History of Dryden & Palmer Rock Candy
Dryden & Palmer Rock Candy was established in 1880 during the heyday of rock candy production in the United States. The company’s founders, Charles Dryden and Noah Palmer, quickly earned a reputation for their excellent service and the high quality of their rock candy.
Rock candy is made by the same process used in nature to produce quartz and diamonds. The product of the further refining by recrystallization of pure cane sugar, it is the purest form of sugar available because all impurities are removed as the large crystals form.
For much of its long history, rock candy has been used exclusively as a medicine and preservative, and people in the US only began enjoying it as a sweet treat in the mid-18th century. This purest of sugars has been celebrated in 9th century Arabic writings, Persian literature of the 13th century and later by a certain William Shakespeare.
In Mr. Dryden and Mr. Palmer’s day, rock candy was used for cough and cold remedies, soda fountains syrups and delicious confections. At the time, every saloon offered its own version of rock candy dissolved in rye whiskey called “Rock & Rye” to cure their patrons’ colds…or at least help them forgot they had one!
With the increased availability of medicines using active ingredients in the early 1900s followed by the closing of bars and saloons during the Prohibition era, the rock candy industry fell on hard times. By the end of this period, Dryden & Palmer was the only company left standing and became synonymous with premium rock candy.
Further change came when soda manufacturers switched from rock candy to cheaper corn syrups. Dryden & Palmer rose to the challenge and introduced rock candy on a stick in the 1960s and then flavored and colored the sticks in the 1970s so that the public could continue to enjoy the pure taste of real rock candy.
Today, Dryden & Palmer Rock Candy products can be found in all fifty US states and in almost every country in the world. Mr. Dryden and Mr. Palmer would be astonished to the see the wide variety of flavors, colors and forms now available, but they would easily recognize the tradition of quality and service carried forward from their time.
From elegant coffee and cocktail sweeteners for adults to fun crystals and strings for children, Dryden & Palmer has something for everyone looking to enjoy the unique taste and sparkling appearance of pure cane crystals. An innovative company since its founding, Dryden & Palmer Rock Candy looks forward to introducing more creative products celebrating the old-fashioned goodness of rock candy in the years to come.