The first ever introduction of lollipops to the West in the United States by a man named George Smith of New Haven, Connecticut in 1908. It is named after his favourite racehorse, “Lolly Pop”. He used the idea of sticking candies in the stick to make them easier to eat.
1908 was a year of invention and innovation because when George Smith introduced lollipops in Connecticut, production of the first lollipop began around the same time in Racine, Wisconsin.
The name Lollipop was registered in 1932. Linguistically, “lollipop” meant “tongue” and “pop” meant “slap”. The idea of lollipops has existed for hundreds of years, and it is said that African and Asian societies used to combine nuts and fruits with honey on a stick.
Records show that in 17th century England an early version of what we call lollipop was sold by street vendors in London. These lollipops were made from soft candies because there were no automatic stick insertion machines. Although these lollipops have a different texture and appearance from modern lollipops, the concept was the same: delicious candies that can be eaten easily. Over time, a limited amount of honey and a very low production of sugar almost destroyed this tradition until the seventeenth century, when sugar became abundant. Street vendors in London sold hand-made "lollipops" made in large quantities during this time.
The modern lollipops appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Over time, the candy manufacturing process has undergone significant changes and today's machines can produce more than 5900 lollipops per minute.
Children and adults still enjoy licking, as lollipops are very popular with people of all ages. Like chocolates that have been around for thousands of years, rest assured that this sweet treat won’t go anywhere anytime soon.