How did they get their start, and what makes them so perfectly chewy?

它們是如何開始、又是什麼讓它們擁有絕佳口感？

They're a ridiculously satisfying candy, but, as it turns out, there's a lot more to their story than meets the eye.

它們是種令人難以置信地滿足的糖果，但結果是，它們的歷史遠比我們看到的多。

Here's what you should know about gummy bears.

以下是對於小熊軟糖，你該知道的事。

Gummy bears have been around for almost 100 years.

小熊軟糖已經存在有近百年之久。

They were created and popularized by a German company named Haribo.

它們是由一間名為 Haribo 的德國公司所創造和推廣的。

Hans Riegel, the founder of Haribo, was only 27 when he became a trained confectioner and started his company in 1920.

Haribo 的創始人 Hans Riegel 在成為一名訓練有素的糖果師傅時，只有 27 歲，然後在 1920 年創立了他的公司。

Riegel began by producing hard candies until he decided to try a few experiments with gelatin.

Riegel 是以生產硬糖起家，直到他決定利用吉利丁嘗試一些實驗。

It took two years, but he invented his first bear-shaped candy made of gummy in 1922.

他花了兩年的時間研究，在 1922 年發明了他第一款由軟糖製成的熊形糖果。

Riegel originally called them Dancing Bears, and they were a bit larger and thinner than modern gummy bears.

Riegel 一開始稱它們為「跳舞熊」，它們也比現代小熊軟糖要來得大且瘦。

It wasn't until 1960 that Haribo updated the Dancing Bears' name to Gold-Bears.

直到 1960 年，Haribo 才將跳舞熊的名字改為金熊。

Then, in 1978, the bears changed shape to the shorter, thicker version that we know and love today.

然後在 1978 年，小熊改變了形狀，變成了我們今日所知、所愛的短厚版本。

While gummy bears have been a popular candy in Germany since the 1920s, it took many decades before they became widely known and loved in the United States.

雖然小熊軟糖從 1920 年代以來，一直都是在德國盛行的糖果，但在他們為美國所知且喜愛前，又花了好幾十年。

According to "Bon Appetit", US high school teachers in the 1970s would bring gummy bears into their German language classrooms so students could try snacks from Germany.

根據《Bon Appetit》報導指出，美國 1970 年代的高中老師會把小熊軟糖帶去德語課，讓學生可以試吃來自德國的小吃。

As more Americans were introduced to the tasty treats, candy companies knew it was time to jump on the gummy bear bandwagon.

隨著越來越多美國人開始認識這可口的點心，糖果公司知道是時候跳上小熊軟糖行列了。

Jelly Belly was the first American company to begin producing these little bears in 1981.

Jelly Belly 是 1981 年第一間開始生產這些小熊的美國公司。

However, Haribo wasn't willing to sit quietly and watch from the sidelines.

然而，Haribo 可不願意靜靜地坐在一旁觀望。

So, one year later, in 1982, their gummies debuted in America.

所以一年後的 1982 年，他們的軟糖在美國首次亮相。

Other brands such as Brach's and Albanese followed years later and started producing their own version of gummy bears.

其他如 Brach's 和 Albanese 等品牌也在幾年後跟進，開始生產自有版本的小熊軟糖。

Have you ever grabbed a handful of gummy bears and picked out all of the bears of one specific color because, presumably, they were your favorite flavor?

你是否曾經抓起一把小熊軟糖，並挑出所有特定顏色的小熊，因為你推測它們是你最喜歡的口味？

Then you bite into the gummy candy only to find out the flavor was lying to you?

然後你咬一口軟糖，卻發現味道在騙你？

It happens to the best of us.

這件事都曾發生在我們身上。

According to Charles Spence, a professor of experimental psychology, all our senses affect one another, and flavor perception could be incredibly multi-sensory.

根據實驗心理學教授 Charles Spence 所說，我們所有的感官都會彼此影響，而味覺可能是個非常多感官的體驗。

That's the reason why, when we see an orange candy, we think it's orange-fruit flavored.

這就是為什麼當我們看到一個橙色的糖果時，我們會認為它是柳橙味的。

Keith Dannoff, Vice President of Marketing for Haribo, told NPR that the company's gummy bears come in five flavors: strawberry, lemon, orange, pineapple, and raspberry.

Haribo 的行銷副總 Keith Dannoff 告訴國家公共廣播電臺，該公司的軟糖熊有五種口味：草莓、檸檬、柳丁、鳳梨和覆盆子。

Oddly enough, there is a green-colored gummy bear in the mix.

奇怪的是，其中有一個綠色的小熊軟糖。

But when we bite into that green bear, the flavor is actually strawberry, which might come as a big surprise to some gummy bear fans.

但當我們咬下那隻綠色的熊時，口味其實是草莓，這對一些軟糖粉絲來說，可能是一大驚喜。

The red one is more gooder to me 'cause it tastes like berries.

紅色的對我來說比較好，因為它嚐起來像莓果。

We all know that there's something unique about biting into gummy candies.

我們都知道，咬下軟糖會有一種獨特的感覺。

Next to the flavor, it's the texture that we love.

除了味道之外，我們喜歡的還有它的口感。

But what gives them that special chewiness?

那是什麼給了牠們那種特殊的咀嚼感呢？

Well, much like other classic treats such as marshmallows and Jell-O, it's all about the addition of gelatin.

嗯，就像其它如棉花糖和果凍一樣的經典點心一樣，都取決於添加的吉利丁。

Gummy bears, gummy worms, and all of our favorite gummy goodies are made with sugar, corn syrup, water, coloring, and flavorings,

小熊軟糖、蟲子軟糖和所有我們喜歡的軟糖都是用糖、玉米糖漿、水、色素和調味料製成，

but it's the gelatin that really gives gummy candy that perfect, squishy texture.

但真正讓軟糖具有完美、軟彈質地的是吉利丁。

Gelatin allows for the thickening of a product while still keeping a gooey consistency without adding any color or flavor.

吉利丁讓一個產品在保有黏稠度的同時，變得濃稠，且不需加入任何色素或調味。

Gelatin comes from collagen, which is found in the tissue, skin, and bones of animals such as pigs and cows.

吉利丁取自膠原蛋白，可以在像是豬和牛等動物的組織、皮膚和骨骼中。

Also, this is the reason that vegetarians and vegans should stay far away from traditional gummy bears.

此外，這也是素食者和全素者應該遠離傳統小熊軟糖的原因。

Did you learn that at vegan academy?

你那是在全素食學院學的嗎？

There's always something joyous about eating a handful of gummy bears.

吃一把小熊軟糖總是有種快樂的感覺。

They're one of the most adorable candies out there, and for many, it's hard not to remember eating them as a child.

它們是市面上最可愛的糖果之一，對許多人來說，很難忘記小時候曾吃過它們。

But what if you could take gummy bears and really kick them up a notch to make an adult version?

但如果你可以把小熊軟糖和真正提升到另一個等級，變成成人版本呢？

Turns out you can.

事實證明你可以。

Just like the magic combination of Jell-O and alcohol, you can make your own gummy bear shots.

就像果凍和酒精的神奇組合一樣，你可以自己製作小熊軟糖一口杯。

All you need to do is add gummy bears to a bowl or a cup, pour in vodka until it just barely covers the top of your gummy bears, and let them sit for a few days.

你只需要把小熊軟糖放進一個碗或杯子裡、倒入伏特加，直到它剛好淹沒小熊軟糖的頂部，然後把它們擱置幾天。

The bears will absorb the alcohol, and you'll end up with plump, juicy bears that will make you feel warm with nostalgia and booze.

小熊會吸收酒精，最後你會得到飽滿、多汁的小熊，其中的懷舊感還有烈酒都會讓你暖起來。

There aren't too many candies that have been made into successful television shows.

沒有太多的糖果被製作為成功的電視節目。

Sure, there's plenty of commercials for various candies, and, of course, they appear within shows, but a TV show inspired by a candy is pretty rare.

沒錯，是有很多關於各種糖果的廣告，它們當然也會出現在不同節目當中，但以糖果為靈感的電視節目相當罕見。

In 1985, Disney decided to capitalize on the popularity of gummy bears in the United States and produce a cartoon.

1985 年時，迪士尼決定利用小熊軟糖在美國的受歡迎程度進行投資並製作一部卡通片。

A group of cuddly, colorful bears make up the characters in Disney's "Adventures of the Gummi Bears".

一群可愛、五顏六色的小熊組成迪士尼《妙妙熊歷險記》中的角色。

The show tells the story of a civilization of bears that was almost destroyed by humans.

劇情講述一個幾乎被人類摧毀的小熊文明。

However, there's one group that still lives beneath the medieval kingdom.

然而，有一個群體仍然生活在中世紀王國之下。

Most humans stopped believing in Gummi Bears long ago, but a young boy named Cavin still believes in them because of the stories his grandfather told him.

多數人類都不再相信妙妙熊的存在，但一個名為 Cavin 的小男孩因為祖父曾經跟他講過的故事而依然深信不疑。

After being chased by ogres, he's discovered by a group of Gummi Bears who are understandably suspicious of humans.

在被食人魔追趕後，他被一群妙妙熊發現了，牠們可以想像地對人類抱有疑心。

I've never seen a human close up before.

我從未近距離看過一個人類。

Zummi, do they really eat Gummi Bears?

Zummi，他們真的會吃小熊軟糖嗎？

Oh, no, oh, no, of course not, Cubbi.

喔，不，喔，不，當然不會了，Cubbi。

Cavin earns their trust, and they join together to battle the evil antagonist, Duke Igthorn.

Cavin 獲得它們的信任，然後他們協力與邪惡的反派 Duke Igthorn 對抗。

He's on a never-ending quest to steal the bears' Gummiberry Juice, which keeps them bouncing and gives people superhuman strength.

它一直從事無止盡的任務，偷取妙妙熊的 Gummiberry 果汁，這讓他們能夠蹦蹦跳跳、並能給人超人的力量。

It might sound a little gimmicky, but the show actually had a big international following and aired for six seasons until 1991.

這聽起來可能不過是個噱頭，但那個節目其實有很大群的國際觀眾，節目截至 1991 年共播出了六季。

When you consider the number of companies producing gummy bears, all vying to be crowned the favorite, it's extremely impressive.

當你想到到生產小熊軟糖的公司數量時，而這些公司都爭先恐後地說自己最受喜愛，那是很了不起的成就。

Haribo has factories all over the world.

Haribo 在世界各地都有工廠。

Plus, there are plenty of other gummy goodies coming from such brands as Jelly Belly, Albanese, Trolli, and Black Forest.

此外，還有很多由 Jelly Belly、Albanese、Trolli 以及 Black Forest 等品牌所生產的各式軟糖。

The amount of gummy bears being produced and sold is astonishing.

世界上目前正在生產和被銷售的小熊軟糖數量很驚人。

In 2017, Haribo announced plans to open its first US factory in Wisconsin.

2017 年時，Haribo 宣佈公司計畫在威斯康辛州開設第一間美國工廠。

According to the "Seattle Times", Haribo said it will create 400 new jobs, adding to the existing 7,000 people Haribo employed worldwide at the time, all working to produce 100 million gummy bears daily.

據《西雅圖時報》報導，Haribo 說它將創造 400 個新工作，新增到當時 Haribo 在全球僱用的 7,000 名員工之列，全部都是在為每天生產 1 億個小熊軟糖努力。

The introduction of the new factory was in response to the ridiculous growth the candy industry had seen in gummy bear popularity.

開設新工廠的目的是為了應對小熊軟糖在糖果業受歡迎程度的荒謬成長。

According to Quartz, US sales of gummy bears for Haribo alone from 2011 to 2017 had increased to $115 million.

據《Quortz》指出，從 2011 年到 2017 年，光是 Haribo 小熊軟糖在美國的銷售額就增加至 1.15 億美元。

Not bad for a little bear from Germany.

對於一隻來自德國的小熊來說，這並不壞。

Check out one of our newest videos right here!

請在這裡看看我們最新的影片之一。

Plus, even more Mashed videos about your favorite candies are coming soon.

此外，更多關於你最喜愛糖果的 Mashed 影片即將推出。

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.

訂閱我們的 YouTube 頻道並點擊小鈴鐺，這樣你就不會錯過任何一集節目。