Ah salt water taffy. From our grandparent’s candy dish to gift baskets here and there, salt water taffy is a summer candy staple. But do you know about its accidental start?

According to many historians, salt water taffy was an accidental creation in candy store owner David Bradley’s shop in 1883. His Atlantic City, New Jersey shop had been flooded during a major storm and water had completely soaked his stock of taffy. Later, a young girl came into the shop and asked if any taffy was for sale. He jokingly offered her the “salt water taffy” and the rest was history.
After that, it became a main summer candy on the east coast boardwalks. It was so lucrative, that there was actually a Supreme Court decision in 1921 over a dispute on improvements to taffy pulling machines. Until then, candy shops could only make about 300lbs a day by hand. With a machine, they could make roughly 10,000lbs. Now, candy shops roughly make five times that amount, annually.
Salt Water Taffy has been a summer treat mainly because it didn’t melt, making it a perfect candy among the summer resorts. Some of these “antique” candy stores are still in business selling the same taffy creations from the past.
We bet you’re craving a piece of taffy now! To learn more about the history of salt water taffy, visit the Smithsonian and Mental Floss for more. Visit BlairCandy.com for an assortment of salt water taffy in bulk and other sizes. Just be sure you have enough to last you all summer!