As a kid, the very first gum I had was Carefree Bubble Gum. My aunt always chewed it, so she'd always have some on her. Whenever we asked for gum, she'd always give us a piece.
In second grade, I discovered what I then considered the best gum in the world: Fruit Stripe gum. They had several different flavours packaged in one pack, and my favourite flavours were the mixed fruit and the lemon. Sometimes I liked eating two sticks, one of cherry, the other of grape. And the cotton candy flavour was awesome.
Other gums of my childhood included Bubble Tape, Bubble Yum, Bubblicious (which I mistakenly believed would pop as loudly as they did in the commercials), and non-bubble gum like Double Mint, Juicy Fruit, Big Red, etc. I actually preferred the Spearmint taste over the Double Mint one.
I like gumballs, but would really prefer sticks. You can't carry a bag of gumballs in your pocket as easily as could a pack of gum.
I went through a phase in middle & high school where I opted for tic tacs, altoids, chocolate Velamints, Werther's caramels, etc. in place of gum. Mainly because I was such a rule-abiding student that I didn't dare chew gum in class, though sucking on a tic tac or hard candy or whatever was allowed. I still remember the one time I opted to chew gum in class. It was my Spanish class in Sophomore Year, and immediately my teacher noticed. She told me to spit it out and asked the students who put me up to it (!), since she knew I didn't chew gum. One of my friends confessed, and he didn't get punished/disciplined, but because he confessed, he had to spit his gum out too.
If I had to pick a favourite non-bubble gum, it'd probably be Winterfresh. A blue stick of gum, how much more awesome can it get?
I used to eat Extra gum, but really don't buy it much anymore.
I've had Orbit before, but Jane buys them more than I do.
My current gum of choice is Trident Bubble Gum. Partly because each piece feels like the perfect amount to make decent-sized bubbles, and also not take up a lot of roomin your mouth. Also, it's got this kick in its flavour that I can't find anywhere else.
I hope one day they really do invent the gum that's in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We just have to figure out how to not end up as a blueberry.
albert
