{"podcast":{"title":"Family Tree Food Stories","slug":"family-tree-food-stories-7049295","podcast_index_feed_id":7049295,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/family-tree-food-stories/","website_url":"https://podcast.familytreefoodstories.com/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/053c96d6-e6f4-441a-90ff-baa85cb8b974/5c6zUaL_HnCCsFywVyfzbA4v.jpg","author":"Nancy May & Sylvia France","episode_count":91,"summary":"Family Tree, Food & Stories podcast will take you on a mouthwatering journey through generations of flavor! We're digging up and sharing the juiciest family secrets, hilarious dinner table disasters, and the heartwarming moments that make your favorite foods, meals, and relationships unforgettable. From Great-Grandma's legendary cheese crust apple pie to that questionable casserole your Uncle Bob swears by. With Family Tree, Food, and Stories, we're serving a feast of laughter, tears, and everything in between. So, are you ready to uncover and share those unforgettable stories behind every bite and create some new memories along the way? Join our growing family of food enthusiasts and storytellers as we Eat, laugh, relive the past, and learn how to create new memories together because. . . every recipe has a story, and every story is a feast.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-25T18:22:55.082537+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/family-tree-food-stories-7049295"},"episode":{"title":"The Surprising History of Penny Candy: NECCO Wafers, Tootsie Rolls, Corner Stores, & Church Steps","slug":"the-surprising-history-of-penny-candy-necco-wafers-tootsie-rolls-corner-stores-church-steps","published_at":"2026-05-28T08:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/family-tree-food-stories-7049295/the-surprising-history-of-penny-candy-necco-wafers-tootsie-rolls-corner-stores-church-steps","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/family-tree-food-stories-7049295","url":"https://family-tree-food-stories.captivate.fm/episode/penny-candy-lost-and-found","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/7362e9c2-375c-4d0e-b3af-e72ce81b8c07.mp3","summary":"The History of Penny Candy in America. Discover how penny candy grew from 19th-century sweets into a childhood ritual shaped by corner stores, five-and-dimes, and iconic treats like Necco Wafers and Tootsie Rolls. If you have ever wondered about the history of penny candy or searched for the origins of your favorite childhood sweets, this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories takes you right back to your old neighborhood corner store. Here, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely unwrap the history of American childhood favorites, back when a single penny at the five-and-dime store made you feel like you owned the place. While researching this episode, I was amazed by the historical facts hiding behind the glass jars of the local candy counter. Penny candy was one of the very first product categories marketed directly to children in the 19th century. From the first automated lozenge cutting machines to the retail revolution of F.W. Woolworth , we explore how picking out treats became our very first lesson in budgeting and economics. Whether you grew up trading Mary Janes , peeling candy dots off paper, or chewing on wax lips, I'm taking you on a nostalgic ride through the golden age of American sweets. Penny Candy History And Facts You Will Learn About: What was the first penny candy? I break down the historical debate between the invention of NECCO Wafers in Boston and the debut of the Tootsie Roll in Brooklyn. Where does sugar come from in the US? As a Florida \"Gator Girl,\" I share the surprising fact that Florida sugarcane production accounts for 50% of all the sugar value in the United States. We're pretty sweet! How early candy evolved from pharmaceutical concoctions: You will hear how early hard candies and lozenges were originally mixed with pharmaceuticals to soothe st…","meta_description":"The History of Penny Candy in America. Discover how penny candy grew from 19th-century sweets into a childhood ritual shaped by corner stores, five-and-di…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1685,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/family-tree-food-stories-7049295/episodes/the-surprising-history-of-penny-candy-necco-wafers-tootsie-rolls-corner-stores-church-steps/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/family-tree-food-stories-7049295/the-surprising-history-of-penny-candy-necco-wafers-tootsie-rolls-corner-stores-church-steps.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}