How Is Chewing Gum Linked to a Rainforest Tree?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How is chewing gum linked to a rainforest tree?

The Big Idea

Long ago, chewing gum was made from the milky sap of a rainforest tree! The sap is called chicle, and it comes from the sapodilla tree. These trees grow in the forests of Central America, and their fruit is sweet and brown.

Tap the Sap

Step one: collect the sap. Chicle workers tapped the sapodilla tree, and the milky sap slowly flowed into containers. Careful tapping lets the trees live and be tapped again later. The milky sap is sticky and stretchy, just right for chewing.

Boil and Shape

Step two: boil and shape. The sap was boiled down and shaped into chewy blocks. People then sold the blocks to gum makers, and chewing gum spread around the world.

Gum Today

Step three: gum today. Today most gum is made from other ingredients in factories. But the story shows how rainforest trees gave the world many everyday products.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at chicle! The sapodilla is a tall tropical tree. Its milky sap is called chicle. Chicle was once shaped into chewy gum. The same tree also makes a sweet, brown fruit.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Chicle came from sapodilla trees in Central America. The sapodilla also gives a sweet, brown fruit. Most gum today is made in factories from other ingredients. Never chew wild tree sap. Stick to gum from a store.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, read the ingredients on a pack of gum. Which ones are natural? Which are made in a factory? Make two lists.

Outro

Gum has a rainforest tree in its history. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!