Ring Pop facts for kids
Ring Pop is a popular brand of fruit-flavored lollipops. They are made by the Bazooka Companies. What makes them special is that they are shaped like a plastic ring with a big, hard candy "jewel" on top. You can wear them on your finger and lick the candy! Ring Pops come in many different flavors and colors.
How Ring Pops Were Invented
Ring Pops were created in the late 1970s. A man named Frank Richards, who worked as an engineer at the Topps Company, invented them. He wanted to help his daughter stop sucking her thumb. So, he came up with the idea of a candy that was like a pacifier, but fun and sweet! The candy jewel sits on a plastic ring that you can wear. It was a clever way to give kids a tasty treat instead of their thumb. Before Ring Pops, other candy jewelry like candy necklaces and bracelets were already around since 1958.
Ring Pops on TV
Ring Pops first appeared on television in the early 1980s. Their commercials quickly caught the attention of many kids. They had a catchy theme song and a famous line: "It's a lollipop, without a stick! A ring of flavor you can lick!" The commercials showed kids having fun eating Ring Pops. One memorable scene showed a little boy pretending to propose to a little girl with a Ring Pop. This scene became a classic part of Ring Pop history!
Different Kinds of Ring Pops
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When Ring Pops first came out, you could only get them in Cherry and Grape flavors. Over time, many more flavors were added. These include Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, Watermelon, Lime, and Apple. In the 1980s, sour versions called Ring Pop Sours were introduced. Some sour flavors were Sour Green Apple, Sour Watermelon, and Sour Cherry.
Topps also made "twisted" Ring Pops, which mix different flavors like Berry Blast. There were even creamy kinds, like Strawberry Ice Cream. In 2013, Ring Pop Gummies were released. These are a chewy, gummy version of the candy instead of the original hard candy. For holidays like Easter, special Ring Pops are made with shapes like chicks or bunnies instead of the usual gem.
In 2011, Bazooka made special Ring Pops for the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. These had Swarovski Crystals on them to celebrate their win in the 2011 NBA Finals.
Images for kids
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Cherry Ring Pop
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Actress Melissa Joan Hart showing off a Ring Pop
