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National Gumdrop Day

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these colorful, chewy treats that pack a punch of fruity flavor and make the perfect movie snack.

Candy & Sweets Food & Drink62

Marketing angleinferred

Drive February candy sales and party supplies through colorful, playful gumdrop-themed campaigns targeting families and kids with DIY craft and party ideas.

Relevance 62high intent

Gumdrop craft tutorials: turn candy into edible jewelry and Candy Land party decorations
Family gumdrop party kits: bundle gumdrops with craft supplies and game night ideas
Gumdrop outfit inspiration: colorful polka-dot and monochrome fashion posts for workplace fun
Behind-the-scenes: gumdrop flavor history and spice varieties to drive snacking curiosity

History

So, what is the history behind the gumdrop and when did it start? Gumdrops were believed to be invented by Percy Trusdale in 1801, however, many still debate about the history of gumdrops and how they came to be.

Gumdrops, the brightly colored pectin candy shaped like domes, are also called spice drops for the variety of spices they contain, such as cinnamon and clove. The term “gumdrops” was first documented during the 1850s, when it appeared in the Illinois State Chronicle as it reported on a candy shop, owned by George Julier.

No matter who invented them, gumdrops are certainly delicious, and the most popular flavors for gumdrops are cherry, orange, lemon, grape, and licorice.

Gumdrops are also a candy that’s typically seen during Christmas time due to its use of spices. Spices such as cinnamon, allspice, licorice, clove, and mint are typically used during this time.

Since the early 2000s, National Gumdrop Day has been celebrated to pay honor and respect to this classic treat!

How to celebrate

Dress Up for National Gumdrop Day

Design an outfit based around a gumdrop to wear for the day. This might even include fashioning these classic little candies into edible jewelry –such as earrings or a necklace. Whether simply donning a colorful polka-dotted t-shirt or dressing up all in one color as a nod to a particular favorite flavor, a gumdrop-inspired outfit or costume is sure to bring a smile or laugh to coworkers and friends!

Gumdrop Party Time

Host a gumdrop themed party or get-together, complete with gumdrop treats and snacks. Guests can try their hand at decorating a sugary snack with gumdrops, or enjoy a few rounds of the popular game, Candy Land. And don’t forget to invite friends to dress in their favorite gumdrop color.

Make Gumdrops Crafts

Whether used as an activity for a Gumdrop party with friends or just as something to do for fun, Gumdrops provide a myriad of ideas for making crafts for kids (and adults!) of all ages. Admittedly a bit sticky to the fingers due to the sugar, but the viscosity of Gumdrops makes them a fun treat to use to make delectable, creative artwork. And if hands are carefully washed ahead of time, the crafts can be doubly enjoyed when eaten later. Try out these Gumdrop craft ideas or imagine others: Gumdrop Caterpillars. Stack multi-colored candies on a skewer to make a caterpillar, or choose only the green ones for a more authentic worm! Attach tiny dots for eyes and cut licorice stems for antennae. Gumdrop Ornaments. Hang these on their own or attach a few together on a string to make a festive garland. Use hot glue to attach gumdrops (flat side down) to the surface of a small styrofoam ball. Mixing up the colors like a rainbow offers the most fun. Gumdrop Snowmen. Stacking up just the white sweets means building something that looks like a cute little snowman. Just add a few black dots for eyes, mouth and buttons, an orange dot for a nose, and then top it off with a black gumdrop for a hat. Gumdrop Tinker Toys. Gather a collection of toothpicks and gumdrops and get ready to create a geometric masterpiece. Just use the gumdrops as “joints” to stick the toothpicks into and then build them into shapes such as pyramids or house shapes. Using colored toothpicks can make the creations just that much more festive. And when they’re finished? Go ahead and eat them!

Share Gumdrops with Others

Share some gumdrops with coworkers, friends, family, and loved ones, and ask them what their favorite flavors are. Tell everyone about the unique facts you’ve learned about gumdrops, and enjoy everything there is to love about this sweet, gooey, and spice-filled treat.

Learn to Make Gumdrops

Another way that National Gumdrop Day can be celebrated is by attempting to make these tasty and colorful treats at home! A simple search online should reveal that there are many different recipes to choose from. Most recipes will call for basic ingredients such as food coloring, baking soda, powdered fruit pectin, fruit juice, corn syrup, sugar, and vegetable oil. Trying a hand at making homemade gumdrops can be a fun way to celebrate on this day, as this kind of activity is a unique and interesting pastime! Because candy making is a bit of an acquired skill, be prepared for this to be a learning experience! Even if they don’t turn out exactly like the ones purchased in the shops, making gumdrops at home can certainly still be an adventure that yields a lot of fun. Of course, it is recommended to keep a couple of bags of gumdrops in the house, just in case your own creation doesn’t go to plan!

FAQ

Are gumdrops always made with gelatin, and what alternatives exist for different diets?

Traditional gumdrops are often made with gelatin derived from animal collagen, but many modern jelly candies in a similar “gumdrop” style use pectin or starch as the gelling agent instead. Pectin-based candies are typically suitable for vegetarians and vegans, while gelatin-based versions are not. People who keep kosher or halal, or who avoid pork, often look for products specifically labeled kosher or halal, which use permitted sources of gelatin or plant-based gelling agents. Because recipes vary widely, checking ingredient lists and certification marks on packaging is the most reliable way to determine whether a particular gumdrop-style candy fits a given dietary pattern.

What is the difference between gumdrops, spice drops, and other jelly candies like jelly beans or gummy bears?

Gumdrops are dome- or drop-shaped jelly candies coated in sugar, traditionally flavored with fruit or warming spices. Spice drops are a type of gumdrop that emphasize spice flavors such as cinnamon, clove, wintergreen, and anise. Jelly beans share a similar sugary, gelled interior but are shaped like beans and usually have a thin, firm outer shell. Gummy bears and related gummies are typically translucent, higher in gelatin, and not coated in granulated sugar, which gives them a chewier, more elastic texture than the softer, more opaque gumdrop or spice drop.

How are gumdrop-style jelly candies made in commercial factories?

Commercial gumdrop-style candies are usually produced by cooking a mixture of sugar, corn syrup, water, and a gelling agent such as gelatin or pectin, then depositing the hot syrup into small molds—often made from trays filled with starch that have cavities stamped into them. The candies are allowed to cool and set in these molds until firm, then they are removed, dried to the desired moisture level, and finished with coatings such as granulated sugar or light oils to prevent sticking. Throughout the process, manufacturers monitor temperature, solids content, and pH to achieve consistent texture and to limit microbial growth, following food safety regulations for confectionery production.

Are gumdrops particularly harmful for teeth compared with other sweets?

Gumdrop-style and gummy candies tend to be considered high risk for tooth decay because they are both high in sugar and sticky enough to cling to teeth for extended periods, giving oral bacteria more time to produce acids that erode enamel. Dental organizations often single out caramels, gummies, and similar chewy sweets as items to limit, especially between meals, and recommend rinsing with water, brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and flossing after eating them. Eating sweets with meals, rather than as frequent snacks, and choosing less sticky treats can reduce the overall impact on dental health.

What choking or safety considerations apply when offering gumdrops to children or older adults?

Because gumdrops and similar jelly candies are small, chewy, and can be difficult to chew thoroughly, they can pose a choking risk, particularly for young children, older adults with swallowing difficulties, or anyone with impaired chewing. Pediatric and food-safety guidance generally recommends avoiding small, chewy, or gummy candies for children under four and supervising older children while they eat them. For people with known swallowing disorders (dysphagia), health professionals may recommend avoiding sticky or chewy sweets altogether or modifying textures as part of a broader care plan.

Why do some gumdrops feel soft and jelly-like while others are firmer or chewier?

Texture differences in gumdrops and other jelly candies arise mainly from the choice and concentration of gelling agent, the ratio of sugar and water, and how long the candies are dried. Gelatin-based recipes often produce a bouncy, elastic chew, while pectin or starch systems can yield a more tender, short bite. Higher solids (more sugar and less water) and longer drying times produce firmer candies with longer shelf life, whereas higher moisture and lower gel strength make for softer pieces that may stale or deform more quickly if not packaged and stored properly.

What environmental issues are associated with sugar-based candies like gumdrops?

While an individual gumdrop has a tiny footprint, sugar-based candies collectively depend on large-scale sugarcane and sugar beet cultivation, which has been linked to habitat loss, high water use, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Life cycle assessments show that sugar production contributes emissions from fertilizer use, field operations, and processing, and intensive sugarcane farming has been associated with biodiversity loss and water pollution from agrochemicals. Choosing products from certified or more sustainably produced sugar sources, reducing overall sugar consumption, and minimizing plastic packaging waste are some ways consumers and manufacturers can lessen the environmental impact of sugar confectionery.