Know more about Bubblegum History
Bubblegum History – One of the most loved childhood memories of many people is chewing bubblegum and here is how it all started.
It is common to see bubblegum that is pink but do you know the reason behind this? This chewing treat has come a long way from its earliest form. Based on the article in Mental Floss, chicle–a natural gum that comes from trees has been around for thousands of years.
It was in 1848 when commercial chewing gum became available in the United States and it has continued to evolve over the years.
In 1928, 24-year-old Walter Diemer, an accountant at the Fleer Chewing Gum Company, decided to do some tinkering. He had a habit of experimenting with gum recipes during his spare time. Eventually, he was able to combine the right compound.
This led him to produce a sticky, chewy substance that did something no other gum had done before. His invention allowed people to blow bubbles. However, the gum that Diemer invented was not appealing because it was gray. It is an obvious fact that children are not drawn to this kind of color.
With this, Diemer used the red dye that was available in their factory at that time and it transformed the gray into the iconic pink confection that is now known today. The pink color remained until today and has become synonymous with bubblegum. Nowadays, companies create different colors and some depend on the flavors they offer.
Speaking of flavors, bubblegum tastes often feature fruity flavors sometimes described as a mix of strawberry, banana, and cherry, or even a “strawberry-banana-punch-mix.”
Thanks to Diemer, bubblegum has its signature taste. While he was experimenting with the main goal to make it appealing to children, he was also able to create that fruity-sweet flavor that is now widely recognized.