $8 billion.
In addition to manufacturing an impressive amount of candy, Germany is also responsible for inventing or popularizing many modern sweets. From candy canes to marzipan, candy history has been made in Germany many times over.
Here’s a dive into some of Germany’s candy contributions.
Gummy Bears
The adorable, classic sweet was invented in Bonn, Germany in 1922 by confectioner Hans Riegel. The German entrepreneur later went on to found Haribo, a company that continues to lead gummy bear production today.
Riegel took inspiration from trained dancing bears, and adopted the shape in his candymaking. The name “gummy” references the original first ingredient – gum arabic. Not only can Germany claim to have invented gummy bears, but Riegel’s invention was also the first gummy candy of any kind.
Gummy bears precede candies like gummy worms, gummy clusters, and peach rings. Now, the gummy sector offers myriad versions, and is worth tens of billions of dollars globally.
Marzipan
Germany’s marzipan history dates back to the sixteenth century, and was originally used for medicinal purposes. While originating in the Middle East long before then, Germany standardized the definition of “marzipanrohmasse.”
In the early 1800s, Lübeck, Germany, was home to more than 130 makers of marzipan, and the region is now recognized as an official “Protected Geographical Indication” (PGI). A popular legend surrounding marzipan’s origins credits 15th century Lübeck bakers with the invention of marzipan, intended for use as a bread alternative during a famine.
Made from almonds and sugar, marzipan can be eaten as is or used as a filling in chocolates or pastries. Some manufacturers even produce animal or fruit-shaped marzipan. The sweet has a semi-seasonal nature– while enjoyed year round, it’s also used to mark holidays like Easter and Christmas.
Candy Canes
This seasonal delight also has German roots, and is another sweet whose origin is steeped in folklore. A common tale details a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral using sugar sticks to occupy his young singers during a religious ceremony. Instead of leaving the sticks as is, the choirmaster shaped them to resemble a shepherds' crook.
It’s most likely that the candy cane was developed somewhere in Europe in the 17th century, but it was in Germany that the crook was added, forming the shape we’re all familiar with today. Some theorize that the addition of the crook was for a more practical reason: the curved shape of the candy makes it perfect for decorating Christmas trees.
Candy canes’s popularity spread to the United States thanks to German-Swedish immigrant August Imgard, who hung the candy on his Christmas tree. This was in 1847, before the iconic red stripe was added. At the time, candy canes were just plain white.
Easter Candy
Christmas isn’t the only holiday whose candy was influenced by German confectioners. Chocolate bunnies originated in Germany in the middle of the 19th Century, and as Germans immigrated to America, they brought their traditions with them, introducing the practice of eating and gifting egg-shaped sweets to celebrate Easter.
In German folklore, an Easter Bunny named Osterhase brought colorful eggs to children to celebrate the arrival of spring. The night before Easter, German children would leave stockings and hats out for the white hare to fill.
Eggs are a “symbol of good luck and new life,” suiting Easter’s themes of rebirth and renewal. Luckily for candymakers, they’re also easy to shape. The sweet gained traction in the United States, and by the late 1800’s, consumers could buy hollow or filled chocolate eggs in a variety of flavors for Easter.
Candy Corn
Candy corn was created by George Renninger, who worked for the Wunderle Candy Company of Philadelphia. In the 1880s, around 1 in 2 American laborers were farmers, and marketing efforts reflected that. Candy companies produced mellowcreme “pumpkins, chestnuts, turnips and other agricultural products” to appeal to children living in the countryside.
While not created by a German, German immigrant Gustav Goelitz made candy corn mainstream. Goelitz launched a confectionary business in Belleville, Illinois, and sold the sweet under the name “Chicken Feed,” as most Americans used corn for livestock feed rather than a side dish at that time.
In 2021, Goelitz’s company was absorbed by Jelly Belly. Candy corn now comes in a variety of colors and flavors, but the recipe remains largely unchanged. People have been enjoying (or disliking) the same controversial candy for well over a century.
Germany’s High Manufacturing Standards
Germany’s role as a leader in the candy industry is due in part to their high manufacturing standards. Products made in Germany are renowned for excellence in development, design, and quality assurance.
In addition to inventing many sweets still popular today, Germany also boasts the world’s most respected ‘Made In’ label. This achievement is a result of high quality materials and controlled production conditions, and assures consumers their products were made domestically, rather than being outsourced abroad for cheaper labor.
The country’s standards for production reflect the immense amount of pride Germans take in their manufacturing industry. Nearly 1 in 4 German laborers are employed in the manufacturing sector, with high wages and opportunities for growth attracting and retaining skilled workers. Germany’s tradition of craftsmanship and innovation is respected globally.
Truffly Made Products
At Truffly Made, we strive to create products our customers can rely on long-term. In a busy production line, the difference between low-quality equipment and high-quality equipment quickly becomes evident. Cheaper machines may save money up-front, but can cost a business in repairs and lost productivity. They also will have to be replaced sooner and more often, adding up to a much larger cost over time.
German standards of superior craftsmanship, strict quality control, and excellence align with Truffly Made’s values and principles. Manufacturing our industry-leading molds, depositors, and demolders in Germany ensures we are providing our customers with products that meet and exceed the demands of professional candy-making.
Whether you’re looking to expand your business’s capabilities, ensure consistency in production, or improve efficiency, Truffly Made is here to help you meet your goals. With high-quality equipment, recipe development services, and on-site consulting, we take the work out of candymaking.
Read more about German manufacturing here, or visit our website to browse our selection of high-quality German-manufactured candy making equipment.