How candy corn became a Halloween tradition, and why Americans still love to hate it

Candy corn began as a nature-inspired sweet in the 1880s, designed to resemble kernels of corn and first marketed as fake chicken feed. Its later association with Halloween grew as production became seasonal and Goelitz Confectionery, now Jelly Belly, helped sell it as a holiday treat.

The layered design was difficult to make without automated machinery, so production ran from late summer through autumn. About 35 million pounds are now produced each year, despite strong differences of opinion over its sweetness and texture. This autumn, Brach’s also released a limited-edition perfume inspired by the candy.