What Does Candy From a 3D Printer Taste Like? An Investigation
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Like anyone with a sweet tooth, I hightailed it to Dylan's Candy Bar to see the arrival of the first 3D candy printer. Created by Katjes Magic Candy Factory, the device prints out edible candy designs of your choice in a variety of flavors.
As a 20-something walking into Dylan's, I couldn't help but immediately feel like a little kid again. Started in 2001 by Dylan Lauren (her father is designer Ralph Lauren), Dylan's Candy Store is a "Willy Wonka meets Disneyland" mecca. Colorful gummies and chocolate treats lined the shelves, making you want to dive in face first into the candy stashes. There were empty containers and bags waiting for eager customers to fill them up with gumdrops, sour straws, M&Ms, you name it. With over 7,000 candy choices from around the world, the confectionary spot left me wondering if the store had its own on-call dentist.
A quick browse around the first floor at its flagship location in New York City told me that the place not only carried quality sugary goods but also prided itself on innovation and excitement. That's why I tore myself away from the first floor and ventured downstairs to get a very first glimpse of The Magic Candy Factory printer — the first 3D candy printer in the United States.
Downstairs, there were three machines lined up in a row, steadily printing out designs.
"The Magic Candy Factory, when we saw that, we thought it was really innovative," said Dylan Lauren. "It merges our mission of having art, pop culture, and fashion with candy. You can literally see your candy or other people's being made."
Dylan informed me that there were over 100 different designs to choose from, but if someone didn't want those designs, they can request for personalization. The candy itself is made with all-natural fruit and vegetable extracts, so it looks like gelatin, but it's vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
As I stepped closer to examine one of the printers, I saw firsthand how it worked. There is a sleek touchpad for you to choose your messages and shapes. Once all the information is inputted, the tablet sends a coded message to the printer to begin crafting the design. Like ink coming out of a printer, the mixture of heated ingredients comes out of a sharp nozzle.
Here it is printing out the POPSUGAR logo in tasty tropical blue flavor.
The printing process takes only five minutes, no matter what design you choose, and the candy comes in eight different flavors from marvelous mango to beautiful blackcurrant. As I watched the nozzle go back and forth, spitting out the design, I admit I was completely mesmerized. I didn't want the magic to stop, which is why I ended up with not one but three POPSUGAR logos.
Flavors from left to right: luscious lemon, sublime strawberry, and tasty tropical blue.
All final designs get a spritz of "magic glitter dust" (it's just a mixture of sugar, citric acid, and mica-based pearlescent pigments) before they are neatly packaged into a box. Full disclosure: I momentarily forgot that the treat before me was edible — it looked so pristine.
After gingerly peeling the gummy off its board, I popped it in my mouth and found that the texture was surprisingly chewy and sticky. I tried the tasty tropical blue and it left a sugary licorice flavor on my taste buds. The luscious lemon tasted exactly like lemon drops, and the strawberry, well, I am going to save that in its mint condition.
For those who are itching to see the 3D printer in action and order their own designs, the printer is rolling out to all Dylan's Candy stores this month, and each design is only $20. Customers can also go online to request their orders. However, nothing beats witnessing the magic happen in person.