129-Year-Old Candy Cane Store: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Lucas Candies

The Sweet History of Candy Canes

• 💡 Legend traces candy canes back to 1670 in Germany, where a choir master commissioned sugar sticks to keep children quiet during ceremonies.
• 📊 Nearly 1.8 billion candy canes are sold annually in the U.S. alone.

Lucas Candies: A Family Legacy

• 🏠 Lucas Candies in Havstraw, Rockland County, is a 129-year-old family-run business.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Four generations have used the same traditional recipe to craft their candy canes.
• 🍬 The business was started by two Greek immigrants, who initially sold chocolate and ice cream.

The Art of Handmade Candy Canes

• 👃 Visitors are greeted by the strong scent of peppermint upon entering the store.
• 🛠️ Nick Lucas and Debbie Bertrand handcraft each candy cane using an old-fashioned method.
• 🌀 The process involves mixing sugar and corn syrup to 315°, then cooling and stretching it to incorporate air, turning the mixture white.
• 🎨 Unlike store-bought candy canes where the red stripe is painted, Lucas Candies uses colored sugar for its stripes.

A Cherished Tradition

• 🎅 This small business is described as giving Santa's workshop a run for its money during the holidays.
• 🌟 A lot of hard work and heart goes into each candy cane, becoming a cherished Christmas tradition for visiting children.
• 🇩🇪 Lucas Candies even delivers to Germany, the historical origin of candy canes.
• 🧑‍🏫 The store also offers classes for kids, providing a unique and engaging holiday activity.
• 💰 A single handmade candy cane costs $6, with the reporter humorously suggesting they should raise prices due to the labor involved.