Bubblegum is made from a mix of flavors. Can you guess what they are? (2024)

by: Michael Bartiromo

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(NEXSTAR) – The flavor of traditional pink bubblegum, while instantly recognizable, isn’t an easy one to pinpoint. Is it fruity? Spicy? A little minty, sometimes?

Or does it just taste like bubblegum?

Unlike other popular gum flavors (e.g. spearmint, cinnamon, tropical fruit, etc.), the label on a package of pink bubblegum rarely offers a clue to the flavors of bubblegum itself. In other countries, however, the flavor we call “bubblegum” is known by another name entirely — one which sheds a little light on the mystery.

“The pink one, outside of the U.S., is called ‘tutti frutti,’” said Cynthia Angelo, a senior food scientist at Givaudan, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of flavorings and fragrances for the food and cosmetics industries.

Tutti frutti — meaning “all fruits” in Italian — suggests that bubblegum’s flavor is based on a combination of fruits. But Angelo said fruit is just one of many possible components.

“Traditional bubblegum has a few parts to it,” Angelo told Nexstar. “It has a sweet part, a fruity part, spice and citrus. And if you take those different levers and move them different ways, you’ll get slightly different types of bubblegum. But it has those four components.”

Angelo declined to reveal which specific fruit, spice or citrus flavorings that Givaudan might utilize to create a client’s recipes, though she hinted that some common combinations may include vanillin (a flavor molecule which imparts vanilla flavor) or even cinnamon or clove.

Dr. Sean O’Keefe, a professor of food science at Virginia Tech, got more specific.

“It’s normally a mixture of pineapple or banana, cinnamon or cloves. Sometimes cherry or orange,” O’Keefe told Nexstar.

The flavorists creating these combinations are also intentionally mixing the flavors in such a way that “they’re not slapping you in the face” with any one fruit or spice, O’Keefe said.

Angelo, meanwhile, said the major flavor houses — which develop these flavors or fragrances for clients — may even have a previously-developed “fruity” compound used as a go-to to impart a general fruitiness to a specific product.

“There are [some of the same] molecules in almost all fruits,” she said of the components used to create a fruity flavor compound. “That’s what that taste is coming from.”

As for how these flavors are captured, they can either be derived artificially or naturally — the latter meaning it came from a natural source, though not necessarily the one you most associate with the flavor. (The flavor of vanilla, for instance, can be derived from clove or straw, as discussed in the chemistry journal Molecules.) But these flavors are almost always imparted by way of an ester, or a chemical compound responsible for the aroma of a given fruit. Recipes are supplemented by molecules derived from real fruit, and sometimes with fruit oils or juices, though it’s more expensive to rely solely on natural ingredients.

The flavor houses also won’t be revealing which natural or artificial ingredients they use to create their bubblegum anytime soon: Flavorists that develop these recipes for gum manufacturers are often contractually obligated to keep it a secret.

“Once a company picks a flavor, that is solely their flavor,” said Bob Huzinec, a retired R&D professional and Candy Hall of Famer with 45 years of experience in the gum industry. “That formula will not go anywhere else.”

In other words, the flavor of traditional pink bubblegum will be slightly different from brand to brand, but it always a bit fruity, a bit mysterious, and a bit of a well-kept industry secret.

Long story short: Bubblegum tastes just like pink bubblegum.

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Bubblegum is made from a mix of flavors. Can you guess what they are? (2024)

FAQs

Bubblegum is made from a mix of flavors. Can you guess what they are? ›

Traditional bubble gum has a few parts to it: a sweet part, a fruity part, spice and citrus. As for how these flavors are captured, they can be derived artificially or naturally.

What is bubble gum flavor made of? ›

Bubble gum flavor

Esters used in synthetic bubble gum flavoring may include methyl salicylate, ethyl butyrate, benzyl acetate, amyl acetate or cinnamic aldehyde. A natural bubble gum flavoring can be produced by combining banana, pineapple, cinnamon, cloves, and wintergreen.

Is bubblegum strawberry and banana? ›

"Bubblegum flavor" is a combination of strawberry and banana. Or rather, it's a combination of two chemicals that are key characterizing ingredients in strawberries and bananas, yielding a kind of one-dimensional caricature of those flavors.

Who invented the bubblegum flavor? ›

But one thing we do know is the first bubble gum was accidentally created by Walter Diemer for the Fleer Corporation in Philadelphia in 1928. He's credited with the indescribable bubblegum flavor that we know today, and for making the gum pink because "it was the only food coloring on hand."

Is bubblegum a flavor or a type of gum? ›

The base of bubble gum is a gum base that provides the chewiness and elasticity needed for bubble blowing. Sweeteners like sugar, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners are added for taste. The distinctive bubblegum flavor comes from a carefully crafted mix of flavoring agents.

How does bubble gum keep its flavor? ›

Companies that manufacture gum have chemists working in laboratories to make gum better. One idea is to trap the sweetener and flavoring in the gum so that the flavor gets released more slowly. This makes the great taste last longer!

Is bubblegum a girl? ›

Princess Bonnibel Bubblegum (also called Bonnie or PB, occasionally P-bubs) is a fictional character in the American animated television series Adventure Time and resulting franchise, created by Pendleton Ward. She is voiced by Hynden Walch.

What fruit flavor is bubblegum? ›

Dr. Sean O'Keefe, a professor of food science at Virginia Tech, got more specific. “It's normally a mixture of pineapple or banana, cinnamon or cloves. Sometimes cherry or orange,” O'Keefe told Nexstar.

Is bubblegum strawberry? ›

Though the recipe differs from company to company, the generic bubblegum flavor is usually made from a unique blend of esters—chemicals that smell like fruit. This could be a “strawberry-banana-punch” mix, as Bob Bouclin, president of pharmaceutical food flavoring company, Knechtel Inc., notes.

What flavor is Hubba Bubba? ›

As of 2012, Hubba Bubba is available in its original flavor called "Outrageous Original" in the U.S. Other flavors are "Strawberry Watermelon," "Cool Cola," "Sweet & Sassy Cherry," and "Mystery Flavor". Hubba Bubba introduced Mystery Max and Mystery Tape in 2010.

What flavor is cotton candy? ›

The flavoring of cotton candy is entirely artificial. The primary ingredient in the flavoring is called ethyl maltol, which tastes similar to caramelized sugar and is a common addition to desserts. The second ingredient is strawberry furanone which, judging by the name, I'm guessing adds to the fruitiness.

What is the oldest gum flavor? ›

The oldest flavored gum that is still available today is Black Jack, a licorice gum that was created by Thomas Adams (b. 1818). Adams' foray into the chewing gum manufacturing world began when he was looking for a way to make a cheap synthetic rubber for bicycle and carriage tires.

Is bubble gum flavored rubber? ›

These gum bases are essentially synthetic rubbers that have the same temperature profile as chicle. Gum bases (either natural or artificial) are mixed with sugar and other flavorings to make chewing gum. When you chew it, the rubber releases these flavorings into your mouth.

Can you eat the gum in bubblegum ice cream? ›

It's best to enjoy the ice cream once it reaches the desired consistency after the first freeze. Is it okay to swallow the bubble gum in bubble gum ice cream? The good news is that eating the bubblegum in bubblegum ice cream is not going to hurt you!

Did McDonald's make bubblegum flavored broccoli? ›

“Mickey D's” food scientists did successfully make broccoli taste like bubblegum, likely by employing a combination of strawberry, banana, and cherry flavors.

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