Gummi Bears

German’s love their gummi bears. They are EVERYWHERE! At stores there is the regular candy display and there is the gummie bear display. Banks and post offices give them out instead of suckers. Restaurants give them instead of mints.

All the gummie bear hype lead me to do a little research. I’ll pass on what I learned in case you were every curious about the good old Gummie bear.

The Basics:

*Hans Riegel was German.

*In 1920 he founded Haribo; a German Candy Company

*In the 1922 Riegel invented the “Dancing Bear”- a gummie candy

*The Dancing bear would later become Haribo’s “Gold-Bear” gummie bears


Just for kicks:

*In 1981 Trolli (another German candy company) made the first gummie worm


Still want more?

*Average gummie worm is 2 inches long

How do you make a gummie bear you ask?
Gummies are basically an edible gelatin. They are made of corn starch, corn syrup, sugar, gelatin, coloring and flavorings.

The mixture is cooked, usually by steam. Excess moisture is removed. Then colors, flavors, assorted food acids and fruit concentrated are mixed into the gummie mixture.

Next the gummie mixture is added to molds in the shape of a bear. The molds are usually coated with corn starch to prevent sticking. After they are set the gummie bears are removed from the molds, packaged, delivered, bought (or given) and enjoyed.

Germans don’t just stick with the traditional bear or worms. So far the best one I seen is gummie cheese burgers. They come complete with a tiny plastic box. We got them with our check when we ate dinner. (Not an actual picture of the ones we got… those didn’t stay around too long.)




Coming soon: Pasta shaped ice cream... stay tuned