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National Chewing Gum Day

Fun · September 30

A look at chewing gum: what it is made of, how its flavor works, and easy ways to enjoy a stick or a bubble.

National Chewing Gum Day falls on Thursday, September 30, 2027. That is 338 days away.

Chewing gum is a snack you never swallow. It is a soft, flavored base that you chew until the taste fades, then wrap up and throw away.

Most modern gum is made from a synthetic gum base, plus sweeteners, softeners and flavorings. Older gums were made from natural tree resins and saps, and chicle, the sap of the sapodilla tree, was once a common ingredient. The base is what gives gum its stretch. The flavor sits on top of it, which is why the first minute is so bright and the tenth is mostly texture.

Gum comes in sticks, pellets, cubes and long ribbons. Mint is the old standby, but fruit and cinnamon flavors have their loyal fans. Bubble gum is its own category, made softer and stretchier so it can hold air. A good bubble takes patience: flatten the gum against the back of your teeth, push your tongue gently into it, and blow slowly.

People chew gum on long drives, during quiet afternoons at a desk, or just after lunch. Some keep a pack in every coat pocket. Others save it for baseball games and road trips.

The one firm rule of gum is where it goes afterward. Wrap it in paper and put it in a trash can, never on a sidewalk, a seat or the underside of a table. Somebody else has to scrape it off, and dried gum holds on remarkably well.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a gum flavor you have never chewed before.
• Hold a friendly bubble-blowing contest with family or friends.
• Share a pack of gum with coworkers or classmates.
• Keep a few wrappers handy so used gum goes in the trash.

Dates

All national days on September 30

Also on September 30

• National Hot Mulled Cider Day
• National Love People Day
• International Podcast Day

Categories: Fun days