Have you ever eaten a piece of candy and suddenly found yourself back in your grandmother’s kitchen? Maybe it was the delicious aroma, or the texture, or the flavor — but just like that, you were ten years old again, sitting on a sunlit porch, barefoot and carefree?
You’re not alone. Sweets have a powerful way of triggering memories and there's a reason for that. Let’s dive into the sweet science of nostalgia and why candy, especially hand-crafted confections made with care, can feel like a warm hug from the past.
The Science of Taste and Memory
Our brains are wired to make the strongest memories when they’re formed by our five senses… with two of the strongest being taste and smell. The olfactory bulb (responsible for smell) has direct connections to the amygdala and hippocampus, two areas in the brain that handle emotion and memory. That’s why the smell of fresh-baked cookies or the taste of a familiar candy can instantly transport you to another time.
Psychologists call this a “Proustian memory”… named after French writer Marcel Proust and his novel, In Search of Lost Time, where the protagonist experiences vivid childhood memories after eating a madeleine cake dipped in tea. Sweets, with their unique blend of flavors and aromas, are often deeply connected to family traditions, holidays, and comfort.
Aplets & Cotlets: A Taste That Travels Through Time
Here in America candy is more than just a treat, it's part of our shared heritage. From saltwater taffy on summer boardwalks to chocolate hearts on Valentine’s Day, sweets play a starring role in our most cherished moments.
At Liberty Orchards, we’ve heard stories from families who keep our Aplets & Cotlets in their homes not just for the taste, but for the tradition. Whether they’re being shared for the holidays, or any occasion candies can sweeten your life… from picnics to weddings, our fruit-and-nut confections are woven into the fabric of American life. Passed down from generation to generation, our classic sweets are memories in the making!
Whether you grew up with them or are discovering them for the first time, there’s a timeless quality in every bite. The real fruit flavor, the delicate dusting of powdered sugar, the satisfying texture — it all whispers "you’re home."
Why We Crave Sweetness When We Miss Home
When life gets busy or the world feels chaotic we reach for comfort. And many times, comfort can taste like the candies we knew as kids — the treats that were simple and made with love. Today there’s a return to that kind of sweet. People are craving authenticity, and here at Liberty Orchards we've been handcrafting our fruit and nut candies for over a century. And, from what our customers tell us, a little sweetness can go a long way!
So, the next time you’re feeling nostalgic, we invite you to unwrap a little bit of the past. Share a box of Aplets & Cotlets with your family, send a box to someone far from home, or just savor a quiet moment with a sweet that speaks to your soul.
After all, home isn’t just a place — sometimes it’s a memory.
Explore our full collection of heritage sweets HERE and let your taste buds take a trip down memory lane.
