In 1870, Thomas Adams opened the world’s first chewing gum factory making Adams New York No. 1.
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A sweetened and flavored preparation for chewing, usually made of chicle. Continusily manufactured since 1848, The first flavored gum was called Black Jack.

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It Started of as Chicle

Santa Anna chewed chicle. One day he introduced it to inventor Thomas Adams, who began experimenting with it as a substitute for rubber.Adams tried to make toys, masks, and rain boots out of chicle, but every experiment failed. Sitting in his workshop one day,tired and discouraged, he popped a piece of surplus stock into his mouth.
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