Question: Hello Scientists How is chewing gum produced with its flavour? Is it to do with how they flavour the particles?

Rachel Edwards-Stuart answered on 18 Mar 2013:

I have never been to a chewing gum factory, but I imagine they make a block of standard chewing gum mix (made from complex man-made molecules called polymers, which are cooked in water to make a syrup, and then sugars and softeners like vegetable oil are added) and then they add intense flavourings to the different strips and ensure the flavour is properly mixed up. I even went to a party where we made our own flavoured chewing gums! There is also some really interesting science behind chewing gum flavour that was carried out at Nottingham. Did you know that the reason chewing gum loses is mintinesss is not because the minty flavouring (called menthol) disappears, but is actually because the sugar dissolves. So if you take a piece of chewing gum that has lost its mintinesss, dip it in a bit of sugar, and then pop it back in your mouth, the mintinesss will suddenly return. (But it will only last for a few seconds – the best bet is to buy a new piece!).