Atlantic City Saltwater Taffy and Boardwalk Sweets

Atlantic City saltwater taffy is the soft, chewy candy sold in paper boxes along the boardwalk, and its name comes from a story about a stormy night, a flooded candy shop and a joke. Whether the tale is true is uncertain, but the candy has been a shore souvenir for well over a century. Here is the story, how taffy is made and how to buy a good box.

What is the Atlantic City saltwater taffy story?

The most repeated version goes back to the 1880s. A storm flooded a candy shop on the boardwalk, soaking its stock with seawater. When a customer asked for taffy, the owner, so the story goes, joked that he had saltwater taffy for sale, and the name stuck. In some tellings the owner's daughter or a customer made the joke. Other accounts say the name was already in use elsewhere.

Historians treat the story as a tale rather than a record. The name likely appeared in the late nineteenth century, and the tale remains a favorite of the shopkeepers.

What is certain is how deeply the candy is tied to the shore. Taffy became a standard souvenir for visitors who arrived by train in the early twentieth century, and shops competed with window displays, free samples and elaborate boxes. Generations of families still buy a box on every trip, and some keep a tin on the kitchen table all year. The candy is a small, cheap piece of the boardwalk that comes home in a pocket.

Is there really seawater in saltwater taffy?

No. Taffy is made from sugar, corn syrup, a little water, butter or oil, salt and flavoring. The salt in the recipe is ordinary salt, added in a small amount, and the sea plays no part. The name is a piece of marketing and good humor, and it has outlived many of the shops that first used it. The texture comes from pulling: stretched on a machine until air makes it light and chewy.

How is boardwalk taffy made?

Hot sugar syrup is cooked to a set temperature, poured onto a cool table and folded. The mass is then pulled on a machine with arms that stretch and fold it, which adds air and turns it from glassy to opaque. Flavor and color go in, and the taffy is rolled into ropes, cut into pieces and wrapped in waxed paper. Some shops pull taffy in the window, which draws a crowd.

If you see a machine at work, stop and watch for a minute. It is part of the experience.

What boardwalk candy shops sell besides taffy?

Fudge, caramel corn, chocolate-covered fruit and pretzels, brittle, rock candy and old-fashioned sweets in jars. Many shops make some of their stock on site, and the smell of cooking sugar drifts onto the planks. Ask for a sample if the shop offers one, and choose a few flavors rather than a full box of one. Chocolate does not like summer heat, so keep it out of the sun.

What are fudge and caramel corn like here?

Fudge is cut from a slab and sold by weight, in flavors from chocolate to peanut butter and seasonal specials. Caramel corn is popcorn coated in cooked caramel, crisp and sticky, and it is sold in bags and tins. Both are classic shore treats, and both travel well. If you are buying for someone at home, ask the shop how long they keep.

How do you buy taffy well?

Look for color that is bright but not fake, a texture that gives slightly when pressed and a fresh wrapper. Sample before you buy a pound. Ask how recently it was pulled, since taffy hardens over time. Store it in a cool, dry place in an airtight tin. If you are traveling, pack it in the middle of a bag, not on top in the sun.

A box makes a sweet gift, and a handful makes a fine afternoon. If you are choosing flavors, start with the classics, such as vanilla, chocolate, peppermint and molasses, then add one or two that surprise you. Children usually go for the brightest colors, and adults for the mint. Everyone argues about the black licorice.

How can you rate sweets in the app?

In the Mosey app, you can rate a place with stars and add a dish, such as a flavor of taffy or a slice of fudge, with its own rating. Tags such as Bakery, Dessert and Family Friendly describe the place, and a diner can look for them in the Find sheet. A tag is a note from someone who was there. If friends came, tag them and they can add their own rating of the same treat.

Where next in Atlantic City?

The Atlantic City boardwalk food guide covers the savory side of the planks, and the Asbury Park beach day food page covers another shore town's snacks. The US food guides hold the rest of the country.

This is one of many New Jersey guides, and the Food in New Jersey page lists them all by town.

Before the box is empty, open the Mosey app, rate your favorite flavor by name, and share a list of the sweet shops you tried with the friend who loves taffy.