The gummi bear is a German creation. Hans Riegal, a candy maker from Bonn, Germany, invented the gummi bear in 1922. Initially, he called his invention the ‘dancing bear" and named the company that manufactured the bears "Haribo," an acronym for Hans Riegal Bonn. The confection became popular by the end of its first year.
For many years, gummi bears were imported to America. American high school students were among the first Americans to know about the gummi bear. They learned about the candy through their German classes. In 1981, the Herman Goelitz Company (now Jelly Belly Candy Company) created the first American-made gummi bear. A year later, the Haribo Company brought their business to the U.S., and the candy was now easily accessible to Americans.
The 1980s also gave birth to a new gummi character. In 1981, Trolli came out with the gummi worm. The original concept of the gummi worm was to create a candy for children that their parents might find mildly shocking. Since then, the gummi worm has become less shocking and the most popular gummi character. Many characters followed the gummi worm and gummi candies now are available in all shapes and sizes. In 1985, Disney created a cartoon show, “The Adventures of the Gummi Bears,” based on the popular German confection. It was an adventure cartoon for children that lasted 65 episodes. The show followed a family of gummi bears on many wacky journeys.
Today, gummi bears and other gummi candies are great confections enjoyed year round.
