Science of Cotton Candy.. Or Fairy Floss?

From baseball games to state fairs, cotton candy is a beloved treat all over the world. However, have you ever wondered what the science and history of the treat is? Keep reading to find out.

How Was Cotton Candy Invented

If you thought cotton candy was created by a chef, you would be wrong! A dentist by the name of William Morrison wanted to create a treat for his patients. In 1897, he teamed up with a confectioner named John C Wharton to create a machine that spun sugar to create a floss-like texture. It wasn’t until 1904 when the duo shared their treat at the St. Louis World Fair. The sugary treat was then called “fairy floss” and they sold 68,000 boxes just at that fair. Another dentist by the name of Josef Lascaux saw potential in the “fairy floss” and wanted to make his own version of the treat. He named his new version “cotton candy” that was more light than the “fairy floss.” Although he is credited as the founder of the name of “cotton candy,” he was not nearly as successful as Morrison and Wharton.

Candy Floss Or Cotton Candy Or Fairy Floss?

In India and North America, the treat is called cotton candy. In South Africa and Pakistan, it is called candy floss. And then in Australia its is called fairy floss. Wherever you go, there might be a different name for the treat! There is no right answer.

Science of Cotton Candy

The ingredients of cotton candy is sugar, coloring, and flavoring. When sugar hits a specific melting point, the molecular bonds bread down and the sugar becomes a liquid. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the candy evaporate leaving the carbon to burn. When carbon burns, the sugar starts to caramelize. The liquid sugar then becomes the floss when it meets the cool air outside of the machine.

cites

Spence, Charles, Arume Corujo, and Jozef Youssef. "Cotton candy: A gastrophysical investigation." International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science 16 (2019): 100146.

Labuza, Theodore P., and Peter S. Labuza. "Influence of temperature and relative humidity on the physical states of cotton candy." Journal of food processing and preservation28.4 (2004): 274-287.

Christen, Arden G., and Joan A. Christen. "William J. Morrison (1860-1926): co-inventor of the cotton candy machine." Journal of the history of dentistry 53.2 (2005): 51-56.