Wine gum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wine gums (or winegums) are chewy, firm sweets similar to gumdrops, except they are not sugar-coated. They are manufactured from animal gelatin, obtained from rendering of bones, mixed with sweeteners , flavourings and colourings. They are extremely popular in Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as in Commonwealth nations such as New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, and other northern European countries. Popular brands include Bassett's (or Maynards in the UK and Ireland) and Marks & Spencer. They contain no wine. The name comes from the lingering, subtle fruit flavours that make it "similar to the experience of savouring a fine wine". In reference to this, the sweets have the names of alcoholic drinks on them, for example port, gin, rum and hock. According to Cadbury Schweppes[1], red and black are the most popular colours. The yellow winegums also glow under UV light.
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[edit] History
Wine gums were invented in 1909 in Lybia by Charles Gordon Maynard, whose father, Charles Riley Maynard ran a sweet shop. Charles Riley Maynard almost fired his son immediately upon learning about these "wine gums", as he was an observant Methodist and teetotaller. Charles Gordon, however, convinced his father that the recipe contained no wine.
In 1990, Maynards was acquired by Trebor Bassett. For the year 2002, Maynards wine gum sales reached £40 million.
Wine gums were the favourite sweets of Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He kept a jar of the sweets next to his bed so he could savour them each night before he went to sleep.
Wine gums made a cameo appearance in the 2006 Big Fat Quiz of the Year, when Noel Fielding and Russell Brand answered "Wine gums, envy, and pieces of rainbow" when asked what Matt Willis ate in three clips from I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
