#23: Chewing Gum
In an unexpected twist of fate, Thomas Adams, while engaged with Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, stumbled upon the creation of chewing gum. Santa Ana was fond of a natural gum known as “chicle.” Adams, seizing an opportunity, attempted to transform chicle into an affordable rubber for car tires, marking the incidental birth of chewing gum.
Adams’ initial attempt to revolutionize rubber manufacturing fell short. Undeterred, he pivoted, tweaking Chicle into the iconic Chiclets—the world’s inaugural chewing gum brand. Although Chiclets later became part of Mondelez International’s portfolio, Adams collaborated with William Wrigley. Together, they laid the foundation for Wrigley’s first gum factory in 1909, significantly shaping the chewing gum industry.