This confectionary treat is a fragile and delicate candy crafted from sugar, cream of tartar, and the sour essence of lemon or orange juice. Its production involves cooking these ingredients to a precise and tender golden hue before they are molded into lengthy and twisted strands. In the past, this sweet delicacy included barley water as an essential ingredient.
A type of hard toffee, infused with the flavor of lemon, was originally produced using a barley decoction (hence its name). Nowadays, plain water is typically used in its preparation.