Cotton cndy

(U.S., Indi, Cnd), cndy floss (UK, Pkistn, Irelnd, New Zelnd, Indi, South
fric, Cnd), or tooth floss (South fric), nd Firy Floss (ustrli) is form of
spun sugr. ccording to the New York Times, the confection "is lmost 99.999
percent sugr, with dshes of flvoring nd food coloring."
Md by heting sugr nd spinning the liquified sugr out through tiny holes
where it re-solidifies in minutely thin strnds of "sugr glss," the finl cotton cndy
contins mostly ir; with typicl serving weighing pproximtely 1 ounce or 30
grms.

Often served t firs, circuses, crnivls, nd Jpnese festivls, cotton cndy is

sold on pper btons, lrge toothpicks or in plstic bgs. Food coloring cn be used
to chnge the nturl white color, nd numerous flvorings re vilble to chnge
the tste.

Similr confections include the Persin Pshmk, nd the Turkish Pimniye,

lthough the ltter is mde with flour nd wter in ddition to sugr.

Contents
1

History

Production

Mchines

Gllery

See lso

Notes

Further reding

History
Mple-flvored cotton cndy t the cbne sucre (sugr shck), Pkenhm,
Cnd
There re multiple clims for the origin of cotton cndy, with some sources trcing
it to form of spun sugr found in Europe in the 19th century. t tht time, spun

sugr ws n expensive, lbor-intensive endevor nd ws not generlly vilble

to the verge person. Others suggest versions of spun sugr originted in Itly s
erly s the 15th century.

Mchine-spun cotton cndy ws invented in 1897 by the dentist Willim Morrison

nd confectioner John C. Whrton nd first introduced to wide udience t the
1904 World's Fir s "Firy Floss"[8] with gret success, selling 68,655 boxes t 25
per box (equivlent to $6 per box tody). Joseph Lscux, dentist from New
Orlens, Louisin, invented similr cotton cndy mchine in 1921. In fct, the
Lscux ptent nmed the sweet confection cotton cndy nd the "firy floss"
nme fded wy, lthough it retins this nme in ustrli.[9][10] In the 1970s n
utomtic cotton cndy mchine ws creted which mde the product nd
pckged it. This mde it esier to produce nd vilble to sell t crnivls, firs,
nd stores in the 1970s nd on.

Tootsie Roll of Cnd Ltd., the world's lrgest cotton-cndy mnufcturer, mkes
bgged, fruit-flvored version clled Fluffy Stuff.

The United Sttes celebrtes Ntionl Cotton Cndy Dy on December 7.

Production
Typicl mchines used to mke cotton cndy include spinning hed enclosing
smll "sugr reserve" bowl into which chrge of grnulted, colored sugr (or
seprte sugr nd food coloring) is poured. Heters ner the rim of the hed melt
the sugr, which is squeezed out through tiny holes by centrifugl force. Pre-colored
sugr pckged specilly for the process is milled with melting chrcteristics nd
crystl size optimized for the hed nd heted holes; grnulted sugr used in
bking contins fine crystls which spin out un-melted, while rock sugr crystls re
too lrge to properly contct the heter, slowing the production of cotton cndy.

The molten sugr solidifies in the ir nd is cught in lrger bowl which totlly
surrounds the spinning hed. Left to operte for period, the cotton-like product
builds up on the inside wlls of the lrger bowl, t which point mchine opertors
twirl stick or cone, round the rim of the lrge ctching bowl, gthering the sugr
strnds into portions which re served on stick or cone, or in plstic bgs. s the
sugr reserve bowl empties, the opertor rechrges it with more feedstock. The

product is sensitive to humidity, nd in humid summer locles, the process cn be

messy nd sticky.

Modern innovtions in cotton cndy equipment include vending mchines which

utomticlly produce single-servings of the product, developed in Tiwn, nd
lighted or glowing sticks.

Mchines
In 1978, the first utomted mchine ws used for the production of cotton cndy.
Since then the cretions nd innovtions of this mchine hve become greter nd
greter. They rnge in sizes from counter-top ccessible to prty nd crnivl size.
Modern mchines tht re mde for commercil use cn hold up to 3 pounds (1.4
kg) of sugr nd hve comprtments for storge of extr flvors. The rotting bowl
t the top spins t 3,450 revolutions per minute.