Gummy Bears (ガミーベア)

I have this horrible addiction to gummy bears. I cannot eat just one and stop. I can't eat 10 and stop. I have a ritual where I need to alternate different colored gummies--first the lighter one, then the darker colored one. There's no rhyme or reason for this insane behavior... I just do it. So on any given day when I've indulged myself into buying them...which isn't too often nowadays since they are not good for my teeth, I'll start out with the clear one, then move to the yellow, then the orange, then the red, then the green... etc. You get the point. Believe it or not, the first time I encountered these gummy bears was in a Zakka store in Japan. Why in a Zakka store? I am not so sure, I think it's because at that time only Zakka stores imported foreigh candies...? In the beginning I didn't think I would like this stuff in that they looked weird and it seemed cruel to chew on the little bears. But once I tried it, I got hooked.

Who created these tiny chewy morsels of pure sugar heaven? According to Wikipedia, the gummi bear originates from Germany where it is popular under the name Gummibar (rubber bear) or Gummibarchen (little rubber bear). As I write this, I am chewing on Gummy Sour Worms.... This is my new addiction, and I thought I'd expand my universe....