While chewing gum might seem like a modern invention, people have been chewing on things for thousands of years! Long before it became a sweet treat you could blow bubbles with, ancient civilizations had their own versions of gum, and the journey to the gum we know today is full of fascinating twists.

Ancient Chewing Habits
The earliest known “chewing gum” dates back to ancient Greece, where people chewed on mastic tree resin to clean their teeth and freshen their breath. Meanwhile, the Mayan and Aztec civilizations were chewing on chicle, a natural sap from the sapodilla tree, for similar reasons. Chicle, as it turns out, would play a key role in the development of modern gum!

Modern Gum’s Beginnings: A Sweet Twist
The modern version of chewing gum owes its start to John B. Curtis, who in 1848 created and sold the first commercial chewing gum made from spruce tree resin. Called “State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum,” it was a bit rough compared to what we enjoy today, but it kicked off the chewing craze in America.

In the 1860s, Thomas Adams, a New York inventor, tried to use chicle (the same substance the Aztecs chewed) as a rubber substitute for tires. When that plan failed, he experimented with flavoring chicle and ended up creating a new type of chewing gum. He later founded the Adams New York Chewing Gum Company, and gum became more popular than ever, especially when Adams introduced flavored gum, like licorice.

Chewing Gum Explodes—Literally!
In the early 1900s, William Wrigley Jr., a soap and baking powder salesman, entered the chewing gum business with a marketing twist. He gave away free chewing gum with his products and soon realized that gum was far more popular than soap! By 1893, Wrigley launched the famous Juicy Fruit and Spearmint flavors, which are still enjoyed today.

Blowin’ Bubbles: The Invention of Bubble Gum
In 1928, chewing gum took an exciting new turn with the invention of bubble gum by Walter Diemer, who worked at the Fleer Chewing Gum Company. At the time, Fleer was experimenting with new formulas to create a gum that could stretch and blow bubbles without being too sticky. While testing different mixtures, Diemer stumbled upon a unique combination that was both stretchy and less sticky—perfect for blowing bubbles!

Diemer's creation was initially pink because that was the only food coloring available in the factory at the time. This pink hue became iconic and is still associated with bubble gum today. The first commercial bubble gum was called Dubble Bubble and was an instant hit, selling out on its first day.