The first humans discovered sweets in the lush golden offerings guarded by bees. Poking a stick into the hives proved a less painful way to reach the sweet honey treat that lay within. The stick would have been thoroughly licked to retrieve the sweet nectar.

By the time of the Egyptians, sweet fruits and nuts were preserved by using honey and the stick remained–to make these sticky treats easier to eat. The Chinese and Arabs also made early lollipops.

In the 17th century, sugar plantations in the New World began producing a high quality sugar, and the English wasted no time figuring out how to make sugary sweet candy.

In 1905, employees of the McAviney Candy Company got into the habit of taking their stirring sticks home to their kids. Upper management apparently got word of this, and seeing the value of their very own test market, started making lollipops. What were simple stirring sticks became a popular new candy when they started to market it in 1908.

Today, Cima Confections continues the tradition with its Yummy Lix brand. These lollipops come in shapes and sizes the early makers could only have dreamed about: Easter bunnies, Halloween monsters, Santa Claus, bears, stars, and lips. See all of these and more at www.cimalollipops.com.