Multiple scientific and informal studies have tried to determine how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, with results varying widely depending on the method and conditions:
- Purdue University’s licking machine averaged about 364 licks, while human volunteers averaged around 252 licks
- The University of Michigan found it took about 412 licks with their licking machine
- Swarthmore College students reported a median of 146 licks, ranging from 70 to 222 licks
- Bellarmine University found an average of 175 licks over about 14 minutes
- Mathematicians at New York University calculated it would take roughly 1,000 licks to dissolve one centimeter of hard candy, translating to about 1,000 licks to reach the center based on their model
- Another detailed study estimated about 419 licks on average to reach the center, accounting for candy thickness and licking style
In summary, the number of licks to reach the Tootsie Roll center generally ranges from about 144 to 1,000 licks, with many credible studies clustering around 300 to 400 licks as a reasonable average
. The variation depends on factors such as licking style, candy size, and saliva chemistry. So, while the classic commercial’s answer remains playful ("the world may never know"), scientific attempts suggest it typically takes a few hundred licks-often around 300 to 400-to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
