Salt Water Taffy Summer Time Treat

When you go to a beach you are sure to find taffy.  Did you know the name salt water taffy started in Atlantic City? 

There is a story that salt water taffy got its name by accident at a taffy stand on the Atlantic City boardwalk. The guy went to sleep. The next morning he went to his stand, it looked weird because at night a wave flew on his stand.  The salt water got all over the taffy. He sold it to about 5 girls.  Salt water taffy does not taste like salt water, they just call it that.  

James was the first company for salt water taffy.  It started in 1880.  Fralinger’s started five years later.  The Glaser family bought the James company in 1985 and then bought the Fralinger company in 1990.  The family still runs the company today.  

James and Fralinger’s each have different recipes.  You can try each taffy in the same flavor and see which you like best.  Molasses was the first flavor ever made. Since molasses was the most oldest flavor, you might think it is not good, but it is good. 

If you go to the store, they have 4 types of taffy.  They are James, Fralinger’s, chocolate  covered, and filled.  The James taffy is small and fits in your mouth.  Fralinger’s is creamy with milk in it and is long and thin.  Kids may want a little more exciting taffy and they can have it.  Try chocolate covered taffy. 

They have the factory in the same building as one of the stores on the boardwalk.  That is the original store.  It is still there today.  The store is sometimes crowded.  The factory can wrap 500 taffy in a minute on six machines.  

Mrs. Lisa Glaser Whitley is now a grownup person in the Glaser family.  She told me, "You picked my favorite store as well because it shows our history. The one thing I would love to share is that I am very proud that my family continues the traditions and confections of James, Fralinger’s and Bayards. We love sharing our history with our customers.”  You can watch the history of salt water taffy video. 

There was a friendly lady working at the store, her name is Mrs. Judy Jebsen.  She said the most popular type of salt water taffy for kids is cookie dough.  The most popular in general is chocolate.  

Emily, age 17 was on vacation with her family.  She was visiting the store from Sterling, Virginia.  She said, "my favorite type of taffy is chocolate."  Emily said what she likes about taffy the best is that "it's chewy and sweet." 

It has been on the Food Network and the Today Show to look at summer time treats with Marc Summers.  Do you think they put him on it because of his last name?  Salt water taffy is a fun summer treat that you can enjoy the entire year and whenever you go to the beach.  

Gabrielle and I at Caring Kids Cards like to put smiles on people's faces.  Even one piece of salt water taffy that can fit in your mouth will put a smile on your face.