What is chewing gum? It is a culinary product that consists of an inedible elastic base and various flavoring and aromatic additives.
During the chewing process, all the taste disappears and the gum becomes completely tasteless and is usually thrown away.
You can also blow bubbles, which is why in English-speaking countries they gave it the name Bubble Gum (that is, something like “rubber for bubbles”).
Background
Prototypes of modern chewing gum can be found in any part of the world. It is known that even the ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree to freshen breath and cleanse their teeth of food debris. Beeswax was also used for this. The Mayan tribes used congealed Hevea juice - rubber - as chewing gum. In North America, Indians chewed the resin of coniferous trees, which was evaporated over a fire. In Siberia, the so-called Siberian resin was used, which not only cleaned teeth, but also strengthened gums, and also treated various diseases. In India and Southeast Asia, the prototype of modern chewing gum became a mixture of betel pepper leaves, areca palm seeds and lime (more details in the Betel article). This composition not only disinfected the oral cavity, but was also considered an aphrodisiac. In some Asian countries it is still chewed. In Europe, the first prerequisites for the use of chewing gum appeared in the 16th century, when sailors brought tobacco from India. Gradually, the habit spread further to the United States. This continued for three hundred years, as all attempts to replace chewing tobacco with wax, paraffin or other substances were unsuccessful. The world's first chewing gum factory was founded in Bangor (Maine, USA). From this moment on, the history of chewing gum develops at a rapid pace. Until this time, the production of chewing gum was not an independent industry, and chewing gum itself was not a commercially distributed part of consumer goods. Thanks to assembly line production, chewing gum became a commodity, and the fashion for chewing gum spread from America throughout the world.
First experiments.
1848 John Curtis establishes industrial production of chewing gum. His factory has only four boilers. In one of the pine resins, impurities were evaporated, in the rest a mass was prepared for products with the addition of light flavors. The first chewing gums were named White Mountain, Sugar Cream, and Lulu's Licorice.
1850s. Production is expanding. Curtis is now helped by his brother. Chewing gum is cut into cubes. The first paper wrapper appears. Chewing gum sells for a cent for two pieces. The brothers' Curtis Chewing Gum Company is building a new factory in Portland. More than 200 people are hired for production. The range of products is expanding. Chewing gums “Four to Hand”, “American Flag”, “Pine Highway”, “Yankee Pine”, etc. appear. 1860s. The Curtis brothers' product never left Maine. The unsightly appearance and poor cleaning (there were even pine needles in the chewing gum) scared away buyers. The outbreak of the Civil War forced production to be curtailed altogether. 1869 The famous New York photographer Thomas Adams purchases a large batch of rubber from the Mexican general Antonio de Santa Anna. After unsuccessful experiments with vulcanization, in artisanal conditions he produces chewing gum similar to Mexican chicle. The chewing gum is wrapped in bright, colorful candy wrappers and sold in several stores.
Patented chewing gum
1870s. Thomas Adams builds a chewing gum factory. Sales rise to 100 thousand units a year. The first licorice-flavored chewing gum appears, which has its own name - Black Jack.
1871 Thomas Adams receives the first patent for a machine for the industrial production of chewing gum. Adams' New York Chewing Gum sells for 5 cents each (a dollar per box). Adams gives the first batches free to many pharmacists on the condition that they display samples in their windows. 1880s. William J. White, also known as P. T. Barnum (from the English barn - granary) creates Yucatan chewing gum by mixing rubber with grain syrup and adding peppermint. John Colgan first adds flavorings and sugar before combining it with rubber mass. This allows the finished chewing gum to retain its taste and aroma much longer. The patent for this invention was subsequently purchased by William Wrigley, founder of the Wrigley company. Popularizing chewing gum among girls, entrepreneur Jonathan Primley creates the Kiss me brand! 1888 At the Adams factory, fruit-flavored chewing gum “Tutti-Frutti” is invented, which becomes extremely popular in America.
1871 Pharmacist John Colgan of Louisville, USA, received 1,500 pounds (680.39 kg) of rubber by mistake instead of the 100 pounds (45.36 kg) he ordered. He founded the chewing gum company Colgan's Taffy Tolu Chewing Gum.
1888 The first gum vending machines appeared. They belonged to the Adams Tutti-Frutti company and were located at train stations in New York
A woman buys chewing gum on the street in Tokyo.
1891 A new player enters the market - the Wrigley company, which manages to displace the Adams factory in a short time. William Wrigley, a soap manufacturer, noticed that Americans preferred Lotta and Vassar chewing gums, which were offered as a bonus, rather than his main product. A resourceful entrepreneur quickly reorients production.
1893 At the Wrigley factory
they are starting to produce mint
chewing gum
Spearmint and fruity
Juicy Fruit.
1899 The manager of a New York drugstore, Franklin W. Canning, introduces for the first time to the market a special chewing gum that, according to advertising, “prevents tooth decay and freshens breath.” It gets the name Dentyne. Its distinctive feature is its unique pink color.
The merger of Adams Gum (T. Adams Jr.), Yucatan Gum (W. White), Beeman's Gum (E. Beeman), Kiss-Me Gum (J. Primpey) and S. T. Britten (S. Britten) creates American Chicle. Modern chewing gum
1914 The emergence of the Wrigley Doublemint brand
1919 William Wrigley Jr. achieved astronomical growth in his business in an unconventional way - he sent a piece of chewing gum to everyone in America whose addresses were in the phone book.
Sign on the International Casino Building, Manhattan's Times Square Times Square, New York.
Wrigley building in Chicago.
Two girls look at signs at Piccadilly Circus that include advertisements for Wrigley chewing gum.
1928 Twenty-three-year-old accountant Walter Diemer developed the ideal formula for chewing gum, which is still followed today: 20% rubber, 60% sugar (or sugar substitutes), 19% corn syrup and 1% flavoring. A special feature of this chewing gum is its much greater elasticity. Diemer named his chewing gum Dubble Bubble because it could be used to blow bubbles. The chewing gum changed color to pink, which was especially attractive to children.
From an interview with Walter Diemer in 1996: It happened completely by accident. I was doing something incomprehensible, and ended up doing something incomprehensible with bubbles... In the same year, the Thomas Brothers Candy Company was founded, the peculiarity of which was its unusual location: in an old poison factory in the city of Memphis (Tennessee). 1930s. William Wrigley comes up with a new marketing ploy. Inserts with images of baseball champions and comic book heroes, which were previously sold with cigarettes, began to be sold with chewing gum. The pictures were produced in limited editions, so they became collector's items.
Turbo chewing gum inserts
1930s. William Wrigley comes up with a new marketing ploy. Inserts with images of baseball champions and comic book heroes, which were previously sold with cigarettes, began to be sold with chewing gum. The pictures were produced in limited editions, so they became collector's items.
Bubblegum pictures are starting to gain popularity. The most famous series of the late 30s - early 40s: G-Men, Horror's of War, Mickey Mouse, Wild West, Indian Gum, Superman.
Columbia University professor Hollingworth publishes a scientific work, “The Psychodynamics of Chewing,” in which he proves that chewing reduces muscle tension and helps to relax, relieving stress. Chewing gum is included in soldiers' rations (one piece of chewing gum is included in the daily ration).
1933 Inserts for chewing gum are produced on thick cardboard.
An unusual “charcoal chewing gum” appears on sale, which is advertised on the packaging of Mounds and other candies from the Peter Paul company.
1939 By decision of the Commission on Nutrition, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, chewing gum is included in the classification of food products. Manufacturers were freed from the need to label all ingredients on the packaging. Wrigley opens a factory in New Zealand.
1944 The Orbit brand from Wrigley enters the market. Chewing gum is produced specifically for American soldiers. Dubble Bubble Company releases chewing gum with two new flavors - grape and apple
and over time even with this:]
1954 The Dubble Bubble Company is organizing the first television bubble gum bubble-blowing competition.
1956 Bowman Company merges with Topps Chewing Gum. murol Confections Company produces Blammo sugar-free soft chewing gum. Coolmint Gum comes to market with a penguin on the packaging from the Lotte Company. Kent Gida begins producing chewing gum. The presidential campaign is using chewing gum for advertising and political purposes. It comes in the form of cigars and encourages voters to vote for certain candidates. 1962 The Guinness Book of World Records has named the world's oldest "gum chewer." She became Mary Frances Stubs, who at that time was 106 years old. 1964 The Tijuana Brass is recording music for the Teaberry Gum advertising campaign. The composition makes the orchestra famous. Wrigley's first Freedent chewing gum products hit the market.
1962 The Guinness Book of Records named the most
the world's oldest "bubble gum chewer." She became Mary Frances Stubs, who at that time was 106 years old.
1964 The Tijuana Brass is recording music for the Teaberry Gum advertising campaign. The composition makes the orchestra famous.
Wrigley's first Freedent chewing gum products hit the market.
Compound
Modern chewing gum consists primarily of a chewing base (mainly
synthetic polymers), to which is sometimes added
components obtained from the sap of the Sapodilla tree or
from the resin of coniferous trees.
Experts recommend using chewing gum only immediately after meals and for no more than five minutes a day. Otherwise, it promotes the release of gastric juice into the empty stomach, which can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers and gastritis. However, after eating, in people suffering from heartburn, chewing gum helps relieve its symptoms. The released saliva, which has an alkaline reaction, is swallowed. The acidic contents of the lower third of the esophagus are neutralized. At the same time, a constant supply of saliva ensures clearance of the lower third of the esophagus.
Some soluble components of chewing gum are harmful to the body if they enter it in large quantities. For example, sorbitol, a widespread sugar substitute in chewing gum, has a laxative effect, which is what manufacturers warn about on the packaging.
If the dental ligament is weak or if there is periodontal disease, gum can contribute to tooth loss. Another myth about chewing gum is that chewing gum can cause your filling to fall out. Properly installed fillings will not fall out due to chewing gum. If a filling falls out, this indicates either a poorly installed filling, or ongoing caries or tooth decay. However, there is a danger to the jaw joints.
Interesting Facts
The largest chewing gum bubble was
recorded in July 1994 in the ABC television studio in New York. It was inflated by Susan Montgomery from the USA, the diameter of the bubble was 58.5 centimeters (this is larger than the size in the shoulders of an adult man of average build).
The damage caused by chewing gum to the outdoor environment when it gets on sidewalks, house walls, benches, etc. is called gumfitti. Scientists around the world have been struggling for many years to create chemicals that would dissolve chewing gum without harming the environment. For harmless disposal, they come up with very unusual methods. So, in the city of San Luis Obispo (California) for forty years there has been a wall on which anyone can stick their own chewing gum. This is a local landmark. The wall is sealed with several layers of elastic. In Boscholt, Germany, tree branches are used for the same purposes.
I'll add more
Chewing gum made from resin and pine needles
The origin of chewing gum has a long history. Even the ancient Greeks and Mayan Indians chewed the resin and viscous sap of trees to tune in to meditation. Later, settlers from Europe adopted this tradition from the Indians and began to chew pine resin and beeswax, including for the prevention of throat diseases.
The first attempt to organize industrial production of a prototype of modern chewing gum from pine resin can be considered the small business of John B. Curtis from Maine. It was organized in 1848. Resin chewing gum was not very popular because it was difficult to remove unwanted impurities from pine resin at that time, and not many people knew about the existence of the new product.
Resin chewing gum was not very popular because removing unwanted impurities from pine resin was difficult at the time.
The birthday of modern chewing gum is considered to be December 28, 1869. William F. Sample, a dentist from Ohio, received a patent for chewing gum. The patent was vague about the creation of "a certain combination of rubber with other substances, in different proportions, suitable for the preparation of chewing gum."
Sample did not make chewing gum to sell. He was more interested in the process of invention and improvement. He probably did not believe in the possibility of success of his invention on the market - the unsuccessful experience of his predecessors was not inspiring.
Chewing gum instead of bicycle tires
In the same 1869, inventor and photographer from New York - Thomas Adams - purchased a ton of Mexican rubber from the former president and general of Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, for the production of rubber.
He planned to produce toys, bicycle tires and shoes, but noticed that some Mexicans were chewing the rubber source material, chicle. Adams decided to brew a small batch of rubber gum in his kitchen. The resulting substance was quite chewable.
Two similar inventions by two different people. The first one came up with and forgot, the second one decided to try his luck.
Thomas Adams displayed a trial batch of the new product in several local stores. Buyers appreciated the product, and soon Thomas Adams' business took off. In 1871, Adams designed and patented a machine for automatically producing chewing gum. In addition, he added licorice extract to the base to improve taste and smell and, as a result, increase sales.
Thomas Adams named the world's first flavored chewing gum "Black Jack." It had the shape of an even oblong stick. Adams' New York Chewing Gum sold for 5 cents apiece (a dollar per box). Adams gave the first batches to many pharmacists free of charge on the condition that they display samples in their windows.
In 1888, vending machines selling Adams' Tutti-Frutti chewing gum appeared in the United States. They were placed at electric train stations in crowded New York.
Soap maker produces chewing gum
For some time, Adams had a monopoly in the production of chewing gum. But progress does not stand still, and a successful product that is in demand is difficult to keep in one hand. Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, a fairly large number of chewing gum manufacturers entered the market and began to compete for consumer attention. Among manufacturing companies, Wrigley’s, known to this day, occupied a special place.
This transnational corporation was founded in 1891 under very unexpected circumstances. Successful soap salesman William Wrigley once noticed that customers came to his store not only for the soap, but also for the two sticks of Lotta and Vassar chewing gum that came with their purchase.
Wrigley realized that this circumstance could be used to expand business areas. So from a soap seller he retrained into a chewing gum manufacturer - Wrigley.
Chewing gum for free for everyone and let no one leave offended
In 1893, the factory began producing Spearmint and Juicy Fruit chewing gum. William Wrigley became a true innovator in the chewing gum market. He changed the traditional shape, dividing the usual blocks into five separate plates. The plates were wrapped in wax paper to prevent them from sticking to each other.
Advertisements for Wrigley products began to appear on the sides of trams and omnibuses. Girls (prototypes of modern promoters) distributed chewing gum for free on the streets of big cities to attract the attention of buyers and taste the new product.
A stick of chewing gum was issued to every immigrant entering the United States through Ellis Island.
The Wrigley Corporation developed at a galloping pace in the United States, and soon entered the world market. In 1910, the company built its first out-of-state plant in Canada. In 1915, a plant was built in Australia. Wrigley did not skimp on advertising campaigns, which came one after another.
To popularize chewing gum among children, the book “Mother Goose” was published with poems and colorful illustrations. For advertising purposes, chewing gum strips were sent to all New Yorkers whose names were listed in the city telephone directory.
Later, a piece of chewing gum was given to every immigrant entering the United States through Ellis Island. As a result, William Wrigley's chewing gum became a symbol of America.
To date, Wrigley has entered the markets of more than 180 countries. The corporation includes 15 factories around the world. Wrigley is one of the world's largest confectionery manufacturers.
and Chewing gum - one of the symbols of America and the cherished dream of a Soviet child - was patented exactly 140 years ago. The dentist who copyrighted the chewing gum claimed that his mixture of rubber with the addition of chalk and charcoal had a beneficial effect on the condition of teeth, and one piece of it could be used for weeks and months. Now doctors are not so clear about the benefits of bubblegum.
Chewing gum (chewing gum) is a special culinary product that consists of an inedible elastic base and various flavoring and aromatic additives. During use, chewing gum practically does not decrease in volume, but all the fillers gradually dissolve, after which the base becomes tasteless and is usually thrown away. Many types of chewing gum can be used for fun by blowing bubbles, which in English-speaking countries gave it another name: Bubble Gum (that is, something like “rubber for bubbles”).
Ancestors of the chewing man
The history of chewing gum goes back centuries. The very first chewing gum dates back to the Stone Age, VII-II millennia BC. In 2007, a 5,000-year-old piece of resin with imprints of human teeth was found during excavations in Finland.
It is known that the ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree to freshen their breath. The Mayans used the frozen sap of the sapodilla tree to clean their teeth and freshen their breath. They called this chewing mixture “chicle.” Much later, it served as the basis for the industrial production of chewing gum.
Generation F
The fashion for chewing gum in the world appeared after the Second World War. American military personnel, whose rations included chewing gum, introduced this product to the inhabitants of Asia, Africa and Europe. Chewing gum began to be produced in Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France and other countries.
Chewing gum was not produced in the Soviet Union for a long time, and Soviet analogues that appeared in the 1970s were inferior to foreign ones in elasticity and packaging design.
“Imported chewing gum” was a kind of cult item among Soviet children and teenagers. They collected candy wrappers and inserts from her, exchanged them for various little things, played or bet on them.
Undoubted benefit...
There is a lot of controversy about the benefits and harms of chewing gum. Chewing gum manufacturers prove the usefulness of their product. First of all, it is an opportunity to clean your teeth and oral cavity from food debris after eating, and fresh breath.
Chinese astronauts even use special chewing gum to brush their teeth, not being able to use a regular toothbrush in space. And during the years of Prohibition in the United States, in bars that sold alcohol illegally, chewing gum was handed out to visitors to drown out the smell of alcohol.
In addition to mechanical cleaning of the oral cavity, thanks to sweeteners (sorbitol, xylitol) in modern chewing gum, the acid-base balance is restored.
Interesting
The whitening properties of chewing gum are greatly exaggerated; chewing gum is completely incapable of removing plaque: it is too tenacious for it. A small exception may be chewing gum with hard granules in its composition, which can slightly “scrub” the surface of the tooth. However, no eraser can replace a thorough brushing with toothpaste.
In addition, airplane passengers use chewing gum to avoid problems with blocked ears. And recently, scientists stated that chewing sugar-free gum “burns” kilograms.
...and undoubted harm
These and other arguments are counterbalanced by the following facts: when chewed too often, chewing gum has a negative effect on tooth enamel. In addition, excessive chewing contributes to the development of gastritis, since when chewing a person secretes gastric juice, which irritates the gastric mucosa.
Last year, British doctors said that chewing gum in excess could even cause stomach upset, with serious consequences.
Constant chewing can damage the temporomandibular joint - the one that connects the temporal bone and the lower jaw. If this joint is inflamed, chewing is not recommended.
Sticky garbage
The most indisputable harm caused by used chewing gum is to city streets, public transport, etc. Thus, at the Central Railway Station of New York, about 3 kg of old chewing gum is collected daily. In English there is even a special term for contaminating walls and sidewalks with chewing gum - gumfitti.
It is not surprising that, for example, in Singapore, chewing gum is prohibited by law.
"Bubble Gum Alley" "Bubble Gum Alley"
Illegally
But chewing gum, regardless of brand or flavor, has never been a product that appeals to everyone. In the 1970s, some American doctors considered it harmful because, in their opinion, it “depleted the salivary glands and could cause internal organs to stick together.” In the 1950s and 1960s, orthodontists banned it from patients with braces because it was considered impossible to clean with a toothbrush. The ban on chewing gum also extended to American schools. But the most famous case of making chewing gum illegal is the ban on its import and sale in Singapore, introduced by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in 1992. The punishment for illegal distribution is a large fine and even imprisonment for up to two years. Thus, the authorities of the south-eastern state, known for its impeccable cleanliness, wanted to rid sidewalks, buildings and public transport of black stains left by chewing gum. However, in the battle between money and purity, the former won. In 2004, thanks to a free trade agreement between the United States and Singapore, the ban was lifted. However, now in Singapore only chewing gum with medicinal properties (anti-nicotine) is allowed for sale, and an identification card is still required when purchasing it.
Europe is also concerned about the economic side of clean streets. The current fine of 450 euros in Barcelona for throwing chewing gum in a public place does not help: about 1,800 stains from it are cleaned by city services every day, spending 100,000 euros a year on this. In November 2010, the Spanish government decided that local chewing gum was too sticky and decided to change its composition - the issue of using a polymer used in the creation of plastic and in the cosmetics industry is being considered. In the UK, chewing gum with similar properties appeared in March 2010. Chicza, imported by the British from Mexico, not only does not stick to the floor, but is also biodegradable.
Less than a century has passed since its creation, and chewing gum has truly turned out to be one of the most popular products. Now in the USA, the cradle of chewing gum, over 100 types of this product are sold. Every year, Americans spend about $2 billion on this gum. Based on official data, it becomes clear that the demand for chewing gum does not depend on the season or fashion trends. By the way, chewing is far from a US phenomenon.
Ancient Greek gum lovers used resin from the pistachio tree. Some northern peoples and Indians used tree resin because... It was believed that this process strengthens the dentition and freshens breath. It is generally accepted that Europeans are addicted to chewing borrowed from the Indians.
The first manufacturer of chewing gum, John Curtis, came up with the idea of wrapping gum pieces in 1848. After a couple of years, he began using cheap paraffin containing spices. Curtis got rich from this business and organized 3 factories.
Dentist William Finley Semple invented chewing gum in 1869. He recommended preparing it from rubber, coal and various flavors. During the same year a real gum.
This event happened thanks to the general. After briefly ruling Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna fled to the United States. He was a true Mexican and constantly chewed "chicle" made from the resin of the sapodilla tree. Legend has it that the general shared the secret with Thomas Adams and arranged a supply of resin. Adams assembled the first gum production machine in 1871 and began selling it. “Black Jack” with licorice flavor appeared in 1884 and was produced until the 70s of the last century.
Production resumed only in 1986. Merchant William Wrigley modernized the process of making chewing gum. In 1892 he began producing "Wrigley's Spearmint", and next year “Wrigley's Juicy Fruit”. These names are still leaders in the chewing gum market. It was Wrigley who first added powdered sugar, mint and various fruit additives to the composition, and also came up with forms for its release: balls, plates, sticks. To popularize his product in 1915, Wrigley sent parcels with 3 plates to all telephone subscribers. It took Wrigley's company less than a quarter of a century to become the leader in the American chewing gum market and begin a global offensive.
In the 20s of the last century, mint-flavored chewing gum became a godsend for drinkers. It was during those years that Prohibition existed in America. Walter Diemer gave real joy to children in 1928. A chemist has invented a new type of gum - "bubble gum". It not only gave a pleasant aroma to the breath, but also easily inflated into bubbles. Diemer improved Frank Fleer's version of chewing gum, which was not a success. 
Chewing gum became a truly global craze after World War II. This product was included in the American rations. It was US soldiers who introduced representatives of other continents to it. Then the production of chewing gum was established in Japan and many European countries.
Only in the 70s did they begin to produce it in the USSR. After 1980, sweeteners began to be added to gum, which pleased dentists. Gum companies tout the benefits of their product. These include: cleansing the mouth of remaining food, giving a pleasant aroma to the breath, replacing a cigarette for a smoker, a remedy against stuffy ears on airplanes, and concentrating attention.
But, alas, along with advantages there are also disadvantages. Chewing gum has a bad effect on tooth enamel and contributes to the occurrence of gastritis, because... During chewing, juice is released in the stomach, irritating its cavity. Also, the most important problem remains the disposal of used chewing gum.
December 28, 1869, 140 years ago, the first patent for the manufacture of chewing gum was received in the United States..
Chewing gum is a special culinary product that consists of an inedible elastic base and various flavoring and aromatic additives. During use, chewing gum practically does not decrease in volume, but all the fillers gradually dissolve, after which the base becomes tasteless and is usually thrown away.
The very first chewing gum dates back to the Stone Age, 7th -2nd millennia BC. It was found during excavations in Northern Europe and consisted of pieces of prehistoric resin with imprints of human teeth.
To cleanse the mouth and freshen breath, the ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree, which grew in abundance in Greece and Turkey. They called this prototype of modern chewing gum by the name of the tree - “mastic”.
It is also known that the Mayan Indians, about a thousand years ago, used the congealed sap of the sapodilla tree to clean their teeth and freshen their breath. They called this chewing mixture “chicle.” Much later, it was sapodilla that served as the basis for the industrial production of chewing gum.
On the South American continent, Indians, contemporaries of the Mayans, chewed the resin of coniferous trees. White settlers adopted this habit from them and created their own version of chewing gum - from the resin of coniferous trees and beeswax. And thanks to Columbus, this habit, just like smoking, was brought to Europe, but then it did not take root there. This happened much later.
In 1848, shopkeeper John B. Curtis and his brother began to be the first in the world to produce chewing gum - they simply packaged pieces of resin in pieces of paper. They called their product “Pure Maine Pine Resin.” Later they began to add paraffin flavors to their products. New paraffin chewing gums sometimes had rather unusual names: “White Mountain”, “Biggest and Best”, “Four in Hand”, “Sugar Cream”. Their production gradually expanded, but sales were still low due to the presence of impurities in the gum that were difficult to remove from the resin.
In 1869, dentist William Finley Semple received the first patent for chewing gum. Semple proposed making it from rubber with the addition of chalk, charcoal and a number of flavorings. Semple claimed that such chewing gum would have a beneficial effect on the condition of teeth. In addition, among the undoubted advantages of Semple’s “improved chewing gum,” the inventor considered its durability: the dentist assumed that a piece of chewing gum could be used for weeks and months, since the rubber is very durable.
However, William Semple, for unknown reasons, was never able to establish industrial production of chewing gum.
Modern chewing gum (based on rubber, not pine resin) received a new life in the same 1869, thanks to General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana.
General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who briefly ruled Mexico, fled to New York. He took with him a ton of Mexican “chicle”, hoping to sell it profitably and make money. According to legend, the general convinced New York inventor Thomas Adams to buy rubber from him. The inventor tried to vulcanize rubber, so he wanted to find a rubber substitute, but the experiments came to nothing. Then Adams decided to make chewing gum out of it, keeping in mind the habit of his Mexican acquaintance to chew “chicle.” The researcher placed a test batch of the resulting chewing gum in local retail stores and was surprised to find that his product began to be popular. A little later, he added licorice flavoring to the chewing gum. This is how the first flavored chewing gum called “Black Jack” appeared, which was produced until the 70s of the 20th century.
In 1871, Adams patented a machine for the mass production of chewing gum, and since 1888, the chewing gum he created “Tutti Frutti” began to be sold from vending machines on railway station platforms.
In 1880, pharmacist John Colgan changed the recipe slightly and began adding flavor to chewing gum before adding sugar. This simple manipulation ensured that the aroma and taste of the chewing gum was preserved for a long time.
A major role in the history of chewing gum was played by the Wrigley company, which became a significant player in the market at the end of the 19th century.
In 1891, successful soap salesman William Wrigley noticed that customers were coming to his store not so much because of the soap, but because of the two sticks of chewing gum that came with their purchase.
William Wrigley improved the technical process for producing chewing gum and in 1892 began producing “Wrigley’s Spearmint” gum, and a year later - “Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit” - varieties that are still leaders in global sales. Wrigley was also the first to mix gum with powdered sugar, add mint and fruit flavors, and develop the forms of chewing gum (balls, sticks, strips) that are still used today.
In 1928, chemist Walter Diemer created another type of chewing gum - “bubble gum”, which made it easy to blow bubbles. This invention made chewing gum popular not only among adults interested in good breath, but also among children who discovered a new way to have fun.
After World War II, the fashion for chewing gum swept the whole world. The reason for this was American military personnel, whose diet included chewing gum. They introduced this product to the people of Asia, Africa and Europe. Chewing gum began to be produced in Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France and other countries.
In the USSR, imported chewing gum was an object of cult among children and teenagers, since it was not produced domestically for a long time, and the Soviet analogues that appeared in the 1970s were inferior to imported ones in terms of their ability to inflate and the colorful design of the packaging. In the early 1990s, candy wrappers and chewing gum inserts became collectibles and objects of gambling among schoolchildren.
Chewing gum manufacturers prove the usefulness of their product. Its advantages include: the ability to clean teeth and mouth from food debris after eating, fresh breath. Sweeteners (sorbitol, xylitol) contained in chewing gum restore the acid-base balance. Chewing gum is used by airplane passengers to avoid problems with blocked ears.
The disadvantages of chewing gum, in particular, include its negative effect on tooth enamel (if chewed too often). In addition, excessive chewing contributes to the development of gastritis, since when a person chews, gastric juice is released, which irritates the surface of the stomach. Even the temporomandibular joint, the one that connects the temporal bone and the lower jaw, can suffer from constant chewing. jaw. If this joint is inflamed, chewing is not recommended.
Chewing gum (colloquially “chewing gum”) is generally a culinary product that consists of an inedible elastic base and various flavoring and aromatic additives. During consumption, chewing gum practically does not decrease in volume, but all the fillers gradually dissolve, after which the base becomes tasteless and is usually thrown away (contributing to environmental pollution).
Modern chewing gum consists primarily of a chewing base (mainly synthetic polymers), to which sometimes added components obtained from the sap of the Sapodilla tree or from the resin of coniferous trees. The gum also contains flavorings, fragrances, preservatives and other food additives.
In modern society, there has been an increased interest in the use of chewing gum as a means of deodorizing properties and therapeutic and prophylactic effectiveness. In this regard, over the past 15-20 years, in countries such as the USA, Great Britain, Denmark, Germany, Japan, France, the production of medical chewing gums containing biologically active additives has increased: remineralizing components, vitamins, enzymes, bleaches, surfactants , extracts of medicinal plants.
Prototypes of modern chewing gum can be found in any part of the world. The oldest of them, found in Yli-Ii (Finland), dates back five thousand years ago (Neolithic period).
Scientists claim that even the ancient Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree to freshen breath and cleanse their teeth of food debris. Beeswax was also used for this.
The Mayan tribes used the hardened juice of the Hevea tree - rubber - as chewing gum. In North America, Indians chewed the resin of coniferous trees, which was evaporated over a fire.
In Siberia, the so-called Siberian tar was used, which not only cleaned teeth, but also strengthened gums, and also treated various diseases. In Siberia, they chew dried larch resin (they collect hard deposits on the trunks and simply chew crumbly pieces in the mouth, which in consistency acquire the properties of chewing gum), in some places called sulfur. Larch resin (solid) can be melted in a water bath, then the finished product is obtained - sulfur. You can chew pine resin when it has been in water for a long time while rafting wood (the residue left from the tapping when collecting the resin takes on the consistency of plasticine) and when chewed, a white mass similar to chewing gum is obtained.
The Bashkirs also had their own analogue of chewing gum, specially made from birch bark and resin from coniferous trees. It was used as a traditional medicine to strengthen teeth and gums.
In India and Southeast Asia, the prototype of modern chewing gum was a mixture of betel pepper leaves, areca palm seeds and lime (for more details, see the Betel article). This composition not only disinfected the oral cavity, but was also considered an aphrodisiac. In some Asian countries it is still chewed.
The world's first chewing gum factory was founded in Bangor (Maine, USA). From this moment on, the history of chewing gum develops at a rapid pace. Until this time, the production of chewing gum was not an independent industry, and chewing gum itself was not a commercially distributed part of consumer goods. Thanks to assembly line production, chewing gum became a commodity, and the fashion for chewing gum spread from America throughout the world.
1848 John Curtis establishes industrial production of chewing gum. His factory has only four boilers. In one of the pine resins, impurities were evaporated, in the rest a mass was prepared for products with the addition of light flavors. The first chewing gums were named White Mountain, Sugar Cream, and Lulu's Licorice.
1850s. Production is expanding. Curtis is now helped by his brother. Chewing gum is cut into cubes. The first paper wrapper appears. Chewing gum sells for a cent for two pieces.
The brothers' Curtis Chewing Gum Company is building a new factory in Portland. More than 200 people are hired for production. The range of products is expanding. Chewing gum “Four to Hand,” “American Flag,” “Pine Highway,” “Yankee Pine,” and others appeared.
1860s. The Curtis brothers' product never left Maine. The unsightly appearance and poor cleaning (there were even pine needles in the chewing gum) scared away buyers. The outbreak of the Civil War forced production to be curtailed altogether.
1869 The famous New York photographer Thomas Adams purchases a large batch of rubber from the Mexican general Antonio de Santa Anna. After unsuccessful experiments with vulcanization, in artisanal conditions he produces chewing gum similar to Mexican chicle. The chewing gum is wrapped in bright, colorful candy wrappers and sold in several stores.
1870s. Thomas Adams builds a chewing gum factory. Sales rise to 100 thousand units a year. The first licorice-flavored chewing gum appears, which has its own name - Black Jack.
1871 Thomas Adams receives the first patent for a machine for the industrial production of chewing gum. Adams' New York Chewing Gum sells for 5 cents each (a dollar per box). Adams gives the first batches free to many pharmacists on the condition that they display samples in their windows.
1879 John Colgan, a pharmacist from Louisville (USA), receives 1,500 pounds (more than 680 kg) instead of the ordered hundred pounds of rubber by mistake from the supplier. To recycle a batch of the substance, he founded a chewing gum company, Colgan's Taffy Tolu Chewing Gum.
1880s. William J. White, also known as P. T. Barnum (from the English barn - granary) creates Yucatan chewing gum by mixing rubber with corn syrup and adding peppermint.
John Colgan is the first to add flavorings and sugar before it is combined with the rubber mass. This allows the finished chewing gum to retain its taste and aroma much longer. The patent for this invention was subsequently purchased by William Wrigley, founder of the Wrigley company.
Popularizing chewing gum among girls, entrepreneur Jonathan Primley creates the Kiss me brand!
1888 At the Adams factory, fruit-flavored chewing gum “Tutti-Frutti” is invented, which becomes extremely popular in America. The Adams Tutti-Frutti Company installs the first-ever gumball machines in New York City train stations.
1891 A new player enters the market - the Wrigley company, which manages to displace the Adams factory in a short time. William Wrigley, a soap manufacturer, noticed that Americans preferred Lotta and Vassar chewing gums, which were offered as a bonus, rather than his main product. A resourceful entrepreneur quickly reorients production.
1893 The Wrigley factory begins producing Spearmint and Juicy Fruit chewing gum.
1898 Dr. Edward Beeman adds pepsin powder to chewing gum and sells it as a digestive aid.
As a result of the merger of Adams Gum (T. Adams Jr.), Yucatan Gum (W. White), Beeman's Gum (E. Beeman), Kiss-Me Gum (J. Primpey) and S. T. Britten (S. Britten) appears American Chicle Company.
1900s. Entrepreneur Henry Flier begins supplying the chewing gum market with all the rubber from his plantations.
1906 Frank Flier, brother of Henry Flier, produces Blibber-Blabber chewing gum, which is too sticky and is not popular with consumers.
1910 Wrigley is building its first out-of-state plant in Canada.
1911 Using chewing gum, a Royal Air Force team prevents a plane from crashing by sealing a hole in the engine's water jacket.
1914 The Wrigley Company produces the Wrigley Doublemint brand.
American Chicle buys a rubber processing plant.
1916 American Chicle takes over F. Canning's company Dentyn.
1920s. Prohibition is being introduced in America. Many underground bars sell patrons a special type of chewing gum called “double mint.”
1923 Wrigley shares appeared on the Western Stock Exchange.
1927 The Dulce and P.K. brands are entering the market. Both existed until 1975.
In the same year, the Dandy company appeared on the market.
The Wrigley factory was built in England.
The company Kent Gida A.S. was registered, which began its activities only in 1960.
1928 Twenty-four-year-old accountant Walter Diemer developed the ideal formula for chewing gum, which is still followed today: 20% rubber, 60% sugar (or sugar substitutes), 19% corn syrup and 1% flavoring. A special feature of this chewing gum is its much greater elasticity. Diemer named his chewing gum Dubble Bubble because it could be used to blow bubbles. The chewing gum changed color to pink, which was especially attractive to children.
From an interview with Walter Diemer in 1996:
In the same year, the Thomas Brothers Candy Company was founded, the peculiarity of which was its unusual location: in an old poison factory in Memphis (Tennessee).
1930s. William Wrigley comes up with a new marketing ploy. Inserts with images of baseball champions and comic book heroes, which were previously sold with cigarettes, began to be sold with chewing gum. The pictures were produced in limited editions, so they became collector's items.
Columbia University professor Hollingworth publishes a scientific work, “The Psychodynamics of Chewing,” in which he proves that chewing reduces muscle tension and helps to relax, relieving stress. Chewing gum is included in soldiers' rations (one piece of chewing gum is included in the daily ration).
1933 Inserts for chewing gum are produced on thick cardboard.
1937 Dubble Bubble Company founded.
1938 The Topps Company Inc. is founded.
The Canadian company Hamilton Chewing Gum Ltd produces chewing gum with a series of inserts with Hollywood stars.
1939 By decision of the Commission on Nutrition, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, chewing gum is included in the classification of food products. Manufacturers were freed from the need to label all ingredients on the packaging.
Wrigley opens a factory in New Zealand.
1944 The Orbit brand from Wrigley enters the market. Chewing gum is produced specifically for American soldiers.
The Dubble Bubble company releases chewing gum with two new flavors - grape and apple.
On January 7, 1948, the Amurol Confections Company was founded in Illinois (USA) by dentist Bruno Petrulis.
The Lotte Company opened that same year.
Super Bubble chewing gum appears on the market.
1950s. Due to the widespread promotion of sugar substitutes, the first “sugar-free” chewing gum appeared on the market. Its promotion was based on its harmlessness to the teeth and oral cavity.
When chewing, salivation increases, which promotes remineralization and cleansing of teeth; the chewing muscles receive a uniform, balanced load due to the plastic and physical-mechanical properties of the chewing gum itself; Gum massage is to some extent a prevention of periodontal disease.
Experts recommend using chewing gum only immediately after meals and for no more than five minutes a day. Otherwise, it promotes the release of gastric juice into the empty stomach, which can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers and gastritis. However, after eating in people suffering from heartburn, chewing gum helps relieve its symptoms. The released saliva, which has an alkaline reaction, is swallowed. The acidic contents of the lower third of the esophagus are neutralized. At the same time, a constant flow of saliva ensures the cleaning of the lower third of the esophagus.
Some soluble components of chewing gum are harmful to the body if they enter it in large quantities. For example, sorbitol, a widespread sugar substitute in chewing gum, has a laxative effect, which is what manufacturers warn about on the packaging.
Who among us does not know these children's words? Those who don’t know are probably familiar with the two blondes in the mouth that sometimes appear there... And certainly everyone remembers the cat from the cartoon about the parrot and his unforgettable: “It’s a bubble gum!” Who is the creator of the famous “bubble gum”?
Petrified gum
Chewing gum sometimes replaces a toothbrush and toothpaste. Chewing gum helps hide the smell. Chewing gum can become a powerful weapon of petty revenge... How much chewing gum can do for us! With such a long history as chewing gum, this is no wonder: its prototype is 5000 (!) years old. Archaeologists studied the ancient settlements of Finland and found a piece of resin that had hardened under the pressure of time. They thought and thought about what it was, and suddenly they saw imprints of human teeth. Eureka! Yes, this is chewing gum!
In fact, of course, it can hardly be called chewing gum. The ancient Greeks and peoples of the Middle East chewed the resin of the mastic tree to clean their teeth. The Mayan Indians used rubber for this. We can say that our ancestors found only practical use for chewing gum.
The first chewing gum went on sale in 1848. Englishman John Curtis began selling portioned pieces of resin wrapped in paper (though beeswax was added to the resin). Two years later, Curtis gave the chewing gum a scent by adding spices and paraffin. But this did not save the resin from damage - the rays of the sun, heat or cold forever robbed the chewing gum of its marketable appearance.
21 years later, in 1869, William Finley Semple showed business acumen and patented rubber chewing gum. In addition to rubber, this chewing gum contained additives in the form of charcoal, chalk and flavorings. But the appearance of real chewing gum is associated with another name.
Adams means first
We owe real gum to Thomas Adams. Thomas Adams brought into our world what we understand and imagine as chewing gum. There are two versions of its appearance: some say that General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana brought to America the habit of chewing the resin of the sapodyl tree - chicle, and sold Adams some part of this natural rubber. Adams first wanted to use chicle on rubber products, toys, and shoes, but the resin turned out to be unsuitable there. Selling paraffin gum in a pharmacy gave him a brilliant idea. He chewed the chicle, evaluated his sensations (he liked it) and, together with his eldest son Tom, decided to sell the chicle as chewing gum. Another version says that Adams purchased a ton of rubber for a small amount, but found no use for it. Then Adams decided to experiment: he boiled a piece of rubber and divided it into portions. Result: Although the gum had no taste, sales of the first Adams New York No. 1 gum were good.
“Black Jack” was the name of the first flavored chewing gum. It appeared in 1884 through the efforts of the same Adams. In addition to the licorice flavor, the chewing gum was given a pencil shape. "Black Jack", however, had its drawbacks, and one of them was the instability of taste. Sugar and corn syrup solved the problem. In the 1970s, “Black Jack” was discontinued, but in 1986 this variety reappeared on the shelves.
Adams New York No. 2 chewing gum appeared, differing from the first only in larger packaging. And the name of the first fruit chewing gum (although it appeared in the century before last) is familiar to us firsthand - “Tutti Frutti”. By the way, “Tutti Frutti” was the first chewing gum to be sold through vending machines in the New York subway.
The son of the owner of the soap factory, William Wrigley, improved the technical side of the process and began to produce the now well-known “Wrigley's Spearmint”. This was in 1892, and a year later the world saw Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit. These varieties are still at the top of sales. The secret to Wrigley's success was in additional ingredients: powdered sugar, mint, fruit additives. And Wrigley also made chewing gum the way we are used to seeing it: in the form of a plate, a stick and a ball.
The era of new balls... and inserts is approaching
Chewing gum of that time was not so elastic, did not stretch, had one color - white, and did not inflate. There must have been little pleasure in chewing it. Frank Fleer, who had his own company, Fleer Company, worked on the problem of inflation. Flier began using synthetic substances, and this helped usher in the era of chewing rubber balls. Our favorite synthetics made it possible to blow bubbles, and chewing gum capable of this was called “Blibber-Blubber.” 1906 is the year of birth of rubber bubbles...
Rubber bubbles turned out to be insidious. Their stickiness was so high that it was very difficult to remove the gum from the face or lips, so “Blibber-Blubber” was not particularly successful among customers.
The problem of excessive stickiness was solved 15 years later by a certain Walter Deimer, and quite by accident. The Fleer Corporation accountant was having fun mixing different ingredients in his home laboratory, putting the results of his labors in his mouth and trying to chew. And then one day - ta-ra-ra-ram! – received chewing gum that did not stick, did not deteriorate in the air and inflated. The inflatable type of chewing gum was called “bubble gum”. Now the main problems have been solved, all that remains is to give it a new taste and color.
Peppermint, cinnamon, and vanilla flavors solved the first problem. And the color, like the appearance of the chewing gum, was determined by chance: the factory only had pink food coloring available...
Needless to say, the possibility of inflating “trouble-free” bubbles caused a stir among buyers. However, new products 
demanded new skills from buyers - the ability to blow bubbles. Then Walter Dimer himself, who had already become vice president of the company, took up this issue. He suggested teaching sellers so that sellers could teach buyers.
Few people know, but chewing gum inserts were first sold with... cigarettes. But then the 1930s arrived, and William Wrigley (honor and praise be to him!) came up with a new marketing ploy: images of baseball players and comic book characters “migrated” to the packaging of chewing gum. The circulation of the pictures was small, so emerging collectors began to hunt for them. The boom of such collecting occurred in the 1980-90s.
Chewing underground
Interestingly, the spread of mint chewing gum in America was facilitated by the government, or more precisely, by the “Prohibition Law” introduced by it in the 1920s. Even bootleggers sold chewing gum to their clients so that if, God forbid, they were detained by the police, they could not give the latter grounds for arrest or punishment.
The 1980s were marked by the rejoicing of dentists: they stopped adding destructive sugar to chewing gum, using a substitute instead. In general, dentists from the very beginning of the widespread chewing put forward a variety of ideas regarding the harm of gum. Among the funniest are the myths that chewing gum can stick jaws together, glue internal organs (!) and it cannot be cleaned from braces and braces with a toothbrush, so the unfortunate ones who have such a structure in their mouth are strictly prohibited from chewing.
In Singapore, chewing gum was under a state ban for 12 years, which was introduced by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, explaining this measure with concern for the cleanliness of cities. The punishment for clandestine distribution of chewing gum was, at best, a large fine, and at worst, imprisonment for up to two years. Even now in this country you can only buy anti-nicotine gum.
