Candy canes are an iconic symbol of Christmas. Their red and white stripes adorn trees and homes during the holidays while their minty flavor delights taste buds. According to the National Confectionery Association, a U.S.-based group that advocates for the confectionery industry, candy canes are the No. 1 selling non-chocolate candy in the month of December — 90 percent are sold between U.S. Thanksgiving and Christmas. There’s some mystery surrounding the origins of candy canes because there are no exact records of their invention. Even the iconic flavor of candy canes is full of mystery as no one knows who first created peppermint confections. The first mention (at least in the United States) of peppermint-flavored sugar sticks also appeared in the 19th century. A cookbook written in 1844 and titled The Complete Confectioner, Pastry-cook and Baker included instructions on how to make peppermint candy sticks.

Source: The Conversation