Tag Archives: mastic

Fact or Fiction? Ancient Chewing Gum

Fact or Fiction curly and roundWhether it’s bubblegum, mint, cinnamon or fruity flavors, chewing gum is one of the world’s most ubiquitous habits with nearly 100,000 tons consumed per year.

Did you know that chewing gum is almost 5oo years old and used to be made out of tree leaves?

Fact or Fiction?

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*Click here to read more about the history of chewing gum. And click here to read our Kids’ Blog version.

KIDS’ BLOG! Ancient People Loved Chewing Gum!

kid chewingWhat is your favorite flavor of chewing gum?  Whether it is spearmint, wintergreen, cinnamon or fruit flavored, chewing gum is one of the world’s most popular habits with nearly 100,000 tons consumed per year.  Gum seems like a very modern invention with its fun flavors, colors and special additives for energy, fresh breath, teeth whitening and more.  In fact, the oldest known piece of chewing gum dates back at least 5,000 years and was found by an archaeology student in Finland.[1]  It was a simple lump of birch bark tar that experts believe was chewed by Neolithic people to heal mouth infections. Continue reading

Gum Chewing: A 5,000 Year Old Habit

Girl Chewing Gum

Whether it is spearmint, wintergreen, cinnamon or fruit flavored, chewing gum is one of the world’s most ubiquitous habits with nearly 100,000 tons consumed per year. Gum seems like a very modern invention with its myriad of flavors, colors and special additives for energy, fresh breath, teeth whitening and more.  In fact, the oldest known piece of chewing gum dates back at least 5,000 years and was found by an archaeology student in Finland.[1]  It was a simple lump of birch bark tar that experts believe was chewed by Neolithic people to heal mouth infections. Continue reading