There are many tales circulating as to the true origin of kettle corn, with some as bold as making claim that kettle corn came about in recent years - with the talebearer claiming credit for discovering it. Truth is, kettle corn (or kettle korn as it has been called) dates back to the mid to late 1800's Germany.
In the 1800's lots of food was cooked in hanging pots over an open fire. As a nightly treat some lard and popcorn was put in the pot, stirred with a wooden paddle until the corn started to pop, then
made the right way - by hand in a giant iron kettle
some sugar was added for flavoring - after which it was scooped out and served. It was also discovered at the time, that the sweet kettle popped corn had a fairly good shelf life, which is a result of the sugar in the popped corn. This tradition was carried to America by way of German and other European immigrants.
As time progressed people would cook the sweet kettle corn at various family get-togethers or special events. Today we most commonly think of kettle popcorn being cooked at Festivals, Civil War reenactments, or other events. Unfortunately some kettle corn vendors have strayed from using proper equipment, or even have stopped popping by hand in favor of automatic machinery. The Kettle Corn Guys are committed to maintaining the flavor purity and the tradition of making fresh, old-fashioned kettle corn by using the "elbow grease" method and an iron kettle. The result is not only a great final product, but also a fun experience for everyone who loves this authentic salty-sweet treat as much as we do.
