MadSci Network: Other
Query:

Re: Why do some gums allow you to blow bigger bubbles than others?

Date: Sat Jan 29 10:03:36 2000
Posted By: Carol Crouse, Food Technology, The Food Chain Ltd.
Area of science: Other
ID: 947376509.Ot
Message:

Hi, Josh.

When you chew different types of gum, you've noticed that they feel different in your mouth. This is because each gum has its own special recipe to give it the characteristics that the manufacturer decided upon.

There are a number of ingredients used in making gum. These include flavors, sweeteners, texturizers and "gums" or resins from trees. At some point, Josh, you've probably touched a piece of wood that was just cut from a tree. You know how sticky it can be. That sticky material is what is extracted from different types of trees - mostly tropical varieties - for use in making gum and such things as rubber. Scientists have learned how to make some of these materials, so some synthetic or man-made gum bases are also available to us.

In bubble gum recipes, the manufacturer carefully balances the amount of gum base for elasticity, sweeteners for stickiness (and flavor, of course) and softeners. The combination of ingredients also affects the amount of moisture that the gum can absorb from your mouth which keeps the bubble from drying out and breaking too quickly.

So, all of these ingredients are used to give the gum - whether its bubble gum or regular chewing gum - its chewing characteristics. Bubble gum has about 25% gum base in it to make for good bubble blowing; chewing gum has less. The amounts of the other ingredients used also play important roles in the size and quality of your bubble.

Thanks for your question!

Carol Crouse
Food Technologist
The Food Chain Ltd.


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