Sugar Smith Greg Cohen and the staff from Lofty Pursuits make traditional Christmas candy using century’s old techniques and equipment at their shop in Tallahassee, Florida. Watch and see how Greg and the staff make some of most popular styles of holiday hard candies: Candy canes, Sugar plum drops and more.
You can see more of them making candy at: / loftypursuits
at the Public Displays of Confection website www.pd.net
and on their weekly podcast called “Lofty Pursuits”.
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At this point, I don't know if he is a scientist or candy maker. He really loves what he does, and I like it !
The cool thing is: He's both!
A bit of both!!
There is a thing called a food scientist lol
He's a scientist, a candy maker, and an historian.
@@c-r0w you don't know what Non Newtonian fluid is right?
i loved his assistant he clearly loves his job, the lil "mmm smells like pink" was honestly the best part about this.
IKR
He's so cute, someone drop his Instagram plz
He said it literally as soon as i read this lmao
HOT POT
"hot pot!"
It doesn’t matter what they do, it could be the most boring job in the world, if you listen to someone who genuinely loves what they do talk about their job, it will always be fascinating. The passion, love and energy just makes it seem like they have the best job in the world.
Not to mention the knowledge. People that do a job with such passion and love have a lot of knowledge built up over the years
🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forever
The Candymaker narrating the entire thing was such a treat! What a legend!
Yes, he has an awesome channel.
It’s rare that you have a older generation and a younger generation. Showing so much passion for their craft! Really amazing
There's a whole channel all about this exact topic. Check out Hercules Candy :D You got Mom and Pops showing the new generation how to make all sorts of treats and run a business. It's my go to chill channel. lol
@@Haldir111 will do 👍
Well there are other situations where you have those two, and its Hard Candy.
what
sports does the same thing
9:59 The coolest thing about this is the way the boss talks to his staff. He actually respects them as fellow professionals and works alongside them. The best bosses are the ones who don't feel like bosses, you love to see it.
The best boss isn't a boss, they are leaders in the workplace
I think the coolest thing is that they make candy by hand. I think that is a bigger selling point than the way he treats employees.
Yeah at some point he seemed to defer to his employee - you do love to see it
Yip. Never had one of those personally.
@@miguelg4556 Hi Miguel, what does 'to defer to his employee' mean? I googled it but i still don't quite get it. :)
It’s very interesting to see how candy is actually made, it’s genuinely satisfying to see the process. The fact that glucose and sucrose can make something so delicious, yet beautiful.
and cause diabetes! It's astonishing
You forgot deadly. So delicious, so beautiful, yet so deadly.
@@lolaartemis Pseudoscience
@@lolaartemis Sugar burns might not be deadly but they definitely hurt!
Yeah, we haven't seen those 240 times already...
Honestly this shoot went so well that I'm surprised that these guys weren't offered a show making new types of candy and showcasing the history of the various tools each episode. I bet History channel would pick that up.
They have a KZhead channel that they show all of that. Lofty Pursuits
Thanks guys
I’ve worked for history before. Most execs want to do more stuff like this, but people don’t watch…. So they go after the tried and true formula of “grizzled men doing grizzly things” because that’s what consistently rates well. But KZhead is brilliant for this stuff!
@@themugwump33 Very interesting, thanks for sharing!
you seriously couldn't have picked a better person to interview for this story. Greg is amazing and so incredibly knowledgeable.
& his passion is obvious. This man loves what he does!
I watched him for sooooo long and I’m so happy to see that he got an interview!!!
The young man helping is going to be a real master by starting so young!
candy philosopher
That guy's curly mop of hair dangling over the candy looks really GROSS. I wouldn't buy candy there.
I got to meet Greg at his store a few years ago. He was making pomegranate image candy that day, and he used some of the candy “dough” to make a rose blossom lollipop for my sister-in-law, who he could tell was having a bad day.
cool!
Aww, that’s so sweet! (Sorry not sorry)
That's some magical main character stuff right there
That's unfortunate that your SIL was having a bad day at a candy making store. Glad Greg was able to make things a little... Sweeter!
That really doesn't surprise me. He seems like a lovely man.
I really wish I had some candy right now. That guy was really enjoyable to listen to.
wow the man speaking is so articulate and very good at explaining in ways any of us can easily understand. He would be a fantastic professor
Been a fan of Lofty Pursuits for a while now. This guy knows his candy. He's even been able to reverse engineer candy that's been out of production for years.
That's cool, what has he reverse engineered?
@@Will-jk6nw The most recent thing was altoid sours
@@eviljbrian sounds awesome.
They have a channel on KZhead.
Why did he name it that? It doesn't sound like a candy store to me, it sound like a urban real estate firm or something.
13:10 "People seem to forget the history isn't that far away and the future isn't either and were just here in the middle being a caretaker for what's around us." Love this
Came for candy, stayed for the deep insights on life
Ikr! It’s a lovely quote
That's a great quote
You just have to repeat his sentiment
I literally had goosebumps hearing his ending remarks. What a profound delightful man, I could listen to him talk for hours.
You can absolutely tell this is a man who is proud of his craft, and thats absolutely respectable.
Good for him, I remember watching his channel all the time.
I love what he said about seeing himself, not as an owner of the equipment, but instead a caretaker of it. It just sounds so genuine and humble, like he really just cares about the craftsmanship of it all instead of primarily focusing on getting praise or money for what he does. These kinds of people are really the ones who keep things running.
in terms of this equipment it's really an apt description. old stuff like this was built to be used forever, so as long as you watch after it and care for it you can use it forever. in that way hes not only preserving the equipment but also preserving the historical use of it.
Honestly, if the world of business were filled with people like this then the world would be 100 times better
Greg is truly an inspiring individual; he has a real passion for the history and it really shows. Everyone could be a little more like Greg and it wouldn't be a bad thing.
the scissor story was awesome, like his grandfather is working with him in spirit, even though he never met him.
How beautiful words ! Not a owner but instead a caretaker.. remember once you run your own business your not the boss your customers or patience are your boss your guide as they tell you how they want something done you then created something unique thrilling how amazing. 📣try new things create your mind find it 🎭
Really cool to see Greg get features like this. Been a huge fan of his channel for years.
I saw the thumbnail and was gonna be shocked if it wasn't Greg talking about this topic.
He's got such a wonderful manner don't he? Just such a sweetheart
Yeah I'm so glad that they picked him
Me too!!
Same! excited to see him finally get recognition.
Everyone commenting about Greg, but Uri is as capable as him. Having an apprentice like that is a good way to preserve the arts.
Not only is Greg so knowledgeable and simple with his language, how he works alongside his team shows a lot of trust with two-way communication.
This video makes me want to go to their store and buy all of their candy. The process is gentle and natural, and the owner is so wholesome. I know it taste amazing
It is pretty good.
The owner could be the mascot of all that is good and pure. They are so wholesome
It seems like sugary junk, it‘a not appealing to me
@@hmalik5232 I mean it’s literally sugar candy, I’m not sure what else you’d expect
@@hmalik5232 it’s literally a candy store lmao
He has his own KZhead channel, and I watch it all the time. When I went down to Florida, I met him in his shop. He gave me a free t-shirt when I talked about the channel. Truly an amazing guy.
What is the name of the channel?
@@Twinblade34 lofty pursuits
When I met him at the shop I mentioned the channel but instead of gifting me clothing he wrote me into his will so now whenever he passes away I am set to inherit all of his assets including the candy shop
@@zacharywhite4448 wh
@@zacharywhite4448 When I met him at the shop I mentioned the channel and he gave me his kidney
The level of detail of that central image is what amazes me most about the process of making this kind of candy.
i ADORE lofty pursuits im so happy Greg was chosen for an interview this is phenomenal
I've eaten a ton of their candy, which is very expensive (but worth every penny). It's amazing. The way it releases the flavor, and the flavors themselves, are second to none. Even strange flavors you wouldn't think you'd like, are often delicious.
Ive tried the dill pickle and mushroom flavors; they were really good!
Any good recommendations?
you can definitely see why it's expensive in this video 🤯
I don't even LIKE hard candy usually and their stuff is incredible
@@John-dd8kh Lime Sour is always a great one if you like lime. I love their champagne when they do it. Root beer is also good. Honestly I've even had their assortment of Thanksgiving flavors and even the STUFFING flavor wasn't bad.
"People seem to forget that history isn't that far away, and the future isn't either. And we're just sort of here in the middle, being a caretaker for what's around us. Ideas, people, friendships, loves. And if we can remember that, everything's as sweet as candy." What a surprisingly nice quote.
This is so beautiful and unexpected but I love that a man that makes candy said something so beautiful
9:30 WIRED seems to have cut out an important part here. He was saying why they use Mild Steel and not Stainless, and he says that stainless isn't magnetic, but then never says why being magnetic is important.....
If I had to guess so the bars of steel making the rectangle for when they make candy canes stay in place
My special needs class was fascinated watching this! High quality narration telling this story! Thank you!
Cool, mine too!
This guy was really amazing. Please bring him back for more, Wired! He's got such a great knack for explaining and teaching, and I love how smart, informed and passionate he is about his craft. I would love to watch more videos with him talking about anything related to candy! Also, those image candies blew my mind!
The Lofty Pursuits KZhead channel has lots of candy making videos, all narrated by Greg!
www.KZhead.com/LoftyPursuits - I recommend his other videos!
Check out their youtube channel!! Tons and tons of vids like this.
Some people are really into sweet. When you like something it shows when you talk about it.
It’s kind of nice hearing that the owner not only knows how to make candy well and with passion , but also the history behind it.
i dont trust that curly hair wear a hair-net for chrisssake
Intresting fun fact;- kzhead.info/sun/jK2sY9igZ2OEiWg/bejne.html
And the physics
8:56 "Mmmmmmm, smells like pink." 😂
this is he literal definition of a person that trully LOVES what he does for a living...
i love how sustainable his business is, using old tools that last for decades and even centuries, repurposed things like an old fryer basket, an anvil. so cool
And the respect he has for the craft and the machines is admirable too.
@@ahmedexmor Most people end up with a job they can tolerate well enough over time. Few end up loving theirs. Many hate theirs. But this man's passion and love for the art of making candy is so deep, you could call it second nature to him. He was made for it.
Intresting fun fact;- kzhead.info/sun/jK2sY9igZ2OEiWg/bejne.html
@@aayushpaswan2941 STOP multi posting same thing in one YT page
@@cliffontheroad ohh really sorry
I could watch this guy talk all day about anything! He is so knowledgeable and passionate and explains everything just right. He makes me want to be a sugar smith!!
He has a yt channel called lofty pursuits
I was like, how do u know so much?
Lofty Pursuits has a podcast!
he was so good at explaining everything
I love this man being interviewed, you can tell he loves wat he does and hes so humble about it at the same time! He does not at any point try and make himself come across as better than anyone else, the kind of person id love to meet.!!
Imagine having technology that doesn't break or die every 2 years... that's so beautiful
Underrated comment.
Looking at you, phone companies
@@koifish528 Have had the same Huawei phone since the 2016 election.... Jesus... I'm really that old now aren't I?
no 🧢ital💯💯
Victorians
The way he talks about his passion is so comforting and heart-warming. And I love the design and craftsmanship on his image candies. Amazing!
I want a candy counter on how many times he says CANDY
I REALLY liked how you gave us a good look at the present shape both holding one piece right at the camera and then having the camera at just the right angle while you were cutting three pieces at a time. So many videos of candy making I watch the whole thing and then never get a good look at the finished project. You guys are amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful video. I’ve watched many of Lofty’s video because Greg is such a great storyteller and I think he has the mind of a scientist so I appreciate that. Glad you made this video with him.
This is hard to explain but this man feels like a comfort character to me
Samme
He's friend shaped, and also characterized like a friend
What does that mean??
He looks like a friend and acts like a friend. He seems to be an incredibly nice person to have as a friend
@@tahsina.c 😂😂 Don’t worry
I'm glad that lofty pursuits got the attention they deserve.
They charge way too much for their candy
You think so? I think it's fine
@@TCG9777 they charge like $15 for a small tin of hard candy. They're grossly overpriced
@@smellypatel5272 It takes a lot of effort to make these things, but still that's pretty overpriced.
@@merururu. I just went to their website to see what they had. Almost everything on their website is $5.99. The only thing that’s pricey are their sour candies, which are $12.99. With shipping included my order was like ten bucks. I’m not sure what that other person is talking about.
he is just amazing, and far more articulate than most professors that I met at the Uni. fabulous
Can we just appreciate how strong that curly haired guy is. He doesn't look it but he can flip over an entire pot of molten sugar without even scolding himself. Very very impressive
*scalding
I’m so happy that Lofty Pursuits is being highlighted on Wired. Greg is such a nice and wholesome guy😁👍
Me tooooo!!! So cool to see.
Me 3
I'm also very impressed by the sheer physicality required to make this hard candy.
I used to live in Tallahassee while I was attending school there. I visited Lofty Pursuits whenever I was riding around town on my motorcycle and it was just a spectacle to see the candy being made in person. Greg also showed me his video he just finished editing before it was uploaded to KZhead. If you ever are in Tallahassee, Florida, please visit this gem of a place.
I love how this man is so passionate about his job. You can clearly see that he loves what he does
12:36 "We do this on our canvil, our candy anvil, because we're sugar smiths!" THE JOY THAT SINGLE SENTENCE BROUGHT ME IN GENERAL THIS MAN IS SO WHOLESOME.
There's something mesmerizing about the colors and consistency of that half-liquid sugar
This is candy making as an art form. Classic and classy, wonderful.
in the first 18 seconds of this video I can hear more passion about this subject then what I have heard in the last year.
lets take a moment to realize that the entire factory/place where they make candy is a museum, the equipment is all 100 years old.. thats just amazing, these people are so cool!
It's a combination toy store/ice cream parlor/candy store
This guy made this so interesting, with how passionate he sounded, that he makes me feel like maybe I could become a candy maker. He should have his own KZhead channel, I'd love to watch how different candies are made and watch whenever a new design is made or new candy[UPDATE] Aaahh!! Turns out they do have a YT channel!!!! Im so subscribing right now!
I was just going to say, he's been on YT for years, but it seems you found the channel on your own. :)
@@jackcrackerman can you tell me the name of their channel? Edit: hehe I found it in the description 😅
@@hue261 Lofty Pursuits!
I agree, this was super interesting and his passion for it certainly came through.
So, I see the title, and wonder if someone is muscling in on GReg's channel. Nope! If you want the complete experience, view while eating some Lofty Pursuits candy. Thanks GReg! steve
Man, after watching this I have a whole new layer of respect for candy makers. I always had a certain amount of respect for the science of the process, but now I have a greater appreciation for the art aspect of the process.
Lofty Pursuits is no joke. I tried their banana flavored candy and it is actual banana flavor. Not the fake stuff that most candies use.
"Fake" banana flavour is actually based on a species of banana that was popular in the past; the bananas we know today are only one species of many! :)
@@annacastro2855 Yes Greg explains that but they make Cavendish banana flavor
@@annacastro2855 that's so cool 😎 i had no idea
@@jonathanlindo9885 Right? I wanna try that candy banana now yo 😤😂
i like artificial banana flavor
Glad Greg's getting this feature, he and his team really deserve it.
When he said he was simply just the caretaker for the scissors and candy roller I was I like he is the best person ever!!!
I love Lofty Pursuits. Guy's got a heart of gold.
I love how the guy looks at these machines as him being their caretaker and not particularly the individual owner. Such a sweet way to look at it.❤
hearing someone talk about their hobby/job with so much passion and humility is so inspiring, this video was so enjoyable, I could watch them make candy all day
Good news then. They have a KZhead channel called Lofty Pursuits.
Love the positivity of this guy. Amazing
Candy makers commentary is A+. Thank you so much for this.
These are the types of videos that pop inside your head in the middle of taking an exam.
I'm genuinely impressed by the level of passion and knowledge out of the owner and his employees. The last time I saw someone using these kinds of antique candy presses they didn't have half as much to say about the minutiae of it all
The age and history of the old machines add the soul to the candy.
You have a gem with that young gentleman, he knows and does his job flawlessly.
The store guy gave a fairytale vibe, my man really talks and looks like a Disney character
This is just absolutely gorgeous. The fact that people this passionate exist and are working productively gives me hope for others who haven’t found their dreams yet.
I like that the candymaker trusts his apprentice, and asks him for advice and lets him handle a lot of the important jobs. He doesn't have a huge ego, but you can still tell he's the one in charge in the end.
Greg clearly loves his job. He’s got the best vibe
7:22 the fact that the editor made it so we could hear the pop is just 😚👌
I really enjoyed listening to him talk about his profession. He spoke clearly and was excited to tell the audience all about his craft. Dope
i just want everyone to appreciate how much these guys look like candy store employees. like that guy with the higher voice and curly hair just belongs there
You mean wierd al
Well thats probably he's one of their most experienced workers. It's in their best interest to keep him for as long as they can as it'd take a while for a newer member to fill his shoes.
(Hairnet, tho???)
Watch out that curly hair doesn’t end up in the candy!!
This is the sweetest thing I've ever seen online! Thanks for sharing!!
The blend of science and art is the best thing that has ever existed.
I don't like hard candy but I love this guy's philosophy.
non-newtonian fluids
I love how this guy doesn't make the video like a textbook, but instead makes it entertaining while also throwing in stuff that you, (If your like me) would like to look up, and learn about.
One thing to say, I'm Speechless!! This is exactly what we call "you know what your doing" ! The colour...Love it💜💜
Seeing him make this candy makes me feel like each individual piece is a treasure
This is absolutely incredible. The sugar smith's understanding of the structure of the material and how it reacts in specific situations is exceptional. He then applies this to his touch, sound, sight. His passion is captivating too. Nothing like watching a master of their craft do their thing.
You can tell this man and his team put a lot of love into their craft.
so does taylor swift!
@@Toniwoodleigh Meh...
@@Toniwoodleigh Kanye made her famous
That was awesome to watch! Thank you!
As I am listening to the story and science behind the candy making and tools used, I hear a lot of love and respect put into the making of the candy... Thats Awesome ❤️
He is literally what my head conjures up when I imagine someone making candies as a passion and career
A true candy man
This was fascinating. I hadn't intended to watch this but got "pulled" right in. Thank you for sharing this.
"pulled" noice
Exactly! I thought I'd take a quick peek, ended up watching every second.
Same here
Same
sweet!
It’s nice seeing people who are passionate about their job.
Beautifully done, so much fun to listen to, Greg and his enthusiasm is contagious. Thank you.
This gentleman is truly the candy man. What a wealth of knowledge and passion. Just wonderful to watch. Thank you for showcasing this art.
6:25 such a rare and beautiful mindset, especially considering how disposable everything is around us the days. His passion is infectious 🌈💕
I really love listening to people that LOVE what they do, they will always make everything interesting.
I love watching Lofty Pursuits shorts, they've had a channel for awhile. They exude such a refreshing energy, so I always feel a little better than before I watched!
been following pd for the past few years... love to see them get more recognition ♥♥♥
w..what. t. i havent seen this man since 2016 in my black midi phase. what. how.
whos pd
@@Damascene_ same, lmao
Same.
@@1iknow ok
The passion he shows towards candy making really keep me interested throughout the video, nice to see he loves his job this much. And the history behind of all of this equipment is just amazing, I’ve never been so intrigued about the history of candy.
kzhead.info/sun/g9izZbypgWKwZZE/bejne.html
He does have a youtube channel if you want tok check it out
That candymaker is so amazing!
Greg just feels like that one grandpa that had hundreds of story's about his past and I love it.
Enjoyed this immensely. But the best part was watching "THE STAFF" in his youth killing it. Tradesmen, craftsmen are a dying breed. Hope he stays the course. Already appears to be a master.
Glad you guys got Greg to do this. He's one of the best traditional candy makers out there.
Its really cool watching someone that truly enjoys what they do
I love how the art of candy making really takes you through the whole spectrum of sub-states of matter beteeen liquid and solid. Feels like it'd be great for teaching that aspect of science, not to mention just a fun job.
I love when people speak so passionately about their interest or in this case their job. It makes you want to listen and understand.
I agree, however I didn't understand a thing about the scientific explanations lol I feel so dumb. But I guess science just isn't my cup of tea. I find the results interesting, but the process, not so much lol.
yes but it helps if they don’t have the voice of a 13 year old boy (the younger gentleman you know what i’m talking about)