# Gobstopper > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gobstopper > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gobstopper.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gobstopper > Source revision: 1348328183 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Type of hard candy "Jawbreakers" redirects here. For the music duo, see [Jawbreakers (duo)](/source/Jawbreakers_(duo)). For other uses, see [Jawbreaker (disambiguation)](/source/Jawbreaker_(disambiguation)). Gobstopper Gobstoppers of various sizes and colors. The largest one is 3 inches (~7.5 cm) in diameter Alternative names Jawbreaker, jawbuster Type Confectionery Place of origin United Kingdom Main ingredients Sugar Media: Gobstopper A **gobstopper**, also known as a **jawbreaker** in Canada and the United States, is a type of [boiled sweet](/source/Boiled_sweet). It is usually round, and usually ranges from 1 to 3 cm (0.4 to 1.2 in) across; though gobstoppers billed as having a diameter as large as 3.25 in (83 mm) have been marketed.[1] The term *gobstopper* derives from "gob", which is slang in the United Kingdom and Ireland for mouth. The sweet was a favourite among British schoolboys in the first half of the twentieth century; author [Roald Dahl](/source/Roald_Dahl), who wrote about a jar of gobstoppers featuring in the [prank he played in his local sweet shop in 1924](/source/11_High_Street%2C_Llandaff#The_Great_Mouse_Plot_of_1924), also referred to them in his fictional [Everlasting Gobstopper](/source/Everlasting_Gobstopper) which was featured in his 1964 children's novel *[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory](/source/Charlie_and_the_Chocolate_Factory)*.[2] Gobstoppers have been sold in traditional [sweet shops](/source/Confectionery_store) for at least a century, often by weight from jars. As gobstoppers dissolve very slowly, they last a very long time in the mouth, which is a major factor in their popularity. ## Manufacturing A cross section of a rainbow gobstopper with multicoloured sugar layers, allowing the gobstopper to change colour as it is gradually consumed. Further information: [Sugar panning](/source/Sugar_panning) Gobstoppers are made by slowly depositing layers onto a core, such as a pressed ball of sugar, a single seed of [anise](/source/Anise) or a [gumball](/source/Chewing_gum).[3][4] Gobstoppers are made in large, rotating, heated pans in a process known as "[hot panning](/source/Panning_(food))". The sweets take several weeks to manufacture, as the process of adding liquid sugar is repeated multiple times. Natural and artificial colours and flavours are also added during the panning process. ## Everlasting Gobstoppers Main article: [Everlasting Gobstopper](/source/Everlasting_Gobstopper) The **Everlasting Gobstoppers**, sold under Nestlé's [Willy Wonka Candy Company](/source/The_Willy_Wonka_Candy_Company) brand, were first introduced in 1976 by Breaker Confections,[5] and are named after the [Everlasting Gobstoppers](/source/Everlasting_Gobstopper) in [Roald Dahl](/source/Roald_Dahl)'s children's book *[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory](/source/Charlie_and_the_Chocolate_Factory)*. In Dahl's story, Everlasting Gobstoppers are purported to last forever. Dahl named the sweet after gobstoppers, which were a favourite among British schoolboys between the two World Wars.[2] A jar of gobstoppers featured in the [prank Dahl played on the owner of his local sweet shop in 1924](/source/11_High_Street%2C_Llandaff#The_Great_Mouse_Plot_of_1924), which he recorded in his autobiography *[Boy: Tales of Childhood](/source/Boy_(autobiography))*.[6] ## In popular culture ### *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* In the 1964 children's book *[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory](/source/Charlie_and_the_Chocolate_Factory)*, [Roald Dahl](/source/Roald_Dahl) described "[Everlasting Gobstoppers](/source/Everlasting_Gobstopper)," a fictional gobstopper that could never get smaller or be finished. ### *Ed, Edd n Eddy* The animated series *[Ed, Edd n Eddy](/source/Ed%2C_Edd_n_Eddy)* revolves around jawbreakers. Most episodes feature the titular characters running a variety of [scams](/source/Scam) to earn money to buy the confections.[7] The jawbreakers themselves are depicted as comically oversized, often with a circumference larger than that of the heads of the characters;[1] a character's cheeks would swell to the same size when the jawbreakers are placed in their mouths. Jawbreakers are also the main subject of one of the series' tie-in video games, *[Ed, Edd n Eddy: Jawbreakers!](/source/Ed%2C_Edd_n_Eddy%3A_Jawbreakers!)*.[8] ### *Jawbreaker* The 1999 American teen comedy *[Jawbreaker](/source/Jawbreaker_(film))* centers around the main characters accidentally killing their friend after gagging her with a jawbreaker. ## Lawsuit Large gobstoppers sold in a children's store In 2003, Taquandra Diggs, a nine-year-old girl in [Starke](/source/Starke%2C_Florida), Florida, US suffered severe [burns](/source/Burn_(injury)), allegedly from biting on an exploding [Wonka](/source/The_Willy_Wonka_Candy_Company) [Everlasting Gobstopper](/source/Everlasting_Gobstopper) that had been refrigerated, left out in the sun, then refrigerated again. Diggs and several other alleged victims' families filed lawsuits against [Nestlé](/source/Nestl%C3%A9) for medical bills resulting from plastic surgery as well as pain and suffering; the matters were later settled outside of court for an undisclosed amount.[9][10][*[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)*] ## See also - [Everlasting Gobstopper](/source/Everlasting_Gobstopper) - [Aniseed ball](/source/Aniseed_ball) - [Atomic Fireball](/source/Atomic_Fireball) - [Benne ball](/source/Benne_ball) - [Humbug](/source/Humbug_(sweet)) - [Hard candy](/source/Hard_candy) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Stone_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Stone_1-1) Stone, Lillian (September 8, 2021). ["Tackling an Ed, Edd n Eddy–sized jawbreaker is a fool's errand"](https://thetakeout.com/how-to-eat-a-giant-jawbreaker-like-ed-edd-eddy-1847613883). *The Takeout*. Retrieved June 25, 2023. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gobstopper_popularity_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gobstopper_popularity_2-1) Ayto, John (2012). [*The Diner's Dictionary: Word Origins of Food and Drink*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NoicAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA154). Oxford: University Press. p. 154. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-964024-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-964024-9). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** How it's Made Season 7 Episode 02 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Walter, Eugene (2001). *Hints & pinches*. Athens, GA: Hill Street Press. p. 18. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781892514981](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781892514981). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-zeldes_5-0)** Zeldes, Leah A. (October 30, 2009). ["Willy Wonka lives in Chicagoland"](http://blog.diningchicago.com/2009/10/30/willy-wonka-lives-in-chicagoland/). *Dining Chicago*. Chicago's Restaurant & Entertainment Guide, Inc. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20091104102643/http://blog.diningchicago.com/2009/10/30/willy-wonka-lives-in-chicagoland/) from the original on November 4, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Blue plaque marks Dahl sweet shop"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8253467.stm). BBC. Retrieved 24 December 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["It's 20 Years Since 'Ed, Edd n Eddy' Was First Released"](http://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/film-and-tv-its-20-years-since-ed-edd-n-eddy-was-first-released-20190105). *LadBible.com*. January 5, 2019. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190808170032/http://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/film-and-tv-its-20-years-since-ed-edd-n-eddy-was-first-released-20190105) from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Harris, Craig (April 9, 2003). ["Ed, Edd n Eddy: Jawbreakers"](http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/09/ed-edd-n-eddy-jawbreakers). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. [News Corporation](/source/News_Corporation). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121103123400/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/09/ed-edd-n-eddy-jawbreakers) from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Florida Girl Injured In Bizarre Candy Episode"](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/florida-girl-injured-bizarre-candy-episode). *The Smoking Gun*. 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110213034146/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/florida-girl-injured-bizarre-candy-episode) from the original on February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Jawbreaker Candy Explodes, Burns Fla. Girl's Face"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110811232442/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/2491417/detail.html). WKMG Orlando. 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.clickorlando.com/news/2491417/detail.html) on August 11, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011. ## External links - Media related to [Gobstoppers](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gobstoppers) at Wikimedia Commons --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gobstopper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gobstopper) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gobstopper?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.