Do you ever find yourself reminiscing about the days when chewing gum was an irresistible treat? Blowing bubbles and savoring the forbidden delight of chewing gum in school brought so much joy. But did you know that the story of gum goes back centuries and has managed to captivate people of all ages around the world?
Ancient Times: The Origins of Gum
Believe it or not, chewing gum dates back to ancient civilizations. The ancient Greeks and many other cultures have been chewing on tree sap for centuries. Even the Mayans were chewing on resinous sap from the sapodilla tree as early as the 2nd century! In present times, the skill of scaling trees and harvesting sap, known as chicle, is still practiced by Mexican workers called chicleros. Interestingly, the famous Chiclets gum got its name from this incredible tradition!
While the Native Americans introduced American settlers to the idea of chewing tree sap, it wasn’t until after the Mexican-American War that chewing gum gained popularity in the United States. In 1848, John B. Curtis produced the first commercially available chewing gum, flavored with delicious spruce. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of the gum frenzy!
The Gum Fad Takes Off
The habit of chewing chicle was brought to the United States by the deposed Mexican president, General Antonio López de Santa Anna, during his exile on Staten Island. It was during this time that Santa Anna met Thomas Adams, who eventually became his secretary. While Santa Anna believed chicle could replace rubber, it was Adams who discovered its true potential.
Adams experimented with heating, flavoring, and shaping the chicle into sticks, and it was an instant hit. One of Adams’s most popular gums in the 1870s was Black Jack, a favorite for many of us growing up. Wrigley’s and Chiclets quickly followed suit, captivating the nation’s interest. The first bubble gum, initially named Blibber-blubber, made its debut in 1905 but proved to be too sticky. Thankfully, the invention of Dubble Bubble bubble gum in 1928 revolutionized the bubble gum experience, giving us the joy of blowing big bubbles!
In 1889, an ingenious invention called the chewing gum locket emerged. This accessory allowed people to save their gum for later. Although it took some time for it to catch on, it eventually became a trendy accessory for women who needed to discreetly dispose of their gum. At the time, it was considered unseemly for ladies to chew gum openly.
Gum as We Know It Today
During World War II, chewing gum became a part of soldiers’ rations as it was believed to help stave off thirst, hunger, and stress. After the war, the process of making chewing gum shifted towards predominantly synthetic methods, incorporating stabilizers, waxes, and petroleum-based elastomizers. This transformation took the once plant-based product and shaped it into the modern chewing gum we know today.
Whether your favorite gum was Bazooka, Wrigley’s, or Teaberry, there’s no denying the timeless appeal of chewing gum. And with more flavors available now than ever before, it seems our love affair with chewing gum will continue to grow! So why not indulge yourself – pop a piece and enjoy the simple pleasure of chewing gum that has stood the test of time.
