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4 years ago in History , Material Science By Neethi

Can anyone recommend research on early modern candy manufacture?

The available historiography often treats confectionery as a footnote in social history or commodity studies. For my work on material culture and artisanal knowledge transfer, I need to understand the tangible techniques the tools, the sugar chemistry, the workshop layouts. I'm looking for sources that treat the confectioner as a technical practitioner, not just a shopkeeper.

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By Akshay Answered 1 year ago

Excellent question. I've seen many researchers hit this same wall, where confectionery is discussed as a trade good but not as a complex chemical and material practice. I would recommend you pivot your search terms. Move beyond "candy history" and instead look for "sugar works," "conserves," or "banqueting stuffe" in digitized domestic manuscript collections. For the material process, seek out archaeological reports on urban "sugar refineries" and "apothecary workshops" the spaces were often identical. Start with the work of historians like Sara Pennell or Wendy Wall, who treat recipes as technical documents. Their methodology will lead you to the precise workshop manuals you need.

 

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