I’ve been chewing Wrigley’s Spearmint gum forever, and Wrigley’s has been making spearmint-flavored gum forever – at least since 1893 anyway. When I picked up a pack a couple weeks ago and saw “NEW Improved Flavor!” emblazoned across the top, I was scarcely worried at all. After all, Wrigley’s wouldn’t dare change the sweet spearmint flavor that has brought them success for over 100 years. Maybe they’ve made it longer-lasting, I reasoned.
When I unwrapped my happy little stick of gum, I felt a shocking jolt – my delicious off-white gum had morphed into lime green! What? White was good enough for my great-great grandmother, why not for me? Fearless, I began to chew and at first things seemed the same as always. A sweet juice filled my mouth, mmmm.
Then it hit me. This gum is hot! The longer I chewed, the hotter my tongue felt. Soon my cheeks felt hot too and then even my teeth and gums. I had to keep swallowing to get the heat to go away, but three for four more chews brought it back again. After about five minutes, my eyes started to feel a little steamed up too!
Wrigley’s Spearmint was never hot before, but it certainly is now. It reminds me of peppermint heat. I chew spearmint gum because I don’t like my gum hot!
Wrigley, oh Wrigley, I loved your gum. It brought me joy and fresh breath. It brought you profits, five cents per stick. We had a good thing going – for 115 years! Why, oh why, did you change?
Buy Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum Online:
- at Candy Direct
- at Old Time Candy
- at Amazon.com
That’s horrible! Horrible!
October 17th, 2008 at 3:23 pmI agree, I used to love Wrigley’s gums. Since they went for the artificial sweeteners, I’ve dumped them in favor of the much harder to find Chiclets. (Maybe you should try the Spearmint ones Cindy? They’re really mellow.)
October 17th, 2008 at 8:17 pmThanks for the head’s up. I bet this has something to do with Wrigley’s being bought by Mars. Welcome to the staff!
October 18th, 2008 at 12:19 pmI agree, Jeni!
Thank you for the tip, Cybele. It’s been a long time since I had Chiclets, but I’ll have to pick up a package.
Hey, Robby, thanks for the welcome! I’m honored to be here! :)
October 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pmI suggest 5 gum’s spearmint flavor. It has I tiny bit of heat when you start to chew it, but then it mellows out to a sweet mint flavor that lasts for hours.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:10 pmThanks, Terrac. I’ve never tried 5 gum…actually, I’d never heard of it until a few days ago right here on Candy Addict. I’ll look for it (and those Chiclets) and see what I think. Do I smell another review?
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 amI am so disappointed with Wrigley’s! I called there 1-800-974-4539 number yesterday to ask why and if they plan on changing their doublemint flavor back to the old wonderful flavor and texture that it once use to be. I was told NO and that since March 2008 wrigley’s had not plans on returning to the old wonderful taste (well they did not admit that anything was wrong with the new taste). Well I will never buy any of the companies gum again. Just like Coke a Cola, they changed the way they were making their soda, but after enough Americans complained they changed it back. I really wish there was some other gum out there that could satisfy me like wrigley’s doublemint once did. I feel like a crack addict. HELP
November 19th, 2008 at 4:53 pmThe flavor may be the same, but now they have added yellow dye #5 which I am allergic to. Allergy for 15 years with body itching and hives. I have tried to buy up all the original spearmint before the “new and improved” label.I found some of the old spearmint in GA and TN rest stop candy dispensers. No I didn’t drive from state to state looking for gum. I just happened to stop at some during my Thanksgiving driving.
The old gum had no color. Why do you need yellow color anyway?
December 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pmIf anyone knows where to buy the old please advise. I don’t like the other flavors and have a allergy to the cinnamon gum also.
I am really disappointed in the new “improved” Wrigleys spearmint gum. I tried several pieces and then tossed out the rest. I will try Chicklets, thanks for the suggestion.
January 20th, 2009 at 3:53 pmI am in total agreement. I absolutely DO NOT LIKE the “new & improved flavor”. Wrigley’s has been around as long as I can remember and I am 41 years old. I’ve been chewing the stuff since I was about 3 years old. I love the “original” spearmint and doublemint and miss them terribly. I chew gum every single day! Now I have to find something new and more expensive. Why mess with a good thing????
February 12th, 2009 at 1:17 pmI am so glad I’m not the only one that thinks the new formula is terrible. I look in every store I go into, but they have all switched. Has anyone found an alternative to our beloved Wrigley’s? It’s so hard to find gum without artificial sweetners. :(
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April 21st, 2009 at 2:01 amCindy,
Thanks for the article. I feel exactly the same way. The addition of artificial sweetners makes it taste worse as well. I don’t understand how they could be so stupid. I think the only thing we can do is make sure to NOT BUY THIS STUFF. Once sales go down, maybe they’ll get a clue and change it back. Please let us know what else we can do.
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