Bonomos Turkish Taffy

Original

Bite-Size Pieces

Available in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and banana.

Watch a Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePucRtuOorc

History

Albert Bonomo emigrated from Turkey in the late 19 th century. Although he was from that country, Bonomo Turkish Taffy is not a Turkish recipe. The name just sounded good. Albert started making candy in 1897 in Coney Island to supply the concession stands at the amusement park. After World War I, his son, Victor joined him at the candy factory making saltwater taffy and hard candies.

After World War II, they came up with a candy made from a batter of corn syrup and egg whites which was cooked, then baked. This was not technically a taffy. It was, rather, what is known as a "short nougat." The candy was cooled in sheets the size of a school desk. It was shipped that way to candy counters where clerks used a ball-peen hammer to whack off pieces which were sold by the pound. Later, the candy was cut into bars. Originally the taffy came only in vanilla. Later, banana, chocolate and strawberry flavors were added.

In 1949, Bonomo Turkish Taffy became one of the first candies marketed on television. They created and sponsored The Magic Clown on NBC. This increased the popularity of the candy tremendously.

In 1980, Tootsie Roll Industries took over the manufacture of Bonomo Turkish Taffy. It was discontinued in 1989 due to slow sales. However, it was reintroduced to the public on July 2, 2010 at IT'SUGAR in Atlantic City. Old Time Candy began selling it on July 6, 2010.