Peppermint has been a popular holiday flavor across the world for many generations. From candy canes and peppermint bark to Starbucks peppermint mochas and hot chocolate, peppermint is a flavor that awakens the senses and brings the holidays to life. For many North Carolinians, peppermints are not only a tradition, but a source of pride as local candy maker Piedmont Candy Company’s Red Bird Peppermints continue to grace houses across the state each holiday season.
Since 1890, Red Bird Peppermints have been a staple in Lexington. Originally founded by the Ebelein family, Piedmont Candy Company has made a variety of candy through the years, including peppermints and Dixie Chocolate Cream Drops. At that time, Red Bird peppermints were made using open copper kettles to heat the cane sugar to 300 degrees. This method allowed the Ebelein family to make about 2,000 pounds of candy puffs and sticks each day. In 1987, the company was sold to the Reid family, who continue to own and operate the factory today. In fact, Piedmont Candy Company is one of the few companies with production still based in the United States, further extending its history and heritage in our state!
Although the use of open copper kettles was effective in the earlier years, Piedmont Candy Company has switched to a more modern production system that allows them to produce over 50,000 pounds of candy per day. Instead of the open copper kettles, a big boiler is used, allowing the company to produce over one billion soft peppermint puffs each year! To make the puffs, three simple ingredients are used: (1) Pure cane sugar, (2) All-natural peppermint oil, and (3) food coloring. Although boilers and other machinery are used, all candy at Piedmont Candy Company is produced by hand, including the peppermints, which are molded and applied by hand. According to the Piedmont Candy Company team, “each product is unique, much like a snowflake, due to them being handcrafted each day.”
Red Bird soft peppermint puffs are one of the most popular products sold at Piedmont Candy Company, but they do offer other peppermint items that make great treats or gifts during the holidays, including peppermint sticks and spearmint puffs. In fact, their most recent products released were Peppermint Popcorn and Peppermint Bark. The Peppermint Bark can be found at Food Lion, and the Peppermint Popcorn can be found at Walgreens. If you are looking for a store in your area to purchase products from Piedmont Candy Company, simply check out the store locator on their website.
Red Bird Peppermints are a great treat for all your loved ones this holiday season, including livestock animals. Don’t forget that horses and cattle love peppermints as well! Stock up today at a store near you and embrace both the nostalgia and joy found in Red Bird Peppermints this holiday season.
