 A six-pack box of Dots | |
| Alternative names | DOTS or Mason Dots |
|---|---|
| Type | Gum drops |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Invented | 1945 |
| Main ingredients | Corn syrup, sugar |
| Ingredients generally used | Food starch, malic acid, sodium citrate, flavors and color |
| Variations | See below |
| 100 kcal (419 kJ) | |
| Similar dishes | Crows |
Dots, or Mason Dots (trademarked DOTS), is an American brand of gum drops marketed by Tootsie Roll Industries. According to advertisements, more than four billion dots are produced from the Tootsie Roll Industries Chicago plant each year.[1] Dots are vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and kosher. They come in various flavors and varieties.
Dots gum drops were introduced in 1945 by Mason and trademarked that year. In 1972, Tootsie Roll Industries acquired the Dots brand by purchasing the Mason Division of Candy Corporation of America. Prior to that acquisition they were manufactured by Mason, AU and Magenheimer Confectionery Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn and later Mineola, New York.[2][3] According to advertisements, more than four billion dots are produced from the Tootsie Roll Industries Chicago plant each year.[1] Tootsie Roll Industries claims that "since its 1945 launch," the candy has become "America's...#1 selling gumdrop brand".[2]
Crows are the oldest candy in the Dots family, first created in the late 19th century.[2] Original dots date back to 1945, Tropical Dots to 2003, and Yogurt Dots to 2007.[2] Sour Dots were introduced in 2009–2010.[citation needed]
Current flavors for "Original Dots" include cherry (red), lemon (yellow), lime (green), orange (orange), and strawberry (pink).[2] Sour Dots have five flavors, and are created with citric acid: cherry, lemon, orange, grape, and green apple. Flavors for Tropical Dots include Island Nectar, Wild Mango, Grapefruit Cooler, Carambola Melon, and Paradise Punch; and for Yogurt Dots, Banana, Orange, Blackberry, and Lemon-Lime.[2]
Crows, black licorice flavored gum drops, are also considered to be part of the Dots family, created in the 1890s by confectioners Ernest Von Au and Joseph Maison. There is an urban legend that Crows were supposed to be called "Black Rose", but the printer misheard the name as "Black Crows" and printed wrappers with the wrong name on them.[4] However, research—including the fact that the name was copyrighted before the candies ever came with wrappers—reveals that this story is not true.[4]
In addition to current varieties of Original Dots (also known as Mason Dots), Tropical Dots, Yogurt Dots, Sour Dots, and Crows, past varieties (including special short-term promotional offerings) have included:
Three special Halloween varieties of Dots have been marketed:[5]
Other holiday specialties have included:[citation needed]
Other varieties and flavors have included:[citation needed]
Dots contain: Corn syrup, sugar, food starch-modified, malic acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium citrate, and artificial colors.[2]
According to PETA, Dots are vegan,[9] and according to the Tootsie Roll Industries website, they are gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and kosher[10] (officially certified kosher by the Orthodox Union as of December 1, 2009).[11][12]