What is the origin of caramel?

Caramel originates from the Spanish language and has roots in Latin. The word "caramelo" comes from the Late Latin word "cannamella", which means "sugar cane". This term, in turn, derives from the Greek word "kánna", meaning "reed", and the Latin word "mel", meaning "honey".

Over time, the word "caramelo" was adopted into other languages, including French, Italian, Portuguese, and English. In English, the spelling of the word was simplified to "caramel" and it came to refer to the substance made by heating sugar until it turns brown and develops a characteristic flavor and aroma.