A taffy is a chewy, stretchy candy made by heating sugar, butter, and flavorings until they form a thick syrup, then pulling and stretching the mixture over and over until it becomes smooth and glossy. The pulling process traps tiny air bubbles inside, which gives taffy its distinctive light texture and makes it less sticky than it would otherwise be.

Making taffy traditionally required two people working together, pulling the warm candy back and forth like a rope until their arms got tired. Today, machines do most of this work in candy factories, but you can still see taffy being pulled by hand at beach boardwalks and old-fashioned candy shops. The repetitive stretching motion is mesmerizing to watch: the candy starts out as a blob and transforms into long, twisted ropes that get folded and pulled again and again.

Saltwater taffy became famous at seaside resorts in the late 1800s, though despite its name, it doesn't actually contain seawater. The candy comes in dozens of flavors and bright colors, wrapped in wax paper with the ends twisted closed. When you eat taffy, you have to chew it thoroughly because it can stick to your teeth, which is part of its appeal and its challenge.