Season’s eatings: how peppermint became the flavor of winter
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Candy canes, peppermint bark and minty mochas are signs the holidays are here – but how did it come to be?. Peppermint has been the reigning flavor of winter since before pumpkin spice conquered the autumn season. Candy canes, peppermint bark, and Starbucks peppermint mochas – now, they’re all clear signs that you’re overdue to start your holiday shopping.
But the association between peppermint and the winter holidays is still somewhat of a mystery. After all, peppermint is an herb commonly harvested in the spring and summer months. Pumpkins and apples are both autumn harvests, so their historical connection is clear. So, how did a minty herb become the icon of the coldest months of the year?.
It’s likely that the peppermint phenomenon probably began with candy canes, which have been around for several centuries. “Candy canes are among the most popular treats for the winter holiday season, and 75% of Americans prefer a classic peppermint candy cane over any other type,” Carly Schildhaus, director of communications at the National Confectioners Association, said.
Historians say the story of the candy cane most likely begins in the 17th century in Europe. Popular lore suggests a choirmaster at Cologne cathedral in Germany commissioned for the local baker to make “white sugar sticks” to be shaped like shepherd’s canes.
The goal of the candy cane was to keep restless children quiet during the Christmas services while simultaneously teaching them about the nativity. The crook shape, reminiscent of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus, imbued the treat with a symbolic significance.
