As a confectionery expert with a deep understanding of the history of sweets, I can tell you that pinpointing the very first candy ever made is a bit challenging due to the ancient origins of sugar and confectionery. However, one of the earliest known sweet treats was a form of sugar confection that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, around 2000 BCE. The Sumerians and later the Egyptians were known to have produced a type of sugary confection from dates, tree sap, and honey.

The process of refining sugar from sugarcane or sugar beet was a significant development in the history of candy, as it allowed for the creation of more refined and varied confections. The production of sugar candies as we know them today, with sugar being the primary ingredient, likely began in Europe after the 11th century when sugar became more widely available.

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Aside from sugar, candy was also made by combining sugar and honey with nuts. Fruit candies were made by combining fruits with sugar and sweets. Cacao was invented in Mexico in 1519 and was brought back to Europe by the Spaniards in the country who uncovered it.read more >>