Musk sticks are a popular confection in Australia, available from many different suppliers. They consist of a semi-soft stick of fondant, usually pink, and often extruded with a ridged cross-section in the shape of a star. Their flavor and aroma are quite floral, reminiscent of musk perfume. Musk sticks are made mostly of musk essence, gelatin, and icing sugar, which gives them a semi-soft and powdery, fondant-like feel. They are also called "musk sweets" and "musk lollies".
Opinions about musk sticks are strongly polarized. Some people love them for nostalgic reasons, while others detest their shocking perfume flavor. According to ABC News, musk sticks manage to disgust tourists as much as they delight Australians. The powerful perfume scent seems to be the most off-putting thing about musk sticks.
Ingredients for musk sticks include musk essence, gelatin, and icing sugar. Musk is the name given to glandular secretions from certain species of oxen, rats, ducks, shrews, beetles, and musk deer. Considered a luxury cosmetic additive, it eventually endangered musk deer, leading some countries to ban its use. Perfumers now use musk essence, a synthetic compound.
Positive:
- Musk sticks are a popular confection in Australia.
- They are made mostly of musk essence, gelatin, and icing sugar, which gives them a semi-soft and powdery, fondant-like feel.
- Musk sticks provide value for money and have become an informal indicator of inflation.
Negative:
- Opinions about musk sticks are strongly polarized, with some people detesting their shocking perfume flavor.
- Musk sticks manage to disgust tourists as much as they delight Australians.
Ingredients or materials:
- Musk essence
- Gelatin
- Icing sugar.
