Freeze-dried and Fun-ified - Morgantown magazine

February 21, 2024 · Leave a Comment

At 1253 Canyon Road, Motown Treats is the spot for unique candy you won’t find anywhere else. Owner Jessica Waldron has taken her freeze-dried candy to markets and events across the Morgantown area over the past year, but now she’s made it even easier to try her candy. Opening a shop on February 6, Waldron’s Motown Treats provides Morgantown with a freeze-dried candy-supply destination—open Tuesday through Saturday every week, and available even more conveniently on GrubHub. A visit to the shop in mid-February found dozens of varieties on the shelves, ranging from skittles to peach rings to cotton candy–stuffed fruit roll-ups. freeze dried candy store

We got in contact with Waldron to find out just what to expect from this sweet surprise.
What’s the texture like?

Jessica Waldron: We fondly describe that texture as “melt-in-your-mouth candy Cheetos.” The process also intensifies the flavor of the original candy, leading to a more pleasurable experience. How do you do it? Are there chemicals involved? What happens to the candy during the process?

JW: I use a freeze dryer that uses sublimation to remove water from the candy/food. The candy has all water or moisture content removed in the freeze-drying process where, then, heat and vacuum pressure-dry and puff the candy up—no chemicals are used. Candy can take anywhere from six to 16 hours, while food and fruit can take 30-plus hours, depending on the moisture content. Did you do test runs on any candies that didn’t turn out well?

JW: I have had many failed candy attempts. It is definitely a learning curve. Also, each freeze-dryer machine works differently, leading to a lot of trial and error for each batch. Temperature and humidity will also affect the freeze-drying process—so one day the batch will be perfect, and the next day it will take twice as long.
With “freeze” in the name, I have to ask: Can it melt?

JW: Candy actually skips the freezing process and goes straight into the heat/vacuum process, while fruit and food do freeze prior to that process. Candy won’t melt, but moisture can cause it to reconstitute to its original form and/or cause it to become soft. We always suggest freeze-dried candies be stored in a sealed container, in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. You opened your own store on February 6. How has that been going so far?

JW: I was nervous about opening on a weekday, but so far it has been amazing. I am so honored by the support from my community. I really enjoy my business and seeing customers’ faces when they try freeze-dried candy for the first time.

Motown Treats is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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Sasha Dobek is a graduate student at West Virginia University. She teaches first-year composition and loves to write, both in and out of class. When not in school, she can be found crocheting, playing the guitar, or exploring new places to hike.