Sunday, April 8, 2012

Sugar Mice

There they were, in the front window of a bakery, huddled in a tray between the chocolate eclairs and the eccles tarts. Sugar mice are especially popular around Christmas time but it was May when I first laid eyes on them. They are a peculiarly English confection, with their string tails and crystallized pastel bodies. How did this get started? Imagine a confectioner waking up one morning and thinking "Why yes, I'll make some candy rodents—they are sure to sell!" Who am I to judge? The population of marshmallow chicks and bunnies may currently outnumber the total populace of the United States, at least until small children dig into their Easter baskets. Do they know about Peeps in England?