Lemon sticks are a type of

stick candy Stick candy (also called candy stick, barber pole candy, circus stick, or barber pole) is a long, cylindrical variety of hard candy, usually four to seven inches in length and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, but in some extraordinary cases up ...

. They are similar to candy canes and peppermint sticks except

lemon oil The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China. The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culina ...

and acids are used for the flavoring. And for the coloring a clear batch is used for the body and a white batch for the stripe. They are not the same as a lemon peppermint stick, otherwise known as a Baltimore lemon stick. Since 1942, Giambri's is one of the candy makers that produces them.

Baltimore lemon stick

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, part of the

culture of Baltimore The city of Baltimore, Maryland, has been a predominantly working-class town through much of its history with several surrounding affluent suburbs and, being found in a Mid-Atlantic state but south of the Mason-Dixon line, can lay claim to a b ...

is a summer rite of passage associated with the Baltimore Flower Mart where lemon sticks (also referred to as lemon peppermint sticks) are a treat in the form of a

peppermint Peppermint (''Mentha'' × ''piperita'') is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world.Euro+Med Plantbas ...

candy stick Stick candy (also called candy stick, barber pole candy, circus stick, or barber pole) is a long, cylindrical variety of hard candy, usually four to seven inches in length and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, but in some extraordinary cases up ...

stuck in a

lemon The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China. The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culin ...

. Eaten together they provide a sweet and sour taste sensation. The tradition may have come from France. They are sold at the mid-spring Flower Mart held by the

Women's Civic League The Women's Civic League is an organization founded in 1911 in Baltimore, Maryland to promote the welfare of the citizens of Maryland, generally, and Baltimore, specifically. Throughout the course of the twentieth century, the League has been inv ...

. These simple 'drinks' are made by cutting the top off a small lemon, cutting a hole into the flesh, and placing a soft peppermint stick into it. Sucking on the stick and squeezing the lemon produces a sweet, minty, lemony drink. While mostly sold at Flower Mart, throughout summer, people in Baltimore will make these treats at home or social gatherings.

References

Candy Lemon dishes Cuisine of Baltimore {{confection-stub

Baltimore lemon stick

See also

References