September 30th is National Chewing Gum Day.
My first book is “The Chewing Gum Trees” by Ruth Bishop Juline, published 1950. This is an unusual about a family of ‘Chicleros” who every year take a journey into the jungle in the Yucatan, to harvest the sap that is used to make chewing gum. It is quite the story. The illustrations are unusual as well, just using dull orange and black, on a white background.
My second book is “Frutas Brasil Frutas” by Silvestre Silva, 1991. It was published in Brasil, and is in Portuguese and English. This large coffee table book is beautiful. The photographs of native trees, and their fruits and nuts are superb. Even if it did not have a translation in English, it is a book worth at least flipping through.
There are pictures of the Sapodilla tree. This is the tree that also has the name Chicle tree. Farmers cut through the bark to harvest latex sap that is tranformed into chewing gum. The fruit is very sweet when ripe. When green, it has the same unpalatable latex that is harvested from beneath the bark.
Of course, I will have to mention “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, 1973.
“I’m a gum chewer, normally. But when I heard about these ticket things of Wonka’s, I laid off the gum and switched to candy bars, instead. Now, of course, I’m right back on gum. I chew it all day, except at mealtimes when I stick it behind my ear,” brags Violet Beauregarde.
“This piece of gum I’ve just made happens to be tomato soup, roast beef, and blueberry pie,” says Willy Wonka, holding it in his hand. Violet then grabs the stick of gum from him, and throws it into her mouth.
We know the rest. The Oompa-Loompas have roll her down to the squeezing room. She goes back home skinny, but still entirely purple.
Thanks for reading. Chew on this, I can use the internet. Did some google searches for old gums and their slogans. Thought you might be interested:
“Four out of five dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum.” Trident gum
“Big Bubbles, No Troubles” Hubba Bubba gum.
“You’re in the big leagues when you’re into Big League Chew!” Big Leage Chew Bubble gum
“The taste is gonna move ya” Juicy Fruit gum
“Double your pleasure, double your fun” Doublemint gum
“Yikes! Stripes!” Fruit Stripe gum.
“Kiss a little longer” Big Red gum
“Here it comes” Freshen-up gum
“The gum that brushes your breath” Dentyne gum
“The Fresh Maker” Menthos gum
“Chew a little, chew a lot” Tiny Size Chiclets Fruit Flavor gum
“First it’s a candy, then it’s a gum” Razzles
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