Origin of chewing gum

Chewing gum's origins can be traced back thousands of years, evidence suggesting northern Europeans began chewing birch bark tar around 9000 years ago

Chicle, a gum-like material originating from the sapodilla tree, was chewed by the Mayan and Aztec civilisations of Central America.

In the 1860s, Thomas Adams, an inventor from New York, attempted to use chicle as a rubber substitute, but was unsuccessful.

Later, he discovered chicle could be transformed into a delicious chewing gum, which he marketed as Adams New York Chewing Gum in 1871.

It gained popularity, late 19th and early 20th centuries with new flavours & brands, becoming a cultural icon enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide.