History:
In the plantation days, when the variety of candies we have
today didn’t exist, "la cuite" (pronounced "la-kweet") was a
very popular confection. Children would wrap it on a stick,
dip it into chopped pecans or walnuts and eat it very much
like an all-day sucker. It is cooked in an open stainless
steel kettle.
Too Small to Help:
From the time a Steen is born, he or she is exposed to this adventure of
syrup making. Bert Steen can recall one of his first occasions of actually getting
to work at the Mill at an early age of four years. Wanting to help, Bert stacked
two wooden coke cases next to one of the large rectangular pans. These specially
made containers boil only on one end forcing all impurities to flow toward the
cooler side where the clarification process can take place. There were a couple
special workers always willing to allow the youngsters to help and make his day
by paying him in candy for his work. They helped Bert to climb up on his homemade
stool and began the clarification process hand in hand, helping to create Steen's
100% Pure Cane Syrup and vivid memories.