#55: Confectioner’s Glaze

Confectioner’s glaze is the shiny coating that many candy companies put on their product to give them a shiny, smooth finish. It’s a food feature that most of us don’t think about very much. But what exactly is confectioner’s glaze? Your feelings about the truth behind this glaze all depends on how you feel about bugs.

Yes, that’s right. The confectioner’s glaze is made from a special insect secretion. The glaze is made with secretions from female lac bugs. Before you get totally grossed out, confectioner’s glaze is processed into an alcohol-based resin. Humans have incorporated bugs into their diets for centuries, so confectioner’s glaze is not completely out of left field.