In 1859, a new confection emerged on the market in the small town of Gränna, Sweden. It was a hard, minty candy with red and white stripes, created by Amalia Eriksson
ADVERTISEMENTSwedish bakers in the village of Gränna are hard at work making peppermint sticks, or 'polkagris' as they're known in Swedish.
The small town is dedicated to the production and distribution of the delicacy, which has become a symbol of Christmas worldwide.
The history of Gränna's beloved candy delicacy
The sugary treat was invented in 1859 by Amalia Eriksson, an impoverished local widow.
To begin with, she was the sole producer of the festive candy, and her bakery quickly became well known in the town, and elsewhere.
In 1915, her bakery was even visited by Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and his wife Margaretha.
She kept the recipe secret, and it was only released upon her death in 1923, at 99 years of age.
Soon others began to use her recipe, and now there are a dozen polkagris bakeries that line the main streets of the town, Brahegatan.
How is polkagris made?
The first step is to mix sugar, water, and vinegar and heat them to a 145°C (302°F).
The hot sugar paste is then dumped onto a cooling table, where colouring is added to small pieces that are separated out and set aside.
Once the dough has cooled down, the peppermint flavouring is added and the dough is stretched with a puller to let in air, which gives it its texture and a white colour.
The dough is then rolled and twisted until it becomes long and thin.
While the dough is still soft, it can be cut and shaped into a variety of forms.
Today, polkagris remains a symbol of Gränna, as well as being one of the most popular Swedish souvenirs.
Check out the video for a trip around the town where it all happened
