(photo by Flickr user “sometimes rains in JUN”)
While poking around online today, I found a number of webpages that talk about the history of chewing gum. Some interesting facts:
- The ancient Greeks chewed mastiche - a chewing gum made from the resin of the mastic tree.
- The ancient Mayans chewed chicle which is the sap from the sapodilla tree. (that’s where Chiclets must get their name)
- Thomas Adams first tried to change chicle into automobile tires, before inventing a chewing gum that tasted good.
- In 1848 John B. Curtis developed and sold the first commerical chewing gum called The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum.
- On December 28 1869, William Finley Semple became the first person to patent a chewing gum - U.S patent #98,304.
- By 1888, an Adams’ chewing gum called Tutti-Frutti became the first chew to be sold in a vending machine. The machines were located in a New York City subway station.
- The very first bubble gum was invented by Frank Henry Fleer in 1906. He called it Blibber-Blubber. Fleer’s recipe was later perfected by Walter Diemer, who called his product Double Bubble.
For more facts, read the history of chewing gum at:
http://www.thatsmygum.com Find every piece of gum you’ve ever spit out.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pmnice description on the history of chewing gum. i love the wriggly chewing gum except after its lost its taste.
February 4th, 2008 at 4:37 am