Philadelphia

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets

By Darra Goldstein

Published 2015

  • About

Philadelphia has a long history of confectionery that is unique both in terms of the highly specialized profession that evolved there and the pervasive influence the Philadelphia trade had on American confectionery in general. From the very earliest establishment of the city, confectioners held a special place in the community of food purveyors who derived their economic success from the mercantile nature of Philadelphia’s colonial trade networks. The Caribbean provided a ready source of sugar and exotic fruits. Shipping connections with Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean ensured a steady flow of luxury products such as fresh oranges, lemons, almonds, and syrups, while the city itself provided a niche market among the wealthy merchant class, whose lavish entertainments created a demand for European-style caterers and confectioners.