Chewing gum, past and present

People have been chewing on all sorts of things since ancient times. For example, the Eskimos chewed on whale skins, and the Chinese chewed on ginseng roots. Nowadays, there are various types of chewing gum: for whiter teeth, fresh breath, or even for blowing big bubbles. But what is our (modern) chewing gum actually made of? More than you might initially think!

Natural and synthetic mix

Chewing gum is a mixture of natural and synthetic ingredients. The components can be roughly divided into gum – the base –, sugar (or sweeteners), and flavorings. The gum part consists of a mix of three types of hydrocarbons: elastomers (rubbers), resins, and plasticizers such as fats.

Chewable and flavorful

Plant-based oils – such as palm kernel oil – ensure that the mixture becomes chewable. Chewing gum gets its flavor from the addition of sugars or sugar substitutes (sweeteners) and flavorings. Chalk or talc is used as a filler. The exact composition of chewing gum is, of course, the manufacturer's secret.