The history of lollipops, particularly in the US, is a little skewed. Archeologists believe some version of the sweet treat may have been created hundreds of years ago. However, it was only within the last hundred years that a feature was added, making the stick hollow. Many wonder why this may be. It turns out there are two main reasons.

Brief History of Lollipops

Sugar was once a rare commodity. Therefore, people had to be creative in order to enjoy sweet treats like lollipops or gummies. It is believed that before the 17th century, places like Egypt and China made varying nut and fruit concoctions. They then added honey for preservation and a touch of sweetness. Next, sticks were added to make them easier to eat. These examples are some of the earliest recorded variations of today’s confection.

After the 17th century, sugar became more readily available. Thus, countries like Britain began boiling sugar and adding sticks to make lollipops. Although there is some speculation regarding lollipops in the US, George Smith claimed to “invent modern style” lollipops in the early 1800s. The man from New Haven, Connecticut, thought that adding sticks to candy would make it easier to eat. Interestingly, at the time candy was soft or chewy, rather than hard candy.

Another hundred years would pass before lollipops, and their production would see another reboot. In 1908 Racine Confectionary Machine Co. introduced an automated lollipop production machine. The machine allowed for around 4,200 lollipops with sticks to be made per hour.

However, a few years later, Samuel Born invented a similar machine known as the “Born Sucker Machine.” He was awarded the keys to the city of San Fransisco for his “innovation.” It differed from previous models because it inserted sticks into the candy rather than on the end of a stick.

Creating Lollipops with Hollow Sticks

Variations of lollipops have been around for centuries. Some were made with fruits and nuts, others pure sugar, and eventually, most also had added and artificial flavors. Sometimes, lollipops even added dyes to make the candy more aesthetically pleasing for children.

Over the last few decades, one thing has changed about the packaging for lollipops. Some lollipops, like Tootsie Pop and Dum Dums, had solid paper sticks. While better for the environment than their plastic counterparts, the paper sticks, to some extent, actually inhibited consumers’ ability to enjoy the product.

In contrast, manufacturers of Chupa Chups have been making lollipops since 1958. Originally producing only seven flavors, today, the international company now sells more than 100 flavors to more than 150 countries worldwide. They knew something that other candy makers were yet to find out. Their lollipops have been made using hollow sticks with holes at the top, serving two purposes.