Gummi bear capital of the world

Up until twenty years ago, Bonn was the capital of Germany. After the war left the country divided it was strategically unwise to have the capital of (democratic) West Germany surrounded by (communist) East Germany (which was confusingly called the German Democratic Republic). So the sleepy city of Bonn was made the capital. Then when East and West were re-unified after the fall of the Warsaw Pact, the capital was officially moved back to Berlin.

However, Bonn is still the Gummi Bear capital of the world! Yes, those delicious little chewy treats were invented here in Bonn. In fact, the company that makes them was founded here 90 years ago by Hans Riegel. 

 

The name of the company is made up of the first two letters of his first and last names plus those of the city: HAns RIegel BOnn (HA-RI-BO, get it?). The factory outlet is about a kilometer from my office and is a paradise of every sort of squishy sweet you can think of. Packages of the cute & tasty bears can be found at grocery stores across the city (and probably all of North Rhine Westfalia).

 

When was the last time you ate a Gummi Bear?