Gums such Chiclets, Juicy Fruit and even Black Jack filled the small boxes on the shelves by the cash registers. Was tempted to buy a pack of Black Jack, but some of my 70 year old fillings might complain a bit if I did so. For those of you who might have never heard of Black Jack, it is an aniseed-flavored chewing gum that is currently manufactured by the Geritt J. Verburg Co. America's chewing gum industry began in the 1850s when Thomas Adams was secretary to General López de Santa Anna so was living in New York and plotting a return to power in Mexico. Santa Anna had arrived in New York with a boatload of chicle, a latex substance from the sapodilla tree, and the idea of selling it as an inexpensive alternative to rubber. Never materialized, but Adams realized chicle could be made into chewing gum. So, Adams bought the load of chicle from Santa Anna and began adding flavorings. Wasn't long before he was selling "Adams New York Chewing Gum" in drug stores. In 1884 he introduced his first big seller, licorice-flavored "Black Jack" chewing gum.
Thomas Adams ad for Black Jack Gum |
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