Wacky World of Chewing Gum and Bubble Gum

How many of us stop and think about chewing gum or bubble gum? Few people think about chewing gum or bubble gum beyond the flavor they impart in our mouth. Some people think of gum when we want to refresh our breath. But beyond that, gum is not one of those subjects that comes up in conversations.

Today, I was chewing gum and started thinking about how it came about. So just in case the thought comes to your mind, I have just the information you need to start a conversation with someone you may wish to impress.

Historians believe chewing gum goes back to prehistoric times. As a matter of fact chewing gum has a pretty impressive history. First, chewing gum was first classified as natural gum. It actually came from nature. The Mastic tree is one of the first known sources of chewing gum.

The Mastic tree ash its origins from Greece. It is a little four-foot tall tree which has a strong smokey flavor that demands an acquired taste. The Greeks like the end results of the Mastic gum resin. They enjoyed the clean refreshing taste in their mouth. That could explain the reason the Mastic tree gum was chewed for at least 2,400 years. The Mastic tree is not the only source of chewing gum.

The 9th century Mayan civilization chewed their own version of chewing gum. The Central American Indians chewed gum from the Sapodilla tree. They collected the white juce and cooked it in corn syrup and sugar. And the American Indians from New England chewed the resin from spruce trees.

Today, at least 96 percent of Americans chew gum. And in the United Kingdom, over 40 million people chew gum. So chewing gum is a pass time people do for a variety of reasons.

It is safe to safe to say many Americans enjoyed chewing gum in the form of bubble gum. It was invented in the 1900s by Frank Fleer. His first attempt at making bubble gum was not well received by the public. The reason, it was too sticky.

Can you believe Mr. Fleer's company accidentally discovered the right formula for bubble gum? The right formula was invented by the company's account, Mr. Diemer. The Fleer Company named the gum, "Dubble Bubble" gum. And Dubble Bubble gum was marketed pink because pink was the only food color in the factory. Today pink is the primary color of bubble gum.

In 1938, Bazooka Bubble gum became the first market competitor of Dubble Bubble gum. It was named after the bazooka musical instrument. Bazooka gum became famous for its comic strip wrapping. The comic strips were replaced with the baseball card packaging.

The evolution of chewing gum includes the sugar-free gum. It was in the 1950s that sugar-free gum came into the market place. The idea behind the sugar-free gum is credited to a dentist, Dr. Petrulis. I wonder why!

Chewing gum can be used for more than a good chew. Some of the uses will make you say, no way! Chewing gum is used...

• to reduce stress
• to improve concentration
• is issued to American solders to help improve their concentration and stress
• by fishermen on crab lures for catching crabs
• to patch a cracked window
• by some artists for sculpturing
  
• in weight loss programs to help reduce hunger and calories
• to protect teeth from cavities by reducing the acid levels in the mouth
• to freshen breath and whiten teeth
• individual Americans are known to chew at least 300 sticks of gum annually
• is illegal in Singapore, a person may be fined $6,000 for possession and use of chewing gum
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Making chewing gum is as easy as the thought of making it. The main ingredient, chicole,  is purchased commercially and primarily in kits for children. The chicle sap is  from the Sapodilla tree. 

The individual needs a container that is microwave safe or it may be a stove top pot.  A little sugar, preferably confectionery sugar, corn syrup, and flavor packets such as peppermint or a fruity flavor are all that are needed. Heat the chicole until it is soft and sticky. Add the other ingredients in the pot to melt as well. Then place droplets on parchment paper. Let cool. And you have natural chewing gum!