coltsfoot candy n Also coltsfoot rock (candy) chiefly NEast
A hard candy flavored with coltsfoot n 1; hence n coltsfoot stick a piece of this candy.
1812 Independent Chron. (Boston MA) 6 Feb [3]/3, [Advt:] Coltsfoot Candy. A Cheap, simple and pleasant remedy for recent Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Sore Throats, &c. 1852 Hartford Daily Courant (CT) [28 May 3]/2, [Advt:] Fruit Drops. . ; also, English Bath Pipe and Coltsfoot Rock Candy. 1889 Nashville Banner (TN) 25 Feb 4/5, [Advt:] English Coltsfoot rock candy for coughs and colds at Maskey’s. 1906 Philadelphia Inquirer (PA) 23 Feb 16/5, [Advt:] Croft’s Celebrated Coltsfoot Rock Candy For Coughs and Colds. 1923 Fall R. Daily Eve. News (MA) 29 Dec 6/7, [Advt:] Coltsfoot Sticks, 40c pound. 1934 Ithaca Jrl. (NY) 15 Jan 9/1, [Advt:] Old-Fashioned Coltsfoot Candy—Old-Fashioned Hoarhound Drops—Old-Fashioned Stick Licorice—A. B. Brooks & Son Pharmacists. 1967–68 DARE (Qu. H82b, . . Cheap candy . . sold years ago) Inf NY34, Coltsfoot rock: fluted, anise-flavored hard sticks; NY41, Coltsfoot: semi-hard long sticks; dissolved in mouth. 1976 Yankee May 64/2 PA, As a child, one great treat was coltsfoot candy. This confection was sandy in color, semi-hard, and a bit porous. . . The name and flavor comes from a plant of the same name Tussilago farfara, anciently one of the most popular medicinal herbs.