Chewing Gum

Invented by : John B. Curtis

Invented in year : 1848

Chewing Gum is a type of gum traditionally made of Chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. Polyisobutylene is a non-vulcanisable form of the butyl rubber (isoprene-isobutylene). It is used for inner tubes or to line tubeless tyres. Chewing Gums come in many different shapes and sizes. Chewing Gums come in a wide variety of flavours such as cinnamon, mint, wintergreen and various fruit flavours. Most of the Chewing Gums are manufactured in a similar manner irrespective of brand. The Gum base is melted at a temperature of about 115 °C (239 °F), until it has the viscosity of thick maple syrup. It is then filtered through a screen of fine mesh. It is then refined by separating dissolved particles in a centrifuge and further filtered. Hot and melted clear base, is then poured into mixing vats. Ingredients added may include powdered sugar (it's size may vary to give brittleness) corn syrup and / or glucose (which serve as humectants and coat the sugar particles to stabilize their suspension and keep the gum flexible), various softeners, food colourings, flavourings, preservatives etc.

The homogenized mixture is then poured onto cooling belts and cooled with cold air. The mixture is then extruded, rolled and cut or shaped. The chunks of gum are then put aside to set for 24 to 48 hours. Coated chewing gums then undergo other operations. The chunks are wrapped with optional undercoating for better binding with outer layers then are immersed into liquid sugar. The pellets are then coloured and coated with a suitable glazing agent, usually a wax. The coating / glazing / colour on gum is sometimes derived from animal-based sources such as resinous glaze derived from an insect or beeswax.

History

Chewing Gums have been in existence from ancient times though they were very much unlike the modern Chewing Gum. 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. North American Indians chewed the sap from Spruce Trees. Inspired by the North American Indians, John B. Curtis developed and sold the first commercial chewing gum in 1848. It was called 'The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum'. Curtis established a Firm named 'Curtis & Son'. Some of the Spruce Gums made under this firm were American Flag, Yankee Spruce, White Mountain, 200 Lump Spruce, Licorice Lulu, Trunk Spruce, Sugar Cream, Four-in-Hand and Biggest and Best.

In 1871, Thomas Adams, an American scientist and inventor, patented a machine for the manufacture of Gum. He is generally regarded as a founder of the Chewing Gum industry.

In 1880, John Colgan's, a druggist from Kentucky made Chewing Gum a sweeter treat by adding sugar to chicle. His Chewing Gum tasted better for a longer period of time while being chewed.

By 1888, Thomas Adams' Chewing Gum called Tutti-Frutti became the first Chewing Gum to be sold in a vending machine. These machines were located in a New York City subway station.

In 1899, the leading Gum manufacturers organized themselves into a conglomerate called the American Chicle Company. Gum makers in the organization included Adams, Beeman, Primley, Curtis, and S. T. Britten.  In 1914, Fleer merged his company with the American Chicle Company.  

In 1893, William Wrigley Jr, a U.S. chewing gum industrialist, introduced Wrigley Chewing Gum in the market. Wrigley's launched Juicy Fruit and Spearmint the same year.

In 1906, Peppermint Chewing Gum was developed by Cadbury Adams. The same year, Frank Henry Fleer, an American  confectioner, developed a recipe for the World's First Bubble Gum, originally called 'Blibber Blubber Bubble Gum.' But it didn't hit the market at that time.

In 1914, William Wrigley, Jr. and Henry Fleer created the Wrigley Doublemint brand.

In 1928, Walter Diemer, an American accountant, invented Double Bubble from the original Frank Fleer formula.

Role of the invention of the Chewing Gum in the development of Human Life

• Chewing Gum became a fun food. It also helped U.S. soldiers in improving soldiers' concentration and to relieve stress and was was supplied to the United States military during World War I. In modern times special types of Chewing Gums containing Caffeine have been developed. These are supposed to keep soldiers alert for long periods of time without experiencing fatigue or drowsiness.

• Chewing Gum raised awareness about dental health. Sugar contained in the Gums was proved to be harmful for teeth.

• Sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol has been shown to reduce cavities and plaque by starving micro-organisms in the mouth.