Origins

The ancient Greeks utilised chewing gum for stress relief. The gum was crafted from the crystallised ‘tears’ of a mastic brush to make resin, which became the chewing substance. The Greeks believed that the resin held medical benefits and healing qualities, such as helping with bronchitis and improving blood conditions. First-century Greek physicians would often prescribe gum to sooth pain.

To cry, or not to cry

That’s not the only tearful aspect to go with chewing gum. The confectionary can reportedly stop you from crying while chopping those dreaded onions, as it makes you breathe through your mouth which disperses the irritants. This means that fewer particles infiltrate your eyes, leaving them less likely to water. Might be a good idea to keep a packet in your kitchen!

Alertness

Chewing can help individuals to concentrate, which is why so many of us opt to chew when alertness and attention is required. Strangely, schools ban gum from classrooms and exams. A petition should sort that...

The British are chewing

Did you know that Britons are the second biggest consumer of gum in the world? We use the equivalent of 120-130 sticks per person each year. Worldwide, with each piece of gum being chewed for 30 minutes, over 187 billion hours of gum-chewing per year takes place.

Top flavours

Cinnamon, spearmint, and peppermint are among the most popular flavors of chewing gum today.

The weirdest chewing gum out there? It’s certainly not mouth watering, to say the least. Bacon gumballs, wasabi, roast dinner, man smell (don't ask), and pickle are all legitimate flavourings. A special award has to go to ‘lump of’ coal’. Perfect for christmas time!

Handy tips for removing gum

Bubblegum can get stuck in your hair without much warning. Apparently, you can remove it by rubbing the residue with peanut butter and then washing the applied areas.

For removing gum from a piece of fabric, you can reportedly use heat from an iron and wash the item like normal. That should save your favourite pair of jeans! Gum on the rug? No problem, just get a few bags of ice and place it on it till its solid. Then gently scrape off. Simple!

For more information on gum sales in the UK, get in touch with our data team.