Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is a unique treat that you chew for flavor and fun but do not swallow. It has been enjoyed by people for thousands of years in different forms. Modern chewing gum comes in many flavors like mint, bubblegum, and fruit. Some gum is sugar-free, and some is made specially for blowing big bubbles.

How Chewing Gum Is Made

Chewing gum starts with a gum base, which is a chewy material that does not dissolve when you chew it. Sugar or sweeteners are added for taste, along with flavoring. The ingredients are mixed together and heated until smooth. Then the gum is rolled flat, cut into pieces, and wrapped. The gum base is what makes it chewy instead of crunchy or crumbly.

The History of Chewing Gum

People have been chewing natural gums for a very long time. Ancient Greeks chewed tree resin from the mastic tree. Native Americans chewed sap from spruce trees. Modern chewing gum was invented in the 1860s by Thomas Adams, who used chicle, a natural gum from trees in Mexico. Bubble gum was invented in 1928 by Walter Diemer, who made it pink because that was the only food coloring he had.

Fun Facts

• Bubble gum is pink because the inventor only had pink food coloring.
• The largest bubble ever blown from bubblegum was 23 inches across.
• Chewing gum can help some people concentrate better.

Did You Know?

The ancient Maya chewed chicle from sapodilla trees over 1,000 years ago, which is the same ingredient used in early chewing gum!