What Makes Gum Chewy?

There's something totally and utterly enjoyable about gum. It's fresh, it's tasty and it can sometimes curb the meanest of appetites. And as times change, so have the varieties. From fruity and minty to spicy and tangy, it sure seems, at one time or another, like every flavor has been available in the book. But, what exactly is in this chewy wonder that makes it chewy?

Features

The main ingredient, and the one that gives it that amazing chew, is gum base, a "non-nutritive, non-digestible, water-insoluble" substance that carries all those flavors we've come to love. Generally, the gum base is made up of elastomers (latex or synthetic rubbers), emulsifiers (lecithin or glycerol), resins (paraffin or wax), fillers (calcium carbonate or talc), fats (vegetable oils) and antioxidants (BHT), but will vary depending on the brand. Quite a lot of ingredients for such a little stick, don't you think?

Function

To incorporate the gum base into the gum itself, it is melted until it becomes a thick syrup so it may be filtered to a clear base where it could then be transferred into a vat. Once in the vat, the rest of the ingredients would be added. Powdered sugar, a fairly common ingredient, is added at this time with its quantity and texture dependent on the desired rigidity needed for the gum. After that, corn syrup or glucose is used to stabilize the gum base and maintain its pliability. From there, flavors, sweeteners, colorings, softeners, preservatives and additives are put in we have our gum.

Types

Not that surprisingly, the type of gum, not necessarily the brand, dictates the amount of gum base to be used in its composition. For bubble gum, you should find that only 15 to 20 percent of its make up will be gum base. Regular chewing has a higher quantity of gum base, racking in at 20 to 25 percent. The highest measure of gum base, at 25 to 30 percent, will be found in sugar-free chewing gum.

Potential

Currently, researchers are trying to find a way to make a biodegradable version of this common gum ingredient, using corn protein as the main ingredient of its composition. As of late, large gum manufacturers are still making their own gum base centered on traditional techniques (i.e. no corn protein).

Expert Insight

Though dentists often recommend chewing the sugar-free variety, studies have shown that the sugar carried in the gum base is actually rinsed out of the mouth from your saliva.