What Is Bubblegum Flavor Actually?

The iconic flavor of bubblegum can trace its roots back to 1888

While Walter E. Diemer is recognized as the creator of modern bubblegum, it was Thomas Adams who first introduced fruit flavors to chewing gum, which in the 1800s was primarily made from spruce gum or sweet paraffin wax. In the late 1800s, Adams began to experiment with chicle, the sap from the Manilkara tree. Initially, he attempted to use chicle as a substitute for rubber but shifted his focus to chewing gum after observing its use in Mexico. With assistance from his son, Thomas Jr., Adams transformed his chicle supply into gum and started adding flavors.

His initial flavors were black licorice and tutti frutti, which translates to "all fruits" in Italian. Interestingly, the classic bubblegum flavor is still referred to as tutti frutti in many countries outside the U.S. This blend of various fruit flavors laid the groundwork for the bubblegum we know today. Around 1900, Adams teamed up with William Wrigley Jr., who had previously introduced the Juicy Fruit brand during the Gilded Age, to establish the American Chicle Company. This company began producing Chiclets, small square pieces of gum that remained popular until the brand was discontinued in 2016.

Building on Adams' achievements, Walter Diemer developed the first recipe for commercially produced bubblegum while working at the Fleer Corporation, naming it Dubble Bubble. During this time, gum also adopted its signature pink hue, primarily because it was the only food coloring Diemer had available. Thankfully, the fruity flavor combination endured and is now simply known as bubblegum.