New Chewing Gum Flavors

You can’t stop people from chewing. They’ve been doing it for centuries.

The ancient Greeks chewed mastiche, made from mastic tree resin ( and most likely the flavor to match). Ancient Mayans chewed the sap from the sapodilla tree while Indians in North America chewed the sap from spruce trees and gave the idea to the settlers. Early American settlers came up with a chewing gum from spruce sap and beeswax. You can still find this "flavor" in some gift stores.

Many years and steps later we have such a wide assortment of flavors you could choose a different one for each week of the year—at least.

Some newer arrivals include sugar-free Wrigley's Orbit Mist in Mango Surf, Watermelon Spring, and Peppermint Spray. The package says they hydrate and they do indeed and for a pretty long time. The gum doesn't "dry out" in your mouth like some do-- the micro bursts keep the flavor fresh.

The flavor is very intense at first—the Mango Surf and Watermelon Spring pack a knock- you- off- your- chair sweet-tart burst that becomes more subtle but stays with you. The Peppermint Spray is still intense with long-lasting flavor.

Highly recommended.

Not Eating, Just Chewing

Say you aren’t really hungry and can’t justify eating even a small snack just to have something to put in your mouth instead of say, a candy bar or a cigarette (you are quitting, right?). The option that tastes good—at least for a while-- cleans your teeth, freshens bad breath, and just gives your jaw some exercise, minus the talking, is chewing gum.

There are so many flavors and types to choose from. Not just sugarless or sugarfull or fruity or minty. Now there are options like sugarless Wrigley’s 5 ( a soft stick in the traditional long, flat, wide thin shape) in flavors such as Lush, "a crisp tropical” and Elixir, "a mouthwatering berry” or from that same company, sugarless soft Orbit—whether you like, hate or tolerate their ads, Orbit gum is a satisfying choice. The new varieties promise a “just brushed clean feeling” and are available in flavors with names like “Fabulous Fruitini” and Sangria Fresca and Maui Melon Mint (quite nice).

Sugarless crisp-shelled Eclipse now promises “Natural Germ Killing” properties, thanks to Magnolia Bark Extract—who knew? Apparently a few scientists-- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119111138.htm and http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20071116/magnolia-bark-extract-vs-bad-breath

So, even though no one expects a lot from a chewing gum—the flavor only lasts so long and then it’s time for another piece, now there even more flavors from which to choose. And you will have distracted your mouth until it’s time for the next meal. Or your next meeting.

And keep in mind that lumps of spruce gum, courtesy of the Native Americans of New England, was the chewing gum of availability, if not choice, of the early colonists. They learned to chew the gum-like resin that from on spruce trees when the bark was cut. Never tried it? You won't forget the taste. And you will be thankful for the variety of options we have today.