What is cotton candy flavor?

Cotton candy has a way of reminding us all of our childhood.

Whether you’re at a carnival or a sporting event, you can always count on this fluffy, shiny, sweet treat to satisfy all your sugar cravings; It’s nostalgia in the form of sugar!

This sweet and delicious treat has taken the world by storm, as the infamous cotton candy flavor has infiltrated many other foods including ice cream, soda, and milk. There are even cotton candy grapes!

Now you can even buy the flavoring and infuse your own treats at home with this classic flavor.

So what is cotton candy flavor?

The cotton candy flavor is a variable blend of the artificial flavorings ethyl maltol, strawberry vanillin furanone, and ethyl vanillin that creates a flavor profile called “pink vanilla.”

Read on to better understand what exactly these artificial flavorings are and the flavors they produce.

We will also see how cotton candy is made, and what makes the famous pink and blue cotton candy that you love so much. But first, a bit of history.

The story of cotton candy

Ironically, cotton candy was invented by Nashville dentist James Morisson in association with confectioner, and Morrison’s friend, John C. Warton in 1897.

The two created what they called an “electric candy machine,” naming their sweet new creation the “fairy floss.”

Morrison and Warton debuted their new invention in 1904 at the World’s Fair, where their “fairy floss” turned out to be a hit.

Selling nearly $20,000 worth of spun sugar in 184 days (in 1904, I might add) it was clear these men had created something special.

Unfortunately for the inventive couple, their candy machine was seriously flawed.

Over time it became an unreliable machine, and after these men’s patent expired, another dentist named Josef Lascaux tried to recreate the machine in 1921. However, this dentist was also unsuccessful.

Although Lascaux was unable to adequately reconstruct the candy machine, he succeeded in changing the name from dental floss to the term “cotton candy” (although “dental floss” continues to be used in many parts of the world).

Although dentists were passionate, it seems that the candy business was not for them.

Finally, in 1949 an Ohio company, Gold Medal Products, created a cotton candy machine that was successful.

As other inventions continued to emerge, the company kept improving its machines to keep producing the fluffy, airy delight we now know and love as cotton candy.

How is cotton candy made?

Now that we know the origin of this sugary treat, you are sure to have some questions.

How exactly is it made? How does sugar turn into a whimsical fluff? How do they do that?

There are four main steps to create cotton candy: sugar processing, candy collection, cutting, and packaging.

Cutting and packing occurs mostly when cotton candy is produced in bulk for distribution, but can also be used by vendors who produce cotton candy on-site.

Sugar processing is when fine granulated sugar is added to the machine’s extruder, where it is melted into an extremely hot liquid form of sugar.

From here, the hot liquid sugar exits the extruder creating those long strands of cotton we all know.

Then, once those lovely velvety strands start to form, harvesting begins.

This is where a vendor takes a cone-shaped stick and slowly circles around the collection bowl, scooping up the newly formed sugar and creating a big cloud of colorful goodness.

Next the cut takes place. In industrial machines, the marshmallows move along a conveyor belt where a blade cuts and creates individual treats.

However, the portable machines (with which we are most familiar) seen at fairs and carnivals do not require this process.

Finally, packaging is necessary. For industrial machines, this means creating uniform sized portions and wrapping them in plastic and eventually cardboard boxes for shipping.

For portable machines and on-site cotton candy manufacturing, this step usually does not take place. 

What is the flavor of cotton candy?

Now that you know where cotton candy comes from and how it’s made, let’s take a look at what exactly cotton candy tastes like. We know that it is sweet and has a strong flavor, but what specifically produces it?

As we’ve already discussed, there are three main artificial flavors that combine to form this iconic flavor: Ethyl Maltol, Strawberry Furanone, and Vanillin and Ethyl Vanillin. 

Ethyl maltol is a soluble synthetic substance that occurs as a white powder and produces a fruity, caramel flavor in products infused with it.

It is used in many different food products, such as ice cream, chocolate, and even pickled vegetables, to enhance flavor.

Strawberry Furanone is a compound found naturally in strawberries, but is also (and most commonly) created synthetically as a white powder.

Like ethyl maltol, it has fruity and caramel notes, but also a “burnt” smell, and is used in many confectionery, but also fragrances.

Both vanillin and ethyl vanillin produce one of the most popular flavor profiles: vanilla.

Vanillin is the natural form of the compound obtained from the extraction of vanilla beans (and occasionally beavers!), while ethyl vanillin, like ethyl maltol and strawberry furanone, is a synthetic version made in laboratory.

However, when you buy cotton candy flavoring, syrup, or any other infused food, you may not see these ingredients listed.

Instead, you’ll see “artificial flavor,” which really means that it includes a mixture of these three substances.

However, all three of these artificial flavorings need a soluble to dissolve. That is why you will see that propylene glycol, which is a water-based soluble, also appears in all cotton candy flavored products.

Without it, the flavoring will not be successful.

What flavor is pink cotton candy?

When you close your eyes and imagine this fluffy treat, chances are two colors come to mind: a soft, feminine pink and a calm baby blue, each with a subtle yet unique flavor.

Pink cotton candy is typically associated with a “pink vanilla” flavor. With hints of vanilla, most of the time this is the kind of flavor you should expect with this color of cotton candy.

Surprisingly, the flavor is not really tied to the color of the cotton candy. In fact, cotton candy can be colorless and still taste like “pink vanilla.”  What really gives cotton candy its color is a dye added to the flavored sugar.

What flavor is blue cotton candy?

Although you now know that flavorings and dye are responsible for the flavor and color of cotton candy, regardless of the color, there is a specific flavor associated with blue cotton candy: blue raspberry.

Blue raspberry is one of those flavors that has no real origin (there is no such thing as a blue raspberry) and yet we are all familiar with it, as it appears in many candies such as candies and the famous Slurpee. But what is it?

Blue raspberry is simply the flavor of raspberry dyed with blue food coloring to give it a distinct and recognizable flavor. 

By combining a mixture of the aforementioned artificial flavors and food coloring, the iconic blue cotton candy is formed.

Cotton candy: The adaptable candy

Since cotton candy is simply sugar, flavoring, and coloring, the flavor and color combinations are endless!

Although pink and blue are the most popular, the evolution of this treat has given rise to all sorts of colors and unique flavor combinations.

Some of the more creative flavors are birthday cake, chocolate and strawberry, passion fruit, and pina colada.

Gold Medal Products even did a collaboration with Dominic “The Midway Gourmet”, a legend and visionary of carnival food, creating a bacon flavored cotton candy!

The odd flavor turned out to be incredibly successful, selling out in its opening weekend at the Houston Cattle Carnival and Rodeo in 2013. Gold Medal Products continues to sell the crazy-flavored cotton candy mix on its website.

Cotton candy has come a long way since 1904, both in its flavor and that of other products. It’s sweet, delicious, nostalgic, and there’s really nothing else quite like it.