| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 20 mins – 25 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 767 | 0g | 0g | 196g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 196g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
I have a deep-seated love for creating recipes that blend cultures, and one of my absolute favorites is the Wintergreen & Mint Candy. This fruity sweet treat not only engages your taste-buds with a delightful mix of mint and wintergreen, but it also passionately narrates a tale of my Western and Indian roots.
The Fusion Flavors
Keeping my Gujarati roots in mind, where often dessert is offered as a form of hospitality and love, this Candy does just that. It’s a flavorsome blend of two vibrant cultures, in the form of a hard candy, that invokes fond memories of my upbringing; every bite feels like home.
The Wintergreen & Mint Candy stands as a testament to the fusion of American candy making techniques and the typical use of mint in Indian cuisine. Sweets similar to this recipe, like the Peppermint Patty, inspire nostalgia with their minty fresh flavors, yet this candy has its unique charm. It would pair well with other light desserts, like fruit tarts or even a nice Earl Grey Crème Brûlée.
Healthy Benefits
Apart from being a delicious indulgence, mint in this candy can offer several health benefits. Mint has been known to aid digestion and provide relief from headaches. Plus, the sugar content in this recipe delivers a quick energy boost, perfect for the midday slump.
In a world of mass-produced sweets, the effort put into making homemade candies feels like an act of mindfulness – a delightful balance of creativity, patience and science. The love and satisfaction you get from seeing the end product, the Wintergreen & Mint Candy, is absolutely worth it.
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 & 1/2 cups of light corn syrup
- 1 cup of water
- 1 teaspoon of wintergreen extract
- 3/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract
- 2 drops of green food coloring
- 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup of confectioners’ sugar
Method
Step One
Combine the granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and water in a large saucepan. Stir until the sugar completely dissolves.
Step Two
Heat the mixture over medium heat until it starts to boil, then stir in the cream of tartar. Continue to cook, without stirring, until the syrup reaches 290 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer. This is the “soft-crack” stage.
Step Three
As soon as the syrup reaches the correct temperature, remove it from the heat. Wait for the boiling to cease, then stir in the wintergreen extract, peppermint extract, and green food coloring.
Step Four
Quickly pour the mixture into a greased or lined candy mold, or onto a greased or lined flat surface.
Step Five
Allow the candy to cool completely, then break it into pieces if you’ve poured it onto a flat surface. If using a mold, remove the candy from the mold. Toss the candies in confectioners’ sugar to prevent them from sticking together.
Step Six
Store your Wintergreen & Mint Candies in an airtight container at room temperature. They should keep for several weeks.
