The Rockin’ History of Dryden & Palmer
Dryden & Palmer Rock Candy was founded in 1880 by Charles Dryden and Noah Palmer, two friends looking to share their love of rock candy with the world. At that time, people in the USA had only recently “discovered” that rock candy could be enjoyed as a sweet treat.
What makes rock candy so special? Quite simply, it is the purest form of sugar available. Rock candy is made through crystallization, the same process that produces quartz and diamonds in nature…with different ingredients, of course!
At Dryden & Palmer, we fill large containers with a hot solution of cane sugar and water and slowly cool it until larger crystals are formed. These crystals are then harvested as Rock Candy sticks, strings and loose crystals for everyone to enjoy.
Rock candy has a long history going all the way back to the 9th century in India and Iran. The first rock candy was colored blue with a dye from plants and red with a dye from insects! It was originally flavored with the essences of flowers and, believe it or not, a substance called ambergris from the stomachs of whales!
Today, our most popular flavors are Cotton Candy, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Watermelon, Strawberry and Grape. Most of our new flavor ideas come from our customers and store owners who pass on their customers’ special requests to us. If you have an idea for a great new flavor, you can email it to us at info@richardsonbrands.com. Who knows? Maybe you’ll come up with our next great tasting flavor!
Dryden & Palmer Rock Candy products are still handmade, a process which can take up to three days! They are enjoyed in all fifty US states and in almost every country in the world. Mr. Dryden and Mr. Palmer would be astonished to see the wide variety of flavors, colors and forms now available!
From fun crystals and super cool strings and sticks for kids to coffee stirrers for adults, Dryden & Palmer offers an amazing range of colors and flavors to satisfy everyone’s rock candy craving. In the years to come, we look forward to introducing more rockin’ products celebrating the sweet goodness of rock candy!