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Candies and Candy Making: Blow

The Soufflé or Blow. - After another minute or two, dip the skimmer in the sirup and jar it sharply by striking it on the edge of the pan.

Blow through the holes, and if the sirup forms small bubbles or globules on the reverse side, the sirup is in the state known as the "blow."

The Plume or Feather.-Again dip in the skimmer, and shake it so as to flirt the sirup from the edges. If it threads and flies from the skimmer in flakes or hangs from the edge in strings it is in the state known as the "feather."

The Boulet or Ball. - Make the next test with the thumb and finger, or by dropping a little sirup into cold water. If it can be rolled between the finger and thumb into a soft, creamy, but not sticky ball, the state is known as the "soft ball."

After a few seconds' more boiling, on testing in the same manner, it will be found to be in the state known as the "hard ball."

The Cassé or the Crack or Snap. -The next test is made with the thumb and finger, and if the pinch of sirup is brittle enough to crack or snap, leaving the parts attached to the thumb and finger dry and hard, it is in the state known as the "crack." In this state it does not stick to the teeth, and a spoonful dropped into cold water will be hard and very brittle. This is the state in which candy is ready to be pulled.

The Caramel or Hard Baked.- When the sirup begins to brown, it is in the state known as "caramel " or "hard baked." It will then give off a pungent odor and brown rapidly, when it must be at once removed from the fire, as otherwise it will burn to a black cinder.

In this state, if a little sirup is dropped into cold water it will crackle and snap like glass. Care must always be taken not to allow the fire to burn up against the sides of the saucepan, or the sugar may be burned and discolored.

The above are the definitions of the different degrees in sugar boiling noted by French confectioners, who are considered the best in the world.

By others the distinctions between the little and great thread, the small and great pearl, and the soft and hard ball are less noted; the blow and the feather, or the feather and the ball are often regarded as identical.