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Necco Wafers Research Paper

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In 1847, with Oliver Chase’s invention of the lozenge cutter, the famous Necco Wafers were born. Necco Wafers quickly became an American favorite with eight flavors to enjoy: orange, lemon, lime, clove, chocolate, cinnamon, licorice, and wintergreen. Aside from consumption, Necco Wafers have also been used as poker chips, for first communion practice, and even as bulls-eyes at target ranges. Four billion Necco Wafers are produced each year, and if placed edge-to-edge, would wrap around the world twice. In the early 1900’s, Necco Wafers came in handy for more than just gingerbread house decorations. For example, in 1913, Donald MacMillan, an arctic explorer, gave eskimo children the American candy on his expedition. In the 1930’s, two and a half tons of this chalky candy were included on Admiral Byrd’s two year journey in the Antarctic, enough for each of member of his crew to consume a pound of wafers each week. Since Necco Wafers did not melt and rarely broke during transport, during World War II, the American government sent massive amounts of these candies overseas to soldiers. Although World War II veterans were not the first soldiers to have rations of Necco Wafers, Union …show more content…

After being flattened in a different machine, the dough is cut into wafers and stamped with the brand name using the lozenge cutter, first American candy machine made by Oliver Chase. The wafers are now dropped onto a moving belt where they go through a 30-minute drying process. After, the eight flavors are mixed together and workers pack them in rows that are then packaged. These rolls of Necco Wafers are then sold year round everywhere from convenience stores to online, or even in bulk. In exchange for around $1.49, a roll containing all eight flavors of wafers can be

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