'Tis the season to be jolly, and for good reason as Hercules Candies is kicking off the holiday season. Opening their doors in East Syracuse to show customers how they make their candy canes.

"It's not Christmas if they don't come here and watch us make candy canes and leave here smelling like a candy cane," says Hercules co-owner Terry Andrianos. 

The entire process of combining sugar, corn syrup, water and the flavoring takes 15 minutes

"Just boil that up, but an edge of flavoring, put it on marble table, mix it up until you get maximum blobification which means basically its cool and big enough to pick up", says Andrianos. 

Workers then shape and package them.

Andrianos says that after two decades of opening their kitchen for tours, they still can't believe so many people come back.

"So I was like what can we do? But candy canes? Who is making candy canes for people to watch? So, we did it and it was a big hit, we've done it ever since and now its tradition for a lot of people," Andrianos said.

Saying and showing, that homemade makes all the difference.

"We use flavoring oils. I don't know what they do in stores but their flavors are not as distinct or strong, if you are eating our peppermint candy cane you know its peppermint," said Andrianos.