For more than a century, a family-run confectionery in Indiana has been making candy canes by hand, allowing patrons to observe the entire process.
Since Christmas is quickly approaching, you’ve probably already noticed candy canes strewn all over your neighborhood supermarket. These sugar sticks come in a variety of flavors, but I have to admit that my favorite is still the traditional peppermint ones with the red and white stripes. In addition to using them as decorations, my family puts them on our Christmas tree each year so we may eat them during the season. But this year, we might have to forgo the boxes from big-box stores in favor of something a bit more traditional and handmade.
Martinsville Candy Kitchen
Situated on Main Street in Martinsville, Indiana, Martinsville Candy Kitchen is a small confectionery run by a family. Jimmy Zapapas, a Greek immigrant, founded the store in 1919, and despite what many people think, it is not a factory. Every candy is created by hand using recipes that have been handed down through the generations. The store sells everything from jellies to its trademark candy canes, which continue to be its best-selling item. The store really produced about 45,000 candy canes in 2023 alone.
Handmaking Traditional Candy Canes
Seeing the diligent candymakers at work is one of the best things about coming to this store. It takes two workers around two and a half hours to make 200 candy canes by hand, according to Martinsville Candy Kitchen. Everyone is welcome to watch the live demos, which take place all year round, according to the business. You can check the shop’s Facebook page or Instagram for the dates and times of the demonstration.
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