

Since gelatin is a tasteless and odorless compound that contains no fat, sweeteners and flavorings are added to give gummy candy its taste. Both the texture and the amount of time it takes the candy to dissolve in the mouth can be controlled by the amount of gelatin used in a recipe. However, since these gels are thermoreversible, which means they get thinner as they are heated, gummy candies have a "melt in the mouth" characteristic. When used at an appropriate concentration, the gels take on the texture of the chewy, gummy candy. This is a protein derived from animal tissue that forms thick solutions or gels when placed in water. The main ingredient responsible for the candy's unique, gummy characteristics is gelatin. The primary ingredients include water, gelatin, sweeteners, flavors, and colors. By blending together different ingredients, they can control the various characteristics of gummy candy, such as texture, taste, and appearance. Gummy candy recipes are typically developed by experienced food technologists and chemists. According to one gelatin manufacturer, nearly half of all gelatin made worldwide currently goes to making gummy candies. Now, the candy is available in various different forms, from dinosaurs to fruit rolls. The gummy bears led to other types of gummy candy entries from companies such as Hershey, Brach's, and Farley's. The fad caught on, causing other companies to develop similar products. It was then when Haribo began manufacturing gummy bears in the United States. While gummy candy has been manufactured since this time, it had limited worldwide distribution until the early 1980s. He began the Haribo company, which made the first gummy bears in the 1920s.

The technology, derived from early pectin and starch formulations, was first developed in Germany in the early l900s by a man named Hans Riegel. Gummy candy represents a more recent advance in candy technology.

Today, it continues to be popular, with sales totaling over $135 million in 1996 in the United States alone. First developed in Germany in the early 1900s, it gained great popularity in the United States during the 1980s. Because of its nature it can be molded into literally thousands of shapes, making it one of the most versatile confection products ever. Gummy candy is a unique candy composed of gelatin, sweeteners, flavorings, and colorings.
