No other sweet on a shop shelf changes what it actually is halfway through eating it - Razzles does, and it's been doing it since 1966.
Candy, then gum - the science bit
Each small, coin-shaped Razzle is built in two layers: a hard candy shell wrapped around a soft chewing-gum centre. As you chew, the sugary shell breaks down and dissolves within about 30 seconds, leaving the gum core behind. It's the reverse of how most sweets work, which is exactly why the slogan "First it's a candy, then it's a gum!" stuck for six decades.
A 1963 patent, a 1966 launch
The trick was invented by Robert C. Bucher, a Pennsylvania chemist who was granted US patent number 3,262,784 for the candy-to-gum transformation in 1963. The Fleer Corporation - better known today for trading cards - brought Razzles to market in 1966. The original flavour was raspberry, and the name Razzles is thought to have come from an early "Razzleberry" flavour concept that never made it into full production.
Where Razzles has ended up
Fleer sold the Razzles brand to Concord Confections in 1986, and Tootsie Roll Industries acquired it in 2004 - Tootsie Roll still makes it today. In the UK, Razzles has always been an import rather than a homegrown sweet, which is exactly why it turns up in American candy sections rather than traditional British sweet shops.
Frequently asked questions
How do Razzles turn from candy into gum?
Each disc has a candy shell around a gum centre. The shell dissolves as you chew, and after around 30 seconds you're left with a soft gum core.
When were Razzles invented?
Razzles were patented by chemist Robert C. Bucher in 1963 and launched by the Fleer Corporation in 1966.
Why are they called Razzles?
The original flavour was raspberry, and the name is thought to come from a planned "Razzleberry" flavour that never fully launched.