Chicle-Aztec chewing gum

Used extensively and exclusively as the original gum base for North American chewing gum from the birth of the industry mid-1800s, till the mid-1900's when it was replaced by the less expensive synthetics that were developed for the rubber industry and which we use till today.

The enormous demand for chewing gum and chicle in North America created untenable stresses and conflicts around the supply of chicle. What was basically a traditional cottage industry run by renegades and social misfits could not keep up with the demand for the vast quantities needed and the supply chain collapsed.

Chicle provided the base for many famous types of chewing gum such as Chiclets, Wrigley's gum and Adams Company chewing gum. The popularity of Chicle-based chewing gum reached the height of its use in the industry around the time of the second world war. The growing demand for Chicle, coupled with supply problems and escalating prices led to the introduction of synthetic gum bases, which have completely replaced this natural source of chewing gum.

Studies show that Mesoamerican cultures used Chicle as chewing gum as far back as 6000 years ago.

Chicle can be chewed on its own in the same manner as spruce resin, mastic or Frankincense Frereana or blended with other resins to create unique products.
Commercially, North American chewing gum was based on Chicle blended with sugar, corn syrup, essential oils/flavouring and sometimes wax and resins to create the chewing gums we are used to.

There are recipes and formulas online for producing chewing gum at home, many of which can use Chicle as a substitute to butylene Gum-base. I encourage everyone to explore and experiment with making their own chewing gum from Chicle. If you are happy with your formulas, please send them to me, and I will share them here to benefit others.

Though Chicle does not have a lot of flavour, unlike other natural gums used for chewing, it has no bitterness, which has made it a very pleasant chew even without added sweeteners and flavours.

Please note our ounces are 30 grams, not the 25 grams offered by many other sellers. To this generous ounce, we ALWAYS add a bit more and NEVER less to our packages. Something our customers have come to count on.

For recipes, instructions and more information about the different types of Frankincense, Myrrh and other oleoresins, please visit my blog at http://apothecarysgarden.com.

Dan

Materials: chicle.