Wrigley is introducing a new sugar-free to the market called simply “5″. The plan is for a mid to end of July availability (UPDATE: They say it’s August now), but they’re also going to be selling it at a few boutiques in LA, Miami and New York beginning this week. I had these on my candy radar and unexpectedly received a bunch of packs in the mail for an early review. (Have I mentioned how freakin’ awesome it is to get free candy unexpectedly in the mail?)
Wrigley’s 5 gum is squarely aimed at the teen/young adult market with its trendy black envelope packaging. The slogan is “5 is the new black”. They even claim that the package glows under blacklight. Since I just so happen to have an arcade lit with blacklights, I tested it and wasn’t impressed – no secret messages or anything, but all the 5′s on the package “popped” out. The packaging is quite cool though. It’s probably the best gum packaging I have seen lately. It’s slightly smaller than a deck of cards and it reminds me of a cigarette pack – not sure if that is intentional or not.
5 comes in 3 different flavors: Rain (spearmint), Cobalt (peppermint) and Flare (cinnamon). Flare is the only one that tells what the flavor is on the package wrapper – Rain and Cobalt give no clue on the package – maybe that will change though (I hope so). You have to resort to sniffing the package to get a clue. These flavor names aggravate me as much as Gatorade did when they came out with flavors like Rain, Frost, and Fierce. When you have to have a chart to figure out what the flavor might be, you may need to rethink your flavor names. And why do companies think we want to eat/drink/chew something called Rain? But I digress….
Each package contains 15 sticks of foil-wrapped gum standing in 3 columns of 5 sticks each. Each flavor doesn’t pack a wallop of flavor at first chew, but tastes like any other gum I have ever had in these flavors. In fact, after being used to cinnamon gums like Big Red, I was rather disappointed in the initial flavor of Flare.
I took some packs to work and have been chewing this gum for the past week and can say that the flavor it does have lasts a long time. I figured since the initial flavor punch wasn’t super strong that the flavor would subside quickly but it doesn’t. While coding and chomping away on some 5, I can look at the clock an hour after putting the gum in my mouth and the gum still has some good flavor left in it.
So, the packaging is quite cool, the gum is sugar-free, the flavor is pretty good overall, and the flavor lasts a long time. You can’t ask too much more from a gum. My favorite part though? I can offer my friends a “piece of flair Flare” or I can say “I have 15 pieces of flair Flare”. Now where’s my red stapler?
“5″ gum retails for about $1.49 a pack. 5 gum is so new, they don’t even have a website setup for it yet, so for now here is a link to Wrigley’s website and here are the pics I took of my packs for this review.
UPDATE: The 5 Gum website is up now!
UPDATE: I’m adding this because lots of people have asked. I think it’s called “5″ because it’s supposed to stimulate your 5 senses. I think.
Picked this up at the local grocery store here in central Indiana. Price is a little over the top and I too first thought it wasn’t much but I have to admit the flavor last.
I’m not big on sugarless but it seems like it’s hard to get anything but bubble-gum that’s not sugarless.
The packaging is very elegant right down to the embossed finger “grip” on the sliding flap on the back of the package.
I’ve only tried Cobalt but after an initial ho-hum impression I’ll definitely pick up the other flavors.
i got some of the flare today at the wal-mart. pretty good.
wrote up a blog post and linked to this review…
A co-worker bought this gum and gave it to her teenage daughters – she said it make them super hyper. I can’t find anywhere where it’s marketed as “energy” gum, but they swear it works. Anybody else get a buzz from it?
I didn’t get a buzz… but, after chewing it for a couple of hours- I had
a very odd sensation on my tongue! I was eating dinner and had the
feeling of novacaine tongue. Anyone else experience this?
Love the packaging. Agree the initial taste is much like Big Red- unimpressive.
It did last forever. Probably won’t buy again due to the weird tongue thing!!!
Only a CG aficionado would know this is definitly a gum worth chewing. Props to both the Office Space shout out and to this gum for beating the 1 hour mark for flavor! Can’t find another gum that really last that long which is why you chew it in the first place. Rookies beware this gum is not for you, stick with the kids stuff such as BBL, HB or DBL BBL.
I was just at Harris Teeter looking to buy my 17-stick pack of Spearmint gum but instead came across Rain. It was just $1.19 a pack and I had some spare change plus a dollar bill so I decided why not. Tastes delicious. I love the packaging too. It’s that kind of packaging that when people are like “You have some gum” and you pull it out it makes you feel like James Bond with a new gadget :) lol
I picked up at pack of Rain on Thursday. I love the packaging even though I am NOT in their target group (I’m 47).
The spearmint flavor is somewhat mild. It’s a very chewy gum, if anyone understands that. Also, I noticed a herb flavor on my tongue after I popped a bubble (HAHA) – thyme, I think.
i belive its called 5 because the 5 calories
I’m still waiting for them to release a fruit flavor based on Juicy Fruit. Name it Fruit Salad.
The flavor of Rain (got today at 7-11 in Bethesda, Maryland) has lasted for over 2 hours. Not bad at all!
Tried it today. Seems like it will be a winner.
Cobalt Gum is a complete joke. I purchased the gum thinking it would be something more than a few pieces of winterfresh sticks wrapped in fancy packaging. If I were Wrigley I would be laughing my whole way to the bank. It’s $1.25 a pack or more and you get 15 sticks of winterfresh gum wrapped in pretty foil to trick you into thinking you are getting a premium product. I will NEVER buy a wrigley product again. I prefer Cadbury’s Dentyne Ice peppermint any day of the week or Trident White.
Any gum that lasts an hour without losing flavor has GOT to have something in it that causes cancer. Cool package, though.
-Wop
Hi! I just saw a t.v. ad for 5: “cinnamon that warms as you chew.” I’m curious what catalyst is added to the phenylketonurics for the warming sensation.
But, I’m looking forward to trying it, as it seems I can’t find a cinnamon gum that’s HOT (like Atomic Fireball hot, if I should ever be so lucky.)
My faves are Wrigley’s Orbit White Bubblemint, & Altoids Cinnamon Gum.
Heidi ;o)
I would like to get more of the “5″ gum I was given a stick and I love the taste and longivity of the Rain flavor. Please let me know where and when it will be available on the market.
Thanks
Bill Boone
I have jsut tried flare. It has a good taste however it is priced way to high! The package is nice but not worth the price. Try again!
this gum i sawsome im chewing it right now …. go buy it!!
Can you provide an image of the box under the black light? :)
I have not tried Wrigley’s 5 gum yet because I have not seen any in my area. I like Dentine Ice but they keep changing the flavor so it’s not as strong as it used to be. I like the colour blue so I would appreciate it if you would sent me a sample of 5 gum in blue.
J. Jones
Hmm..sounds good, but it isn’t available in Europe. Can’t find an online retailer too…:(
Really wanna try this Gum..
wow it looks good but i cant find it any were omg i live in staten isalnd new i cant find anything lol
I bought 5 because the packaging caught my eye and because it had 15 pieces in it. I chose the flare flavor. I normally buy “Big Red” and have to say for a sugarless version, I am very impressed.
I love that my kids can pull one piece out and all the rest stay in place.
I had it for over an hour, there was still flavor and the gum remained soft. Awesome Product!!!
A little disappointed, just had some today…not the kicking and refreshing gum i thhought it would be. Didn’t think this gum was going to be like the rest of them, oh well i guess.
I bought and tried the Wrigleys Cobalt 5. I thought it was great! The flavor lasts a long time, not like other gums, where you lose the flavor in a the first couple of minutes. I will definately buy this gum again!
I was looking at the box, i went with “Rain” btw.. and its even got a recycling number of 5.. meaning A they put quite a bit of effort into there slogan.. and B you can accually recycle a gum package.. 1st? i do believe so..
ya and besides the ghetto black light glowing package the gum isnt worth it.. its 15 pieces of average flovored gum with a ghetto name for about two to four times the price of any other foil wrapped gum.. im prettymuch guessing there gonna have a huge opening with the gum sales then its gonna crap the bed cause every1s gonna catch on to there little scam.. othwise thell have to lower their gum prices.. so u may wanna get ur ghetto little recyclable gum package before its too late.. ( did any1 elses gum seem stale at the begging even tho it was from a brand new box still plastic wrapped and sealed?)
Yes, I would love to try the new gum spearmint and cinnamon are my favorites. that would be great if you have any left. thanks alot!!!!
Okay… I understand that this gum has to have something good inside it… but why are half of you buying the gum because of the pretty package? You are so like flies attracted to a freaking light bulb. I will try the gum for its taste, not the package!
Jason
This gum is off the hook. The flavor lasts for dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyysssssssss
i still got the flavor in my mouth and its been been 3 weeks
There were some comments above about how the color of the packages should make it obvious of it’s flavor. I agree, but that isn’t the case with Stride Gum. I was disappointed to discover that the dark blue package was wintermint, not the obvious peppermint! Getting back to 5, I’ve always liked cinnamon gum, so I tried the Flare flavor. I don’t care for it’s taste although it lasts a long time. What’s with cinnamon gum nowadays anyway? There seems to be other odd spices added, not just straight cinnamon…as in red hot flavor cinnamon. I miss original Dentyne cinnamon gum.
Ok- so the 5 people gave me a sample of this gum (cobalt) a while back at walmart. I loved it! Now that it is avaliable in stores it is pretty much all i chew. I especially like the Cobalt but the other 2 are good too. The packaging ROCKS!! I am in high school and this is “the gum” right now. It is VERY VERY popular and i havent heard anyone dislike it. My ONLY complaint is the price of 1.50 because i chew alot of gum. Overall its well worth it i think :)
a lot of hype over the packageing its a box get over it, flavor weak, the pieces contry to the comment above do fall out of the package. the package should contain a flavor discription, contry to those people who think the color should be a give away. most people dont want to buy some thing the have to guess what its goning to taste like. if you have money to throw away great, but not all of us do.
It’s called 5 because it has 5 calories. If you look at the back of the plastic (not on the box itself :/) it states that it has 35% less calories. It was reduced from 8 to 5.
I loved the Office Space Reference! So Clever :)
the commercials say stimulate your senses but its just gum so how exactly am i supposed to be stimulated?
Oh sweet I love this stuff and its so amazing
the gum is called “5″ as it is a reference to the 5 senses, the gum warms (flare), tigles (rain), and cools (cobalt) as you chew it. The question is, what kind of chemicals are they putting in the gum to make that happen? Am i going to wake up after 10 years of chewing this gum with esophogeal cancer because they though it would be cool if it tigled? I can’t think of any other products (other than condoms, which arguably you dont eat) that use those kinds of chemicals, so what kind of testing has been done in terms of their effect?
I saw the commercial and thought that it was a commercial for cigarettes, then they flashed the packs and i thought they were packs of cigarettes.
Being im not the only one who thought this, id say it was intentional that the pack of gum looks like a pack of cigarettes.
i just bought a pack of the rain at walmart, i had to. a kid gave me a piece at school. personally, i love it. i do like how the package is. because it keeps them in order. and its easier to get out.
The packaging is great it looks very upscale. The gum isn’t bad although I’ve only tried Rain because spearmint is my favorite flavor. On a scale of 1-10 I’ll give it a 5. I always go back to Trident spearmint. To me no other gum keeps it’s flavor longer.
I was enticed into buying two boxes via a demonstration at Costco. Got green and blue.
Good stuff but honestly, gum is gum is gum for the most part. This is good but nothing new. The packaging is the new part. Nicely done.
wow, had such high hopes for this come, packaging is pretty nifty (yes, I say nifty), and the name “Flare” made me think it would pack a punch. However, upon putting it in my mouth, I have to say this is probably the weakest cinnamon flavor I’ve ever had. Yes, the flavor lasts awhile, and every so often I get a burning flash on my tongue, but really, there is very little flavor at all. Guess I’m sticking to Dentyne Fire for my gum.
I saw the black sleek package, resembling a pack of expensive cigarettes. Something new called, Flare. I could not resist it!
Unfortunately, it tasted more like watered down Big Red and what flavor it did have, did not last long. Keep the ultra-cool packaging but do consumers a favor and call it, Smoldering Match Stick.
Jennet
WHERE DO I BUY IT WHAT STORES HAVE IT!?!!?!?!? I NEED TO KNOW 0.0
I’ve had only the Flare, but I enjoyed it well enough. At least in my opinion it lives up to its claim to be a warming cinnamon gum. The flavor was not all that different from that of other cinnamon gums, but as others have said it lasts A LONG TIME! A big plus for me. Another interesting sidebar: cinnamon has been lauded in various health sources as being an aide in sensitizing the body to insulin. This plus the fact that Flare is sugar free may make it a great idea for diabetics. I’m not sure if I will become a regular “5″ chewer, (I still want to try Cobalt and Rain) but I’m impressed so far. I just wish the price were a bit lower.
I was looking for a long-lasting gum that I could use to stimulate my mouth while I try to quit smoking (the nicotine gum is great for the nic fits, but it has a very short-lasting flavor), and I bought the 5 Rain specifically because the pack reminded me of a cigarette pack. I like the way it opens and the way it feels in my pocket.
The flavor does really last a while, and it has been very helpful in my struggle to quit. I’m a bit concerned about the artificial sweeteners, though. Anyone know of a long-lasting gum that is not so tweaked out on the artificial stuff? Are there any long-term side effects to chewing this artificial crap? Yeah, it’s ironic that I’m so interested in my health now, after years of smoking freakin’ cigarettes, ain’t it? Whatever. I haven’t tried 5 Flare or Cobalt yet, but I probably will. – K
IT was good gum. IT WAS HOT. I got 3 packs of gum.
i have a piece of Rain in my mouth, and i think it’s pretty amazing. It tastes realllllyyyy good. My new favorite, i’ve been chewing it for about an hour, still good :] way better then like juicy fruit, their flavor lasts for like five minutes..if you’re lucky. Plus, the packaging is sweet.
it’s even better cause i stole a pack out of my sister mwahahaha, she got it at wal*mart since that seems to mean something, where you got it that is.
i am chewing away at a pack o rain as i type this and its realy good im working on my second piece (first one still had flavor after a 15 minute ride home and a hour here at home but i spit it out to eat dinner) one of my friends gave me a pack as payment for making them a cd… i gotta say that i had no idea that it was by wrigly because wrigly has always had the traditional packages and they said there name right out of thier packages this is a realy unique way of packaging this gum because nobody (expet stride) that i have found pacages thier gum like this and i have absolutely never seen stick gum pagaged like this… im a big guy on strong packages cause i keep it in my pockets and if i sit wrong then it squishes the package… so of corse i tested the package and i am glad to say that it is rather strong it held up without a scratch under my printer so then i put it under my monitor (its a big fat one not one of the new real skiny monitors) i set the package so that an edge was right in the middle of the package where there was only 1 piece left and i am glad to say that it only made a small dent about half a cm if that… verry strong package! this is my kind of gum!
lol also i dont see what the big deal is about every1 saying its so new… its not verry new herei n missouri… potosi walmart has had it out for like 2 months and every1 here has tried it or seen the package… exept me of corse i had seen the package but i always chewed my stride… even tho i did thin the 5 packages were so awesome… but then today my friend gave me a pack for making her a cd and i love it my new fave!
Mann these are awesome I love them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My secret?? (dont tell!) pop one of each in your mouth at once. I did that and I’ve been chewing it for almost a week straight! Of course i take it out when i eat and sleep, I just stick it on the edge of my water glass, then when I put it back in it has just as much flavor! AWESOMEE!! They should make a flavor that tastes just like v8 veggie juice cause i’d chew that kind FOREVER.
This gum is awesome. It’s flavor lasts at least an hour plus more!
They call it 5 Gum because it satisfys all 5 of your senses.
This is awesome gum and i will buy more :D