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They resemble barber poles, spearmint leaves and teddy bears.

They taste of violets, cinnamon, wintergreen and molasses.

They come imprinted with messages, impaled on sticks or rolled in cornstarch. We buy them in bulk or wrapped in comic strips.

They are the candies we’ve loved for decades. Each is a ticket back to childhood.

It’s not hard to see the enduring appeal of candy. It comes down to sugar dissolved in water. Depending on how it’s cooked, you get nougat, toffee, hard sucking candies, caramels, marshmallows, lollipops or chewing gum. Chocolate is a category better saved for Valentine’s Day.

This close to Halloween, candy is on our minds. Children aren’t the only fans: the National Confectioners Association of America reports about 40 per cent of adults will eat their kids’ trick-or-treating loot. (Guilty as charged.)

Here’s a look at candy through the decades, 140 years of sugary goodness. Reminder: Brush your teeth after reading.

Source: Toronto Star