Sweet Discoveries: Top 8 Fun Facts About Lollipops That Will Amaze You

1. Horse Racing Inspires Candy

When life gives you lollipops, it might just be thanks to a little horseracing luck and some taffy: The term "Lolly Pop" was first used by the Bradley Smith Company of New Haven in 1931, who had been producing hard candy on a stick since 1908 – all inspired by Reynolds Taffy and a racehorse Smith had seen at a fair.
Source => connecticuthistory.org

2. Lollipop Licking Mystery

Despite the desperate tongue twisting attempts of curious candy lovers and smarty-pants scientists alike, the covert Lollipop Guild still conceals a highly classified secret under the Official Sweets-keepers Act of 1973: Researchers from numerous universities have tried to reveal how many licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop, with results ranging from 144 to 411 licks – Bellarmine University even conducted a recent study involving 130 untamed licksperts, taking into account variables like gender, time taken, and lollipop color, yet no conclusive truth has been set free to finally lick this mystery.
Source => tootsie.com

Did you know an 11-year-old accidentally invented the beloved Popsicle on a frosty night? Discover how this icy treat went from an "Epsicle" to a worldwide sensation with over 2 billion sold annually! 🍦❄️

=> Fun Facts about Popsicles

3. Lolly Pops' Twisty History

From holy sugar sticks in the Middle Ages to colorful equine-inspired treats for modern tongues, lollipops have relished a twisty-turny ride through history: The first American lollipops were soft confections, invented by George Smith in the early 1900s, who named them after Lolly Pop, a famous racehorse, and today they come in an array of flavors, colors, and shapes – with some even housing fillings like soft candy or bubble gum.
Source => awarenessdays.com

4. Giant Lollipop World Record

In a world where size does matter, especially in the confectionery realm, one giant of a treat reigned supreme and solidified its place in sugarcoated history: See's Candies created the largest chocolate-flavored lollipop weighing a whopping 3176.5 kg (7,003 lb), measuring 4 feet 8.75 inches in length, 3 feet 6 inches in width, and 5 feet 11 inches in height on July 18, 2012, in Burlingame, California. This behemoth of a treat even sported an 11 feet 10 inches stick, though its weight didn't count toward the world record – talk about a sweet victory!
Source => guinnessworldrecords.com

5. Racehorse Connection Revealed

Ever wondered what racehorses and confections have in common? Prepare to have your mind gallop through sugary pastures: The modern lollipop was potentially invented by George Smith of New Haven, Connecticut in the early 20th century, naming his hard candy on a stick after a popular racehorse of the era called Lolly Pop, and went on to trademark the sweet name in 1931.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Tootsie Pop Licking Crusaders

In pursuit of the sweet truth, thousands of brave taste-testers ventured where no tongue has dared to linger too long, attempting to solve a sticky conundrum that has stumped generations: How many licks does it truly take to reach the Tootsie Pop's chewy core? Fear not, fellow lollipop enthusiasts: Since 1970, over 20,000 letters have landed on the doorstep of Tootsie Roll Industries from junior sleuths claiming to have unraveled this tantalizing mystery, with reported lick counts ranging wildly from 100 to 5,800. To recognize these gallant efforts, the company sends out a prestigious "Clean Stick Award" certificate and responds to each inquisitive candy crusader personally.
Source => tootsie.com

7. Mother Nature's Candy Craving

Once upon a sweet tooth's dream, a lollipop so massive was born, even Mother Nature craved a lick: This colossal treat, created in 2012 by See's Candies for their 90th anniversary, weighed a whopping 7,000 pounds, measured over 4 feet in width, and contained 1,625 pounds of pure sugar!
Source => walmart.com

8. Tongue-Slapping Lollipop Origins

One might say that lollipops are a literal "tongue-slapper": a delightful marriage between a word for 'tongue' from Northern England, and a word meaning to slap or smack! Here's the sweet truth: lollipops' origins date back to 17th Century London street vendors, with the first automated production in 1908 by the Racine Confectionary Machine Company, churning out 2,400 of these tongue-slappers per hour. Today, we can thank modern companies for producing up to 3,000,000 lollipops per day, and over 100 delightful variations such as Charms and Tootsie Pops.
Source => candyfavorites.com