Owners and co-founders of Essential Candy, Tracy and Dean Ernst, holding up their Wellington made, all-natural candy.
Photo by Essential Candy
Tracy and Dean Ernst founded Essential Candy in 2018 with a desire to help a friend with cancer. The company’s success has led it to open a new manufacturing facility in Wellington for its essential-oil-infused, gluten-free, vegan, low-sugar and low-carb candy.
These “candies with a purpose” were first created to combat some of the symptoms of chemotherapy, including nausea, dizziness and loss of appetite. The goal was to provide a healthy option for patients already taking multiple medications; the result is a delicious candy with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners.
The candies were found to also render relief for anxiety, stomachaches and depression and provide a boost to start the day.
“We have blends that help everybody and help benefit and promote well-being within the body,” Dean said.
Their most popular products are Digestive Blend, made from lemon, ginger and peppermint; Uplifting Blend, made from orange and lavender; and Wellness Blend, a mixture of elderberry and lemon.
Essential Candy is one of the first companies to create candy infused with essential oils. It has added a product line of candies that contain a mixture of cannabidiol (CBD) and essential oils.
CBD, derived from the marijuana plant, is used to relieve anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression, pain and sleep irregularities.
“There are some potent botanicals that should not be taken lightly,” Tracy said. “However, we source directly from the companies that make organic.”
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services licenses Essential Candy. Before Florida regulated CBD, the company was one of the few to receive permits to sell products infused with essential oils and CBD.
Photo by Essential Candy
Although COVID-19 slowed down Essential Candy’s international expansion, Dean expressed confidence in their vision. "Australia is still a very, very important part, and we’ve got a great partner down there.”
The company's manufacturing facility is not open to the public, but you can stop by the front desk to make a purchase.
The company plans to participate in upcoming festivals include ArtFest by the Sea in Juno Beach on March 12 and 13 and the Coral Springs Festival of the Arts on March 19 and 20.
Essential Candy wants distribution in both cancer treatment facilities and retail stores, but the main goal is to help those in need of relief.
“Our primary focus is to help,” Dean said. “If there is somebody that you know who is going through chemotherapy, we can send them the product, free of charge.”
You can visit their website at essentialcandy.com.
