The Awesomely Nostalgic Gums We Loved as Kids, Ranked

Chewing gum had a strange way of being an important part of our childhoods.

Legend has it that if you consumed this playground object, it would supposedly take seven years for your body to digest it. It seems like that notion might persist in your mind even today.

RELATED: 16 Totally Awesome ’80s Candies We Were Obsessed With

The No-Gum at School Rule: A Sticky Situation

Chewing gum was forbidden at school too, and if you got caught doing so, you might end up in the principal’s office, possibly even facing suspension. It wasn’t entirely clear why it was such a serious matter, but you had a feeling it was because of how difficult it was to remove it from the hallway floors.

Your Bubble Gum of Choice Said Something About You

Creating bubbles from chewing gum was almost like a skillful craft, and maybe there are children at your school who continue to bask in fame due to their alleged talent of blowing the perfect “double bubble” – something I’ve always wondered if it truly did exist.

Later, there were various types of chewing gums, and everyone had their preferred one. The type of gum you favored might have been determined by whether you identified as a sports enthusiast, a car-lover, an intellectual, a rebellious teen, or a bookworm.

However, it frequently boiled down to practicality. Was your chewing primarily driven by taste, potential for bubbles, eye-catching packaging, or bonus features such as prizes?

RANKED: Your Favorite Childhood Bubble Gums

#16 – Wrigley’s Doublemint

I’ve never encountered an intact pack of Doublemint; instead, I found torn halves at the bottom of my mom’s handbag, so I’d rather avoid it.

#15 – Bazooka Joe

The primary factor that prevented it from being last was the small comic strip attached to it, although I’ve never managed to comprehend them due to their antiquated feel. Some might call it the “M*A*S*H” of chewing gums. Additionally, its hardness raised questions about whether it had actually been stored for a long time.

#14 – Big Red

I selected this image of Carmen Electra, casually posing beside the Big Red logo at a lavish “World’s Largest Hot Tub” event in the 2000s, due to its fiery nature mirroring that of Big Red. People tended to chew it more as a challenge and there was no real fondness for it. Somehow we were deceived into thinking cinnamon equated to “fresh breath.”

I opted for this Carmen Electra picture, captured at the glamorous “World’s Largest Hot Tub” party in the 2000s with the Big Red logo, as it shares a spicy vibe with the product. The truth was that people mainly chewed it on a dare and no one genuinely enjoyed it. Yet we were led to believe that cinnamon was synonymous with “fresh breath.

#13 – Gum From a Filthy Gumball Machine Found Outside a Random Store

It was a delightful surprise when Grandma gave you a coin, whether it was a quarter or nickel based on your age. With great anticipation, you’d twist the knob, but then, to your dismay, would insert the finger you used for nose-picking into the slot and retrieve the unwanted white object – the most disappointing prize one could get. However, there was a certain excitement in receiving a prize, despite having paid for it. The taste, though brief (lasting only about five seconds), was enjoyable while it lasted – so not the very last best option.

#12 – El Bubble Gum Cigar

Typically found alongside candy cigarettes, these items were often brightly colored and offered a good value due to the large amount of gum included. However, they weren’t saved for later; instead, a chunk roughly the size of a fist would be shoved into one’s mouth before riding a BMX bike over various jumps. The taste was unpleasant, and forget about creating bubbles with them.

Or:

These items were often grouped with candy cigarettes and came in vibrant colors. Despite their low cost given the quantity of gum provided, they weren’t saved for later – instead, a large wad would be stuffed into one’s mouth before jumping on a BMX bike. The taste was poor, and there was no point in attempting to blow bubbles with them.

#11 – Gold Mine Nugget Bubble Gum

The small pouch was perfect for storing coins, yet the taste of the gum remained a mystery as it disappeared almost instantaneously upon being chewed. It resembled tiny golden nuggets in appearance and texture, but lacked any real flavor. It was enjoyable initially, though ultimately proved to be flavorless.

#10 – Juicy Fruit

Discussing the question of its taste, an item reminiscent of this was unearthed at the depths of Mom’s handbag. Fortunately, it had a flavor suitable for kids to enjoy. Surprisingly, it tasted quite well, but you needed multiple sticks to truly savor it. The Juicy Fruit commercials depicted content individuals engaging in exciting sports like skiing and snowboarding, which made chewing it feel quite trendy.

#9 – Freshen-up

Growing up, I was utterly captivated by these wonders of technology. The question that always lingered in my mind: How on earth did they infuse that piece of gum with its signature squirt? Despite their adult-oriented “spicy” flavors, which earned them the nickname “freshen,” they dared to explore realms of bubble gum and fruit flavors, and those variations were quite tasty. In summary, a satisfying chew indeed.

#8 – Chiclets

Surprisingly, the ordinary Chiclets might not have stood out (even disappointing on Halloween night), but their fruit-flavored range was absolutely delicious! The experience of temporarily transforming your teeth into Bugs Bunny’s with a few of these was incredibly fun. Plus, you could make an instrument-like sound by blowing into the empty pack, which was quite amusing. All in all, Chicklets are awesome!

#7 – Fruit Stripe

Discussing a case of bait-and-switch: At first glance, Fruit Stripe gum seemed vibrant with its zesty zebra logo and an explosion of fruity taste that lasted approximately 10 seconds. However, after this brief moment, it felt like you were chewing on a rubber band. Despite the appealing temporary tattoos, these characteristics earned it a spot at number 7. Sadly, Fruit Stripe gum was discontinued in 2024.

#6 – Dubble Bubble

When you envision the taste of “bubblegum,” that’s what comes to mind. It’s a timeless favorite. Although the flavor might not last long, it was designed primarily for blowing bubbles. If there was a bubble-blowing competition at recess with your secret stash of gum, then this is what you would have used. It was known for producing twice as many bubbles.

#5 – Hubba Bubba

Hubba Bubba has earned its place in the Top 5 due to its reliable performance, unlike a zebra. It stands out as the epitome of bubble gum excellence, being one of the pioneers in the “cube” gum trend. Not only does it offer an array of impressive flavors, but it’s also known for not sticking to your face when you pop your bubble, a feat that was truly remarkable, if not a scientific marvel (to you as a child).

#4 – Bubble Tape

How about refusing such an offer as six feet of chewing gum? The dispenser seemed like a valuable collector’s piece and always retained its distinctive bubble gum aroma. With a gentle texture and a surprisingly enduring flavor, it met expectations for both taste and amusement. Furthermore, when considering the cost, it was undeniably a great deal.

#3 – Big League Chew

In search of an alternative to chewing tobacco, Portland Mavericks pitcher Rob Nelson came up with the idea for Big League Chew. Just as finding a home run feels exciting, getting a generous portion of gum in the packet was equally thrilling, much like unwrapping a pack of Bubble Tape.

#2 – Bubblicious

As a film enthusiast and bubble aficionado, let me tell you that Bubblicious truly earned its moniker when it came to producing some jaw-droppingly large bubbles. Among all the flavors, the watermelon one really stood out (as shown here), leaving an unforgettable taste on my palate even now as I reminisce about it. It was like savoring a particularly delicious Kool-Aid, if you can imagine that!

#1 – Bubble Yum

Among the softest softnesses, the most pillow-like pillows, Bubble Yum is fluffy and filled with taste. It’s so easy to chew that it seems almost unnoticeable in your mouth. To this very day, grape-flavored Bubble Yum continues to be my benchmark for bubble gum.

SWEET: 16 Totally Awesome ’80s Candies We Were Obsessed With

Mr. Bones Puzzle Candy With Coffin

Among all the playful foods, Mr. Bones, housed in a plastic casket filled with miniature PEZ-like candies, was the most delightful. This casket transformed into an ingenious coin holder once you’ve constructed the skeleton from the candies. After enjoying Mr. Bones, the casket served as a practical spot to save coins for your next candy shopping spree.

Lik-m-aid Fun Dip

I recall one of my older sister’s trendy acquaintances nicknaming it as ‘children’s cocaine’, given the era, since it was indeed the 80s. It was essentially a tart powder enclosed in a pouch with an edible stick for scooping purposes. The branding was quite robust: Lik-M-Aid, Fun Dip, Lik-A-Stix – there was always something happening. (The image presented here is actually a trendy pin that you can find and purchase on eBay.)

Gold Mine Nugget Bubble Gum

In just about two seconds, the chewing gum turned tasteless and felt harder than actual gold. However, the true treasure was the small pouch included, perfect for stashing coins once more, so you could buy even more delicious candies.

Candy/Gum Cigarettes

As an ’80s kid, I could mimic my parents’ actions at a McDonald’s birthday party by using those iconic gums that we all knew as “smoke.” If you blew hard enough into them, they would release a cloud of powder from the end. Unfortunately, this gum was nothing short of awful, and the excitement quickly faded away.

Or:

Back in the ’80s, I could pretend to be just like my parents at a McDonald’s party by using those famous gums that we all knew as “smoke.” When you blew into them hard enough, they would emit a cloud of powder from the end. Unfortunately, this gum tasted terrible and the fun didn’t last long.

Astro Pop

Is anyone found to have enjoyed these items? Not a soul, it seems. Essentially, they transformed from a round shape into a sharp tip. Even at a young age, I recall musing, “Someone is bound to get hurt by this.

Big League Chew

Left-handed pitcher Rob Nelson from the Portland Mavericks yearned for an alternative to chewing tobacco, as even candy cigarettes were enough already. That’s how Big League Chew came into existence. Fortunately, the ‘oversized wads’ description on the original packaging has been eliminated in the current design.

Chuckles Jelly Candy

I often refer to this candy as a ‘last resort’, because while the name implies laughter, it’s actually quite dull and shaped like rather uninteresting rectangles. However, I wouldn’t refuse them even if offered.

Runts

Manufacturers aimed to enhance uninteresting sweets with appealing characters on their packaging, and Runts served as an ideal illustration of this trend. The apple and banana flavors seemed unusually wasted. Consuming more than five at once might necessitate extensive dental work in the future.

Pop Rocks

It’s clear you’ve achieved timeless fame when even the current generation continues to discuss you, and they may still believe that consuming this drink pouch followed by a soda will undoubtedly cause an explosion. (Note: No one will actually explode from doing so.)

Spree

As a devotee of all things nostalgic, I can tell you that Spree brings my childhood fantasy to life – the irresistible urge to nibble on those vibrant sewing kit buttons. They’re not just visually appealing but offer a delightful mix of sweetness and tanginess, though they may be harder than expected.

Dubble Bubble

In the ’80s, when someone spoke about gum, this is the image that would likely pop into your head. Just by looking at the picture, you might feel like you could taste it. At sporting events, there was always a container of this gum on display, and it’s safe to assume that some of it is still lodged beneath the benches where it fell, even today.

Nerds

In 1983, the unique candy known as Nerds was created, earning its distinctive name due to its charmingly irregular form. An interesting tidbit I recently discovered on the official Nerds website is this. People often associate the term ‘nerd’ with something positive now, thanks in part to this candy. So, here’s to turning the tables on those who used to tease us!

In a more concise version:

The candy called Nerds was invented in 1983 and got its name from its quirky shape. It’s interesting to note that this candy might have contributed to embracing the term ‘nerd’ positively. A little victory for us!

WINT-O-GREEN LIFE SAVERS

Among all emergency candies, nothing compares to the refreshing sensation of mint. Why not just chew on toothpaste instead? However, when you found out that biting a Wint-O-Green Lifesaver in the dark would create a fascinating flash of light within your mouth, there was nothing more exciting.

Bonkers Fruit Candy

Everlasting Gobstoppers

Gobstoppers were similar to jawbreakers, except they transformed their color and taste while being eaten, giving the sensation of conducting a mini excavation in your mouth with each piece.

Reeces’s Pieces

In the movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”, it was Reese’s Pieces that gained immense popularity, becoming a must-have treat for many. It is said that director Steven Spielberg initially preferred M&Ms as E.T.’s favorite candy, but the parent company Mars declined, supposedly due to their belief that the alien was too unattractive. Such rudeness! Following the movie’s release, Reese’s Pieces experienced a significant sales boom, and ever since then, children in America have been mispronouncing them as “Reec-ees Piece-ees”.

2025-03-11 21:25