Q&A for How to Make Chewing Gum

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  • Question
    Is the beeswax gum hard when it comes out of the mold?
    Community Answer
    It is harder than regular chewing gum, but softens as you chew it.
  • Question
    Can I substitute the powdered sugar with more honey, or anything else?
    Community Answer
    The reason you add powdered sugar is not only to give it a sweet taste, but because otherwise it would just be runny mixture, not dough. You cannot substitute with more honey. I suppose you could replace with ground rice flour or oat flour, but it might not be the same texture.
  • Question
    Can I use mastic instead of gum base?
    Community Answer
    Be careful because many modern industrial products are called mastic. In the case of the non-toxic plant resin, it may be used to make chewing gum, however its properties do not allow it to be a substitute for gum in the same recipes, as it resembles more of a wax or gelatin. It can be used, but you'll need to change the recipe accordingly.
  • Question
    How do I know if the resin is safe to eat?
    Community Answer
    You aren't supposed to be eating the resin, just chewing it. It's kind of like chewing on your sleeve. You shouldn't eat it, but you can safely chew on it.
  • Question
    How do people make the chewing gum we buy in the store?
    Community Answer
    With a "gum base," which is generally based upon synthetic plastic. To the synthetics, they add flavoring and a sweetener.
  • Question
    Where does gum come from?
    Community Answer
    Gum comes from many ingredients, such as glycerine. However you need to use beeswax to really get that chewiness.
  • Question
    Where can I get the beeswax?
    Community Answer
    Natural beeswax can be sold in natural food stores or maybe in the organic/natural aisle at your local grocery store.
  • Question
    How do I get sap out of trees?
    Community Answer
    Cut a hole into the bark, and sap should flow out. Not a lot, but it will accumulate over time.
  • Question
    How do I make gum without gum base?
    Community Answer
    Use Method 2 or 3. These both are ways to make gum without gum base. Though, I do think beeswax gum would be easiest, because it doesn't require going out to find a particular tree. Beeswax is easy to find, and a gum tree is fairly hard to find. If you are going for a more natural gum, use Method 3. To get more natural gum without having to go out to a gum tree every time, you could collect some of the tree's sap and bring it home to divide and maybe put in wrappers. That way, you'll have gum whenever you want to chew it.
  • Question
    How can I use beeswax to make a sugar-free gum?
    Community Answer
    If you mean a bland sugar-free, you can use the regular beeswax - it has a low sugar content. You might try cassava flour as a thickener instead of sugar. Although this option wouldn't taste as sweet, you could try to find powdered stevia.
  • Question
    How long would it take for beeswax gum to decompose in nature?
    Community Answer
    This can depend on environmental conditions, but not very long, because it is made of natural ingredients.
  • Question
    How much gum does each recipe make?
    Community Answer
    The beeswax recipe makes about 24-28 pieces. It kind of depends on how big you make your pieces.
  • Question
    Can I wrap the sweet gum sap gum?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as it is hardened and not runny. I recommend using waxed paper as a wrap, because then it is easier to remove the gum.
  • Question
    What flavors can I use for classic bubblegum?
    Community Answer
    At a candy making store they should have a traditional bubblegum flavor. However, if there is not a store like this near you, you can order it online (Amazon has some nice options). It is not too hard to find.
  • Question
    Where can I get a gum base when making chewing gum?
    Community Answer
    It can be found at candy stores or online.
  • Question
    Do I have to use sweet gum sap specifically?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you do.
  • Question
    Can I make chewing gum with kitchen ingredients?
    Community Answer
    As long as you have the ingredients for the gum, you should be able to do that.
  • Question
    Where can I purchase the gum base?
    Community Answer
    Click the first link in the citations and scroll down to the comments. There should be a comment with a link about that.
  • Question
    Can the base gum be replaced with gelatin powder when making chewing gum?
    Chaeiekim0918
    Community Answer
    No, you must use gum base. If you use gelatin powder, you cannot chew it.
  • Question
    How do I make the chewing gum much harder or tougher to chew?
    Community Answer
    Powered sugar is what thickens the mixture. Try adding more of that. If you don't want to add more sugar, you can try cassava flour instead.
  • Question
    How do I make my chewing gum biodegradable? Would adding beeswax help?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Beeswax is a natural substance and should break down easily. The same goes for honey, and the flavoring should be absorbed by one of the first 2 things.
  • Question
    What store can I find a gum base in?
    Community Answer
    You can find it in a hobby or crafts shop, some superstores, or you can order online.
  • Question
    How do I get the gum off the pan?
    Community Answer
    Coat the pan in olive oil before you boil the gum. The olive oil will make the pan greasy so the gum can easily slip off.
  • Question
    Can I swallow beeswax gum without any harm?
    Community Answer
    You shouldn't swallow any kind of gum, because your stomach is not able to break down the gum base. However, the beeswax gum is fine because it is natural, and acids can break it down.
  • Question
    Is chewing gum dangerous?
    Community Answer
    No. Even if you swallow a piece of gum, it won't hurt you. You'll just eliminate it as undigested waste.
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