Wine Gums and Fruit Pastilles get lumped together as generic gum sweets, but the chew is completely different, one resists your teeth, the other gives way almost immediately.
Two very different gum-sweet makers
Wine Gums come from Maynards, first made in 1909. Fruit Pastilles come from Rowntree's, dating all the way back to 1881, nearly three decades earlier. Both companies were solving the same basic problem, a fruit-flavoured chewy sweet, but they landed on different textures that have stayed distinct ever since.
Firm chew vs soft bite
- Wine Gums — a dense, firm gum with a dry, unsugared or lightly dusted surface. They hold their shape under your teeth and are built for a slow, deliberate chew.
- Fruit Pastilles — a softer gum with a granulated sugar coating that dissolves quickly, giving way to a squidgier, faster-eating texture underneath.
The difference comes down to the ratio of gelling agents used in each recipe, more gelatine and a firmer set gives Wine Gums their resistance, while Fruit Pastilles use a softer set designed to feel more immediately chewy.
The name that is not about wine
The Wine Gums name is one of confectionery's odder stories. Charles Gordon Maynard is said to have told his strictly teetotal father that the new sweets merely tasted of wine, not that they contained any, which is how a completely alcohol-free gum ended up with a name that still confuses first-time buyers over a century later.
Which one to pick
If you want a sweet that lasts and holds its chew, Wine Gums are the better shout. If you prefer something softer and quicker to eat, Fruit Pastilles win. Either is a solid addition to a pick n mix bag.
Frequently asked questions
Do Wine Gums actually contain wine or alcohol?
No. Despite the name, Wine Gums have never contained alcohol. The name reportedly comes from a promise Charles Gordon Maynard made to his teetotal father that the gums merely tasted of wine rather than contained it.
What is the texture difference between Wine Gums and Fruit Pastilles?
Wine Gums are firmer and denser with a drier, matte surface, meant to be chewed slowly. Fruit Pastilles are softer, with a sugar-coated exterior that gives way to a squidgier bite.
Which brand makes Wine Gums and which makes Fruit Pastilles?
Wine Gums are a Maynards recipe dating to 1909. Fruit Pastilles are a Rowntree's recipe dating to 1881, making Pastilles the older of the two by roughly three decades.