My ranting about not being able to find gum with sugar in it isn’t new. I posted an article last year about it. Frankly, I’m impressed you guys stuck with us after that. I do tend to whine, don’t I?  Well buckle up. Because here we go again.

A Gum Showdown

Recently I was talking to the good people at Candyretailer.com about this very thing: Gums. So we decided to chop it. They sent us 3 types of chewing gum: One I’ve been hearing about but have never tried; one that exists (I think?) but I never see it — and it’s a legend. And the third, something I barely remember from my childhood.

First up: Bubble Jug Tropical Gum.

Holy shit people on Reddit we’re losing it when this was announced as going back in production. Me? I’d never tried it, but a plastic jug that you pour into your mouth, chunks and powder of gum that magically turn into tropical gum? Heck YES, I want in. This seems to be a Millenial jam.

So you shake the bottle, open the cap, and pour the mixture of gum chunks and powder into your mouth. Aaaaaand…?

I must be doing something wrong. It’s just sweet. There’s literally no flavor at all. And worse, the powder is sorta clumping up in my mouth as the gum chunks turn to gum. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. HELP ME!!!

Good LORD you people are unique. For me? This is an interesting novelty, but the gum has to be good doesn’t it? I think, to be fair, I need to revisit this later, give my palette a rest.

Let’s move on to #2, the GOAT:

Hubba Bubba Max Sour Blue Raspberry

Yeah, you’ve seen it. You’ve had it. But…is it at the local supermarket or gas station? No. Not for me at least. I never see these around so I was really looking forward to trying it again. This one is likely nostalgic for Gen X, Millenials and maybe even Gen Z.

OMG yes, yes! A MILLION TIMES YES! Why isn’t this gum sold everywhere? It’s incredible! Not only do we get that awesome doesn’t-exist-in-nature blue raspberry flavor, but it’s also legit sour, and that sour stays with it for a good long while. All that and top shelf bubble blowing?

OK I’ll say it: this is my favorite gum around right now, at least when I can find it. That’s why I appreciate a place like www.candyretailer.com: I can just grab a box and move the hell on.

Finally, El Bubble II

You guys: I have some serious core memories of seeing these cigar shaped gums at my local supermarket when I grew up. I loved them back then. I could stretch one of the cigars out for most of the day. But now how do they stand up?

For me, the answer is wonderfully. These things were released in 1947 by the Philadelphia Gum Company. I don’t even know what generation that would be, but I’m thinking “the Greatest Generation”? Maybe Boomers? With a swath of Gen X? No one younger than those people will have any clue what these are.

The flavors to these sizable gum sticks aren’t to 2024 tastes: They’re not super bursting with overwhelmingness; they’re not sour. What they are is “classic.”

When I bit into the grape (El Bubble also comes in the banana, apple and fruit variety) it brought me right back to being 7 or 8 years old. I loved the experience. And the gum itself is good! The flavor didn’t disappear quickly and the bubble blowing was fantastic. Now, of course, I need to get the other box because, well, the banana gum was it for me.

Check out Candy Retailer

Do yourselves a favor, and even if you’re not into gum, visit Candyretailer.com. They have so much arcane stuff there. You want a Tropical Razzles mix? Sure, they have that — and their prices are better than Amazon. At least the prices we checked. Finding a candy company that has it all and isn’t price gouging…well let’s just say we’ve found a new favorite.