The Fascinating History of Chewing Gum: A 9,000-Year Journey
Chewing gum isn’t just a modern habit—it’s an ancient practice with a sticky, surprising past. Here’s how gum evolved from tree sap to Bazooka Joe!
1. Stone Age Gum (5,000+ BCE)
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The OG gum: Neolithic people in Scandinavia chewed birch bark tar, likely for medicinal purposes (teeth cleaning or hunger suppression).
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Proof: 5,700-year-old gum wads with teeth marks were found in Denmark!
2. Ancient Gum Cultures
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Mayans & Aztecs: Chewed chicle (sap from the sapodilla tree) as a breath freshener.
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Ancient Greeks: Used mastic tree resin to clean teeth and freshen breath.
3. 19th Century: The Birth of Modern Gum
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1848: John B. Curtis sold the first commercial gum, “State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum,” made from spruce tree resin.
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1869: Mexican general Antonio López de Santa Anna (yes, the Alamo guy!) introduced chicle to inventor Thomas Adams, who created Adams New York Gum.
4. The Gum Boom (Late 1800s–Early 1900s)
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1871: Adams added flavor (licorice) and launched Black Jack, the first flavored gum.
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1891: Wrigley Company was founded, revolutionizing gum with Spearmint (1893) and Juicy Fruit (1893).
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1928: Walter Diemer accidentally invented bubble gum (pink because it was the only dye available!).
5. Gum in Pop Culture
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WWII: U.S. soldiers spread gum globally as part of rations.
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1950s: Bazooka Joe comics inside gum wrappers became a hit with kids.
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1980s–90s: Hubba Bubba, Bubble Tape, and sugar-free gums like Trident dominated.
6. Modern Gum: Fads & Challenges
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2000s: Novelty gums (e.g., Toxic Waste, Stride Spark) and functional gums (caffeine, vitamins).
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Decline: Gum sales dropped due to smartphones (people chew less in public) and sugar-free alternatives.
Fun Gum Facts
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The largest bubble ever blown: 20 inches wide (record set in 1994).
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Singapore banned gum in 1992 (except medicinal) to clean up sidewalks.
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NASA sent gum to space—astronauts use it to combat dry mouth in zero gravity!
Did You Know? Today’s “gum base” is often synthetic, but some brands (like Glee Gum) still use chicle for a natural chew.
Want a deep dive into weird vintage gum flavors (like Clove or Pepsin gum)? Let me know! 🍬
