Our Story
Candies of Distinction, A Jersey Shore Tradition Since 1929. For more than 90 years, Criterion has been making chocolates and salt water taffy by hand with the finest of ingredients. Over three generations have enjoyed the handmade tradition of excellence. Criterion "Candies of Distinction" and the high standards set by its owners and employees have been recognized by discriminating buyers in the stores and gourmet gift boutiques which they serve. This tradition, begun so long ago, continues today from the Jersey shore, with a dedication to setting the standard for American homemade chocolates and candies.
Our Taffy
From the Jersey shore to your door, at Criterion Chocolates we use only the finest ingredients to make our salt water taffy. Cooked in copper kettles over a gas stove, we hand mix the purest ingredients using recipes passed down three generations. Corn syrup, pure cane sugar, butter and….well, we can’t give all our secrets away. Salt and water are added and we start cooking our "batch". Our taffy is then cooked to 240-250 degrees depending on the climate. From the stove to a water cooled table the taffy will start to cool down and set up. At the precise time, it is taken off the table and put onto a "taffy puller". It’s here the coloring and purest of flavors are added. After some time on the puller, the taffy "log" is ready to be cut and wrapped. From wooden paddles to metal cooling table, we still make taffy the old fashioned way.