Chicle Chews Tablet Gum
Chicle Chews Tablet Gum History
Chicle Chews tablet gum has an interesting history that begins with the use of chicle, a natural gum base derived from the sap of the sapodilla tree. The story of Chicle Chews dates back to the late 19th century and involves the evolution of chewing gum as a popular confection.
The use of chicle as a gum base originated in Central America, where indigenous cultures had been chewing chicle for centuries. The chicle sap was collected from the sapodilla tree, processed into a workable form, and chewed for its natural rubbery texture and pleasant flavor.
In the 1860s, an entrepreneur named Thomas Adams, originally seeking to use chicle as a substitute for rubber, recognized its potential as a chewing gum base. Adams believed that chicle had the ideal properties to create a commercially viable gum product.
Adams experimented with various recipes and techniques to develop a consistent and enjoyable chewing gum. He introduced his first chewing gum product, called "Adams New York Chewing Gum," in 1871. These early chicle-based gums were sold in small chunks or balls and were initially flavored with sassafras or licorice.
As chewing gum gained popularity, other companies began to emerge, seeking to capitalize on the growing market. In the early 20th century, chicle-based tablet gums started to appear. These tablet gums were made by compressing chicle gum base with added flavors and sweeteners into flat, rectangular shapes.
One of the notable brands that introduced chicle-based tablet gum was Adams' own company, now known as the Adams Gum Company. They launched "Chicle Chewing Gum" in the tablet form, featuring a range of flavors such as spearmint, peppermint, and fruit varieties.
Chicle Chews tablet gum became a success, offering a convenient and portable way to enjoy chewing gum. The tablet format allowed for longer-lasting flavor and easier portion control compared to traditional chunk gums.
Over time, the popularity of chicle-based gum grew, leading to further innovations in gum manufacturing. Eventually, synthetic gum bases were developed, gradually replacing chicle as the primary gum base in the industry due to cost and availability considerations.
Today, while most modern chewing gum no longer uses chicle as the gum base, the legacy of Chicle Chews tablet gum remains. The early use of chicle as a gum base played a significant role in establishing chewing gum as a popular confectionery item, and Chicle Chews contributed to the evolution of gum formats and flavors.
Although the specific brand "Chicle Chews" may not be widely available today, the influence of chicle-based tablet gums can still be seen in the diverse range of chewing gum products on the market.
Chicle Chews Tablet Gum Memories
I remember every Thursday night was shopping night when I was little. I would go into town with my mom and we did the weeks grocery shopping as well as anything else we needed. First stop was always the bank. There it was, over in the corner just waiting for me.
My favorite gum machine with those wonderful little "square" gum balls. I would wait patiently for my mom to hand me that penny and off I'd go. Sometimes she'd give me two or three pennies and I was in heaven. I remember my hand didn't seem big enough to hold them all but I never dropped one. I have to say a number of years have gone by and every time I would see a gum machine I'd look for my little "square" gum balls. Seems they were hard to find. Well, just 2 days ago my husband bought me that gum machine. It's in our game room now and I can have my little "square" gum balls anytime I want. I wonder if my mom has any extra pennies. ~ Denise from Pennsylvania
