Gum balls

Spherical pieces of chewing gum or bubble gum, often coated with a hard, brightly colored sugar shell and sold loose from vending machines or in confectionery bags. Like all chewing gum, they are built on a gum base of natural or synthetic elastomers blended with softeners, sweeteners, and flavorings, then shaped, coated, and polished. The classic vending-machine gum ball pairs a long-lasting mint or fruit chew with a crunchy candy shell, while bubble-gum versions use a stretchier base that blows larger bubbles. Sugar-free varieties replace sucrose with polyols such as xylitol or sorbitol, which do not feed cavity-causing bacteria. Though simple in appearance, their manufacture demands precise control of coating thickness and drying so the shell stays crisp and the center stays chewable through months of shelf life.