Introduction to Freeze-Dried Candy

When you think ‘candy’, you probably think ‘sugary’ or ‘chewy’ or ‘melty’, but there’s an emerging new trend in the candy world that could change our notions about it: freeze-dried candies, which offer a unique crispiness to our sweet treats while retaining the flavours of our favourite snackables.

The Freeze-Drying Process

A Glimpse Into the Technique

Lyophilisation, or, as it is more commonly known, freeze drying, removes liquid from a product after it has been frozen. It can turn a regular sweet into an incredibly lightweight, crunchy treat indistinguishable from the original in pretty much every way – except weight and texture.

Why It Works for Candy

Candies are moist, and what’s more, by making them freeze-dried you take the moisture out and impart a wonderfully crisp consistency to them, as well as retaining the flavouring without anything like a cooking process, so no high temperatures involved.

Popular Freeze-Dried Candy Choices

Fruity Favorites

Gummy Bears: You can still hug the bears when they’re freeze dried – just make sure you blow on them first, as they’ll be crunchier and will conveniently be filled with fruit juices.

Skittles: The shell gets crunchier and the inside gets airier.

Chocolatey Delights

M&Ms: the crispy shell snaps and pops even more, while the creamy chocolate inside disintegrates into dust.

Raisins dipped in chocolate: the chocolate-bloomin’-plums (hey, hey) come off better, the contrast of rich chocolate and tangy fruit enhanced by the process.

Benefits of Freeze-Dried Candies

Extended Shelf Life

Another key advantage of the freeze-drying process is the extension of shelf life. Eliminating moisture reduces the risk of microbial growth and, with no need for preservatives, these candies will continue to function for years.

Unique Texture

Freeze-dried candies, with the crisp and crumbled quality that is their most obvious pre-digestive benefit, are another confirmation that juiced should be filed under ‘I love the texture’. These freeze-dried snacks are hardly simulacra; their texture is entirely novel.

Travel-friendly

Because they’re lightweight, freeze-dried candies are an ideal snack to stuff in your pockets for hikes, camping trips or road trips.

Conclusion: The Future of Snackables

The future of confectionery is freeze-dried – literally. Any candy shops of 50 years from now will no longer stock gelatins and gums and marshmallows, but shiny little freeze-dried gems. We normally associate candy with aridness, but freeze-dried treats reverse the process: they retain their crispness and flavor while melting and dissolving like gum in your mouth. I might have found my new snack, which also happens to be the future of candy.