Bubblegum facts for kids
Woman blowing a bubble
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| Type | Chewing gum |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Pennsylvania |
| Created by | Walter Diemer |
| Invented | 1928 |
Bubble gum is a fun type of chewing gum that you can blow into a bubble! It's different from regular gum because it's made to stretch a lot without breaking.
Contents
What Gives Bubble Gum Its Flavor?
Have you ever wondered what makes bubble gum taste like, well, bubble gum? There's a special "bubble gum flavor" that companies create. It's usually a mix of different artificial flavors. These flavors often come from things called esters.
Common Bubble Gum Flavors
Some common esters used to make bubble gum taste include:
- Methyl salicylate
- Ethyl butyrate
- Benzyl acetate
- Amyl acetate
- Cinnamic aldehyde (which comes from cinnamon)
You can even make a natural bubble gum flavor! It's a mix of banana, pineapple, cinnamon, cloves, and wintergreen. Sometimes, people also add vanilla, cherry, lemon, or orange oil.
How Is Bubble Gum Made?
Modern chewing gum, including bubble gum, uses special ingredients for its base. If natural rubber like chicle is used, it has to be very clean and pure.
Synthetic Gum Bases
Most bubble gums today use synthetic (man-made) materials for their gum base. These synthetic bases are great because they make the flavor last longer. They also make the gum softer and less sticky. This means your bubble gum won't stick to your face as much when a bubble pops!
The History of Bubble Gum
Bubble gum was invented in 1928 by a man named Walter Diemer. He was an accountant for the Fleer Chewing Gum Company in Philadelphia, USA. Walter loved to experiment with new gum recipes in his free time.
The First Bubble Gum
One day, Walter was working on a recipe based on an older gum called "Blibber Blubber." He found that his new recipe was much less sticky. It also stretched much more easily than regular chewing gum. This new gum was a huge success! The president of Fleer named it Dubble Bubble. The name came from how stretchy it was, perfect for blowing bubbles.
Dubble Bubble was the most popular bubble gum for a long time. After World War II, another famous gum, Bazooka bubble gum, became popular.
Less Sticky Gum
Before the 1970s, bubble gum could be quite sticky. If a bubble popped, it might stick to your face! Then, new synthetic bubble gum was created. This new gum almost never stuck when a bubble popped. The first brands in the US to use these new, less sticky gum bases were Hubba Bubba and Bubble Yum.
Why Is Bubble Gum Pink?
Have you ever noticed that most bubble gum is pink? There's a simple reason! When Walter Diemer first made his gum, it was a dull gray color. He wanted it to look more appealing. The only dye he had on hand at the time was red. So, he added red dye, which turned the gum a lovely pink color. And that's how bubble gum got its famous pink look!
Favorite Bubble Gum Flavors
When kids try different bubble gum flavors, they often prefer simple ones. Flavors like strawberry and blue raspberry are very popular. Kids sometimes don't like more complex flavors. They say these flavors make them want to swallow the gum instead of chewing it.
Amazing Bubble Gum Records
People love to see who can blow the biggest bubble gum bubble!
- In 1996, Susan Montgomery Williams from Fresno, California, set a Guinness World Record. She blew a bubble gum bubble that was 26 inches (66 cm) wide! That's bigger than a basketball!
- Chad Fell holds the record for the "Largest Hands-free Bubblegum Bubble." He blew a 20-inch (51 cm) bubble on April 24, 2004. He did it without using his hands!
Cool Bubble Gum Tourist Spots
There are some unique places where bubble gum is part of the attraction!
- Bubblegum Alley is a famous spot in downtown San Luis Obispo, California. It's an alley where people stick their used bubble gum on the walls. It's a colorful, sticky sight!
- The Market Theater Gum Wall is in an alleyway under Pike Place Market in Downtown Seattle. It's a brick wall completely covered in used chewing gum. It's a very unusual piece of public art!
See Also
