View source for Gumdrop

{{short description|Type of candy}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = Gumdrop
| image            = File:Fruit flavoured gumdrops.JPG
| image_size       = 250px
| caption          = Fruit flavored gumdrops
| alternate_name   = 
| country          = 
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| course           = 
| type             = [[Confectionery]]
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[pectin]], granulated [[sugar]], [[flavoring]]
| variations       = Spice drops
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}

'''Gumdrops''' are a type of gummy [[candy]]. They are brightly colored [[pectin]]-based pieces, shaped like a narrow [[dome]] (sometimes with a flattened top), often coated in granulated [[sugar]] and having fruit and spice flavors; the latter are also known as '''spice drops'''.

==History==
[[File:Gumdrops laying on table (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Dots (candy)|Dots]], a gumdrop brand introduced in 1945 and acquired by [[Tootsie Roll Industries]] in 1972.]]
Gumdrops first appeared in the 19th century [[United States]], purportedly as early as 1801, although at that time gumdrop likely referred to small, hard sweets also derived from fruit gelatin.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ayto |first1=John |title=The Diner's Dictionary |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9780199640249 |edition=2nd |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199640249.001.0001/acref-9780199640249-e-590.}}</ref> The name "gumdrop" is not found in print until 1859, appearing in an advertisement published by the [[Decatur, IL]] ''Illinois State Chronicle'' for a candy shop owned by a George Julier. By that time, a [[gelatin]]-based, rubbery candy akin to modern [[gummies]] went by the ''gumdrop'' name, but also a pastier candy with a [[potato starch]] base.<ref>[https://classroom.synonym.com/invention-gumdrop-12076.html The Invention of the Gumdrop]</ref>

One of the oldest types of gumdrops still produced are "spice" gumdrops, using traditional spices including clove, anise, allspice, spearmint, cinnamon, and wintergreen for flavoring.<ref>[https://mobile-cuisine.com/did-you-know/gumdrop-fun-facts/ Gumdrop Fun Facts]</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=January 2021}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.brachs.com/products/others/spice-drops | title=Spice Drops &#124; Brach's Candy | access-date=2022-12-17 | archive-date=2022-12-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221040639/https://www.brachs.com/products/others/spice-drops | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Usage==
Gumdrops, spice drops, and their variations are used in baking for decorating cakes. Around [[Christmas]], they are sometimes used to decorate [[gingerbread house]]s and other confections.

==In popular culture==
The children's board game ''[[Candy Land]]'' includes a "Gumdrop Pass" and "Gumdrop Mountain" amongst its confectionery-themed nomenclature.

The use of the expression "goody gumdrops" as an alliterative exclamation of joy was first recorded in the 1959 novel ''Strike Out Where Not Applicable'' by British crime author [[Nicolas Freeling]]: "Buttered toast, and cherry cake, as well as [[Marmite]]. Goody, goody gumdrops".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ayto |first1=John |title=The Diner's Dictionary |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9780199640249 |edition=2nd |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199640249.001.0001/acref-9780199640249-e-590.}}</ref>

The [[Apollo 9]] [[Apollo Command/Service Module|Command module]] was nicknamed "Gumdrop" due to its shape.<ref>{{cite book | last =Evans | first =Ben | title =Foothold in the Heavens: The Seventies | publisher =[[Springer-Verlag]] | series =Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration Series | location =New York | date =August 25, 2010 | page =100 | isbn =978-1-4419-6341-3}}</ref>

In the ''[[Shrek]]'' film series, the Gingerbread Man (also known as 'Gingy', and based on [[The Gingerbread Man|the fairytale character of the same name]]) places great importance on his gumdrop 'buttons' (mimicking buttons on a suit). When [[Lord Farquaad]] is interrogating him, Gingy refuses to co-operate until Farquaad threatens to remove his gumdrop buttons, causing Gingy to exclaim "No! Not my gumdrop buttons!". Gingy then begins to answer Farquaad's questions.

==See also==
{{portal|food}}
* [[Chuckles]]
* [[Dots (candy)|Dots]]
* [[Goody Goody Gum Drops]]
* [[Gummi bear]]
* [[Jelly baby]]
* [[Jelly bean]]
* [[Jelly Drops]]
* [[Jujube (confectionery)|Jujube]]
* [[Maynards]]
* [[Mint (candy)]]
* [[Turkish delight]]
* [[Wine gum]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2024-03-14|En-Gumdrop-article.ogg}}
* [http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,gumdrops,FF.html Cooks.com Gumdrop recipes]

{{Candy}}

[[Category:Gummi candies]]


{{confection-stub}}

[[es:Pastilla de goma]]