I'm not much of a gambling man, but I would be willing to bet that close to 99 percent of everyone who reads this article has, at one time or another, chewed gum. Whether it’s minty, fruit-flavored, spicy cinnamon, sugar-free, or some of the more exotic flavors that are coming out now, just about everyone has had some type of gum which has become a favorite to chew.
Well, not many people may know this, but up until the late fifties, with a few variations, most gum was made of a South American tree sap called chicle. This brings to mind an old-time gum called Chiclets, my favorite gum of all time! After the 1950's, a synthetic base was created that closely mimicked the chewing characteristics of chicle, and was much cheaper to manufacture. This process essentially destroyed the thriving market for chicle as chewing gum and nearly wiped out the industry as a whole.
Without going into too much detail, modern gums are made of such things as synthetic elastomers (rubber), resins, waxes, fats, emulsifiers and unnamed fillers, most of which are made by humans and don't sound particularly good to be chewing on. When you read this, think about what your parents used to say about not swallowing your gum because it isn’t healthy for you. Although only a myth, it does kind of make you wonder, doesn’t it?
This brings us to the rediscovery of chicle as the original gum base. Since only the sap is harvested, much like maple syrup production, the trees are allowed to live and continue to grow. Because this sap comes from the rainforest, it is certified organic from its inception, just like the way it was before synthetic agents took over.
Even the flavors are all natural, and since these new (old) chicle based gums are all totally natural themselves, they break down completely from the moment you begin chewing, so that old adage about not swallowing your gum becomes a moot point.
Right now there are two brand new firms producing chicle, one of which you may be able to find in your neighborhood co-op, even as you read this. It’s called Glee Gum, and it comes in a variety of your favorite natural flavors. The other gum, soon to debut in the United Kingdom, is called Chicza, and made the same natural way as Glee.
In the coming weeks, I will do my best to secure a mouthful and give you my thoughts about flavor and chew-ability. But already, I must say that a chicle-based, organic gum with natural flavorings, that is harvested using sustainable practices, equals yummy to the Green Guy, Because Action speaks louder than words!
Source: BecauseAction.com
