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Some of the most common ingredients used in gum are gum base, sweeteners, softeners, and flavorings. Gum base is what puts the chew in gum allowing it to be chewed and chewed and chewed. As suggested by its name it is used as the base which brings all other ingredients together. Gum base is formed from natural resins like sorva and jelutong. Sorva and jelutong have begun to run out so gum companies have had to make new materials. The sapodilla tree makes the latex chicle which replaces the sorva and jelutong. Rosin is also an ingredient in the base. Rosin comes from pine trees found in the southeastern and southern parts of the United States. It is used to enhance the texture of the gum base. Sweeteners are pure, powdered cane and beet sugar makes sweeter gum. Sugar is one sweetener it provides a good texture for the gum. Corn syrup helps sweeten the gum and keeps it tasting new and flexible. Aspartame is a highly concentrated sweetener with a taste almost the same as sugar. Softeners are glycerin, plus other vegetable oil items assist to mix ingredients together to help keep the gum soft and stretchy by keeping in a certain amount of moisture. Glycerin and other vegetable oil products are often used as softeners. Flavorings the most popular flavors of gum contain mint plants. The plants have to be harvested and processed carefully. The flavors are also made from fruits and spices. The most popular flavors of gum in the United States for chewing gum come from mint plants.

How Gum is Made

Each gum has its own formula that makes it different from the others. The ingredients are carefully guarded company secrets. Some common ingredients in most chewing gums are: powdered sugar, gum base (that make gum smooth and chewy,) glucose syrup, softeners, flavoring and coloring. Sugar substitutes replace powdered sugar and glucose syrup in sugarless gum. Below is a step by step process on how chewing gum is prepared:

Step 1: -- The gum ’ s base ingredients are melted together and filtered.

Step 2: -- Powdered sugar, glucose syrup, flavoring and the further ingredients are little by little added to the gum base until the tepid mix thickens like dough.

Step 3: -- Machines called extruders are used to mix even and shape the gum.

Step 4: -- It's time for the gum to be formed. Gum can be compressed and cut into sticks, or squeezed into a rope shape and cut into chunks, or molded into shapes and candy covered.

Step 5: -- After the gum is cut or molded into the suitable form, it is lightly sprinkled with powdered sweetener to keep it from sticking to equipment or wrappings.

Step 6: -- In a carefully temperature controlled room; the gum is chilled for up to 48 hours. This allows the gum to correctly set.

Step 7: -- If the gum is candy coated, like most gum balls or pellet gum, it is sprayed with liquid sweetener, allowed to dry out and then sprayed again. This procedure is repeated numerous times until the candy shell reaches the correct thickness.

Step 8: -- High speed machinery cautiously wrap and package the gum in air tight wrappers. This ensures the gum is fresh and soft when you open the pack. Then the gum is shipped to stores around the world for citizens of all ages to take pleasure in.