New England Heritage: Salt Water Taffy

In New England, the tasty treat known as salt water taffy is as Summer as baseball games and barbecues. Despite it's name, this type of taffy is not made with salt water. Although the recipe calls for both salt and water, the name is credited to a candy shop owner in Atlantic City, NJ after his store was destroyed by a storm in 1883. Click here for more on it's origin. But with New England having the best beach towns, several sweet-tooth shops make their own salt water taffy. Walking along the sidewalk where these shops are located you'll often see the taffy-makers pulling the taffy right in the window. They usually sell fresh fudge as well. Take that Wonka! And it has become a tradition for several families to buy a box with every trip to the beach. Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island you name it. In New England, any trip to any one of the several beach towns isn't complete without bringing home some of this deliciousness. You can even head north to Hampton Beach in NH and Bar Harbor in ME and still find some fantastic salt water taffy. For adults the taste has a nostalgic feeling bringing back the memories of mom and dad loading the station wagon on a early Saturday morning trip to Cape Cod. So of course they keep this tradition alive with their kids today by filling up the bags for the long car ride back. Just about everyone remembers it and still loves. If you move away, then it's one of those delicacies that you long for. Especially in the summertime. And then when your visiting home again the first bite brings back those memories. You'll say to yourself, "Yeah it definitely feels like Summer in New England again!" Salt water taffy - It's the New England thing to do!