Black Jack gum, the first flavored gum in the US, was invented in 1884 by Thomas Adams. Production has been infrequent since 1970, but nostalgic candy retailers may carry it. Cadbury plans to release a new batch in Fall 2008.
Black Jack gum is a type of licorice-flavored gum that has a long and illustrious history in the United States. Many people view Black Jack’s gum with nostalgia, and candy fiends have been known to go to great lengths to seek it out. Unfortunately for fans of this classic rubber, production runs tend to be infrequent and limited, so if you happen to notice a few on your travels, you should definitely get this.
The first patent for chewing gum in the United States dates back to about the mid-1800s. In 1871, inventor Thomas Adams was introduced to chicle, a natural rubber product from a Latin American evergreen tree. He invented a gum-making machine and initially sold an unflavored product called Snapping and Stretching. In 1884, he had the brilliant idea of adding licorice to gum, marketing it as Adams’ Black Jack, and it became an instant hit.
This rubber has a unique place in American history for several reasons. It was the first flavored gum introduced to the American market, laying the foundation for cinnamon, peppermint, and a host of other gum flavors. It was also the first gum sold in individually wrapped sticks; before the introduction of Black Jack rubber, consumers ate chunks or pellets of rubber and sometimes had to cut it from loose logs.
Until 1970, Black Jack gum was produced on a regular basis, but slow sales led the manufacturer to reduce its production rate. After this point, the product changed several times, finally ending up in Cadbury’s hands in 2003. Cadbury produces the rubber periodically, usually in small quantities, and is often quickly snapped up when it reaches market.
If you want to track down Black Jack gum to try for yourself, a good place to look is nostalgic candy retailers. These companies buy a lot of products like Black Jack gum when they hit the market and then resell them, sometimes at a very reasonable markup. If you search for “nostalgic candy” with your favorite search engine, you should be able to find many of these retailers. You might even find it at a local candy store, especially if the store is run by people who are passionate about nostalgic candy.
A tip for candy aficionados: Cadbury says the next batch of Black Jack Gum is slated for Fall 2008.
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