Have you come across Jawbreakers in your pursuit of candy? Wondering what they are and why they got so a… interesting name? Besides, eating candy is supposed to be an enjoyable activity! So today, we’re going to learn all about the Jawbreaker, and you are going to find out all you need to know.
So, what Is a Jawbreaker? A Jawbreakeris a spherical-shaped hard candy that needs to be predominately sucked, not chewed (until the soft core is reached). The size of Jawbreakers ranges, and their size often dictates how long they last. This will typically take one hour, sometimes more.
A Jawbreaker is so hard that you can’t really bite into it without risking damage to your teeth and, who knows, maybe your jaw. Hence the name!
Jawbreakers are also known as Gobstopper across the pond in the UK, by the way.
They are, in fact, the same thing!
But what makes them so hard? What are they made of? And more importantly, what do they taste like?
Let’s find out, shall we?
Contents
What Is A Jawbreaker Made Of?
A Jawbreaker is mainly made of water, sugar, corn syrup, and artificial and natural food colorings and flavors. Some Jawbreaker manufacturers will add other ingredients into their Jawbreaker recipes to fulfill certain purposes.
Jawbreakers have been around since the 1800s. Yes, you read me correctly. The 1800s. So I wasn’t kidding when I referred to them earlier as an ‘age-old candy.’
There are plenty of candy companies that make Jawbreakers. But there are mutual fundamental ingredients required in each Jawbreaker recipe.
Each Jawbreaker consists of layers and layers of these ingredients for their eater to get through.
The ingredients in these layers are water, corn syrup, and artificial and natural food colorings and flavors.
But when combined, these ingredients only make up a tiny percentage of a finished individual Jawbreaker product.
The most key ingredient in each Jawbreaker, which takes up most of the percentage of the finished product, is sugar. After all, it is a candy, and it needs to get that sweet taste from somewhere.
Jawbreakers are made with specific sugar called dextrose.
Some Jawbreakers may include an amount of calcium stearate, which is a binding agent. This will depend on the Jawbreaker’s manufacturer and the recipe they use.
Another ingredient that is found in some Jawbreakers is carnauba wax which is used to create a polished and shiny finish on the surface of the candy.
Those who are seasoned eaters of Jawbreakers will know all about that polished and shiny finish!
What Does A Jawbreaker Taste Like?
Jawbreakers are a sweet-tasting candy that comes in a variety of flavors. Some special Jawbreakers will have a core center of gum.
As you now know, Jawbreakers take quite a long time to eat as you have to suck on them for at least an hour to wear them down.
Given that you’ll be eating a Jawbreaker for that long, you’ll want to make sure that it’s a tasty flavor that you can enjoy.
So it’s very rare to find a sour Jawbreaker.
Most of the time, you’ll find the common flavor favorites that people enjoy. Sweet, fruity flavors.
But because you have to suck on Jawbreakers for so long, they’re actually not as high in sugar as other candies.
It makes sense, really.
You don’t want to be sucking on something for over an hour that is constantly flooding your body with waves of sugar from the Jawbreaker. That’s definitely not healthy.
So Jawbreakers contain an amount of sugar that isn’t too unhealthy for eating for long periods of time.
Because they contain less sugar, they are much less sweet than other candies. It’s a more subtle sugary sweet taste, but still, definitely, one that you can enjoy.
Poor quality Jawbreakers will lose their flavor long before you finish them, which isn’t ideal at all.
A lot of Jawbreakers may contain different layers of flavor, so you don’t get bored sucking on the same one for over an hour.
Some special Jawbreakers may have a chewing gum core. So once you’re done sucking, you can crack on with some chewing instead. Think of it as a nice treat for all the hard sucking you did for the last few hours.
As for texture, well, you’ve probably worked out by now that they’re really, really hard.
Until you’ve worn them down!!
How Do You Eat A Jawbreaker?
You eat a Jawbreaker by sucking it until it’s worn down to be soft. Only then can you safely bite into them.
They’re called Jawbreakers for a reason. So don’t pop it in your mouth and try to take a huge bite. That’s not safe, nor is it the point of eating a Jawbreaker.
The point is to suck on a Jawbreaker for a long period of time, enjoying the layers of flavors.
Then once you’ve gotten to the center, you can bite into the Jawbreaker.
So that’s how you do it, really.
Pop it in your mouth and start sucking. Or if it’s too big, then hold it in your hand and lick it.
Keep on sucking away until that thing softens.
Otherwise, you risk breaking a tooth or even injuring your jaw.
Only when it’s soft and chewy should you bite into a Jawbreaker.
Some studies have been carried out into how much sucking and licking need to take place before a Jawbreaker can be bitten into.
And the results are that the average Jawbreaker takes on average 1000 licks until they’re ready.
If you aim to finish your Jawbreaker in an hour, then you’re looking at about 16.6 licks a minute. It’s hard work, but after all, a Jawbreaker is no small eating task.
Of course, you can buy some Jawbreakers in a smaller or even bigger size. So this will also affect how long it will take to eat that Jawbreaker you’ve picked up from the shelf.
If you want to take a break from eating your Jawbreaker, which is likely. After all, we all have lives to lead, and we can’t suck on candy all day long, can we?
So if you want to take a break, simply put your Jawbreaker in a plastic bag and leave it somewhere safe.
Don’t leave it out in the open otherwise, bugs might get to it…or your greedy relative!
Once you resume your eating, you may feel like running it under water to rinse it. That’s no problem at all. Rinse away.
Why Is It Called A Jawbreaker?
It’s called a Jawbreaker because it could break your jaw if you bit into it whilst it was still hard.
Yes, the name kind of acts as a self-explanatory warning. And they’re not kidding.
Biting on a Jawbreaker whilst it’s still hard really could break your jaw in the worst cases.
It can also give you other dental issues, like a broken tooth.
Either way, none of the outcomes are enjoyable. They’ll both be pretty painful and probably put you off ever eating a Jawbreaker again.
Can Jawbreakers Break Your Jaw?
Jawbreakers could break your jaw if you were to bite them whilst they’re hard and with sufficient force, although it’s not guaranteed.
They’re not lying. Jawbreakers really can break your jaw if you bite into them whilst they’re still hard.
So I wouldn’t recommend that you try doing it.
Sure, there’s no guarantee. You might have a really strong jaw that is able to withstand the rock-hard texture of the Jawbreaker.
And even then, if your jaw survives, your teeth might not as they could likely be broken and damaged.
But in terms of the jaw, yes, they can definitely break your jaw if you bite into them.
Think about it. You’re not supposed to eat stones and rocks. Your mouth and jaw aren’t designed to withstand that form of texture.
Now, just because Jawbreakers are edible and rocks and stones aren’t doesn’t mean that the Jawbreaker gets a free pass. It’s still too hard for your mouth. It’s still not of a design that your mouth is suited for eating.
So again, make sure you suck and lick that thing until it’s soft!
What Happens If You Bite A Jawbreaker?
If you bite down on a Jawbreaker, then you could break your jaw or/and break your teeth.
Yes, we all now know that Jawbreakers can break your jaw if you bite into them.
They can also break your teeth.
But there are other dental issues here as well.
Remember that Jawbreakers are hard candy. And hard candy is actually one of the worst types of candy for your dental health.
That’s because they take a while to eat and contain sugar, and are also hard on your teeth either way.
Jawbreakers pose a specific problem in the form of dissolved enamel. This is because they can contain citric acid, which, if not cleaned from your teeth, will work at dissolving your enamel.
Finally
You have been warned. Jawbreakers aren’t just called that for fun.
They really can break your jaw and inflict other dental damage as well.
They’re not for everyone’s taste.
But those who do enjoy one now and then relish the long, tasty task ahead.
Because remember, it’s a marathon, NOT a sprint!!
Hello, I’m Matthew, a candy expert and enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the candy industry. My passion for candy started at a very young age. Since then, I have worked in numerous, large candy stores, and have been fortunate enough to try out hundreds of brands of candies, different types and flavors. In addition to my work, I enjoy sharing my extensive knowledge with others, and decided to create Sugar Stand in order to do so. My mission is to make the world a sweeter place, one candy at a time.