Are chocolate-flavored gums available?
In this brief article, we will answer the question, “Are chocolate-flavored gums available? and provide information on why chocolate-flavored gums are rare, how a chocolaty flavor can be brought to gum, whether cocoa powder can be mixed with softeners as well as how gums are sweetened.
Are chocolate-flavored gums available?
Yes, chocolate-flavored gums are available. Big League Chew is one of the bubble gum companies that introduced hot chocolate-flavored bubblegum in 2020.
The flavor of this bubblegum is similar to a hot chocolate drink. It does not contain aspartame which is an artificial flavoring.
Cadbury had also brought chocolate-flavored chewing gum to the UK. The gum was covered with a mint-based shell which gave a minty aftertaste to the gum. However, chocolate-flavored chewing gum is rare.
Why are chocolate-flavored gums rare?
Chocolate-flavored gums are rare because cocoa has to be added as a flavoring agent to bring about the chocolaty taste. Along with cocoa, cocoa butter has to be added as well. Cocoa butter can melt the gum and cause the gum to separate.
As a result, many companies have been unable to bring about chocolate-flavored chewing gum. Some companies have tried to coat chewing gums with chocolate candy. This can give a chocolaty flavor but the gum itself is not flavored with chocolate in such an instance.
Once the outer part of the chocolate candy is dissolved, the chocolate flavor no longer persists in the gum. Besides, the addition of cocoa can cause the gum to be sticky.
Also, cocoa powder present in the market can contain at least 20 percent of cocoa butter. If such powders are added to prepare the chewing gum, it can turn out to be very soft.
How can a chocolaty flavor be brought to gum?
A chocolaty flavor can be imparted to the gum by mixing cocoa powder that has less than 10 percent or as low as 1 percent of fat.
The gum can also be homogenously mixed with a chocolate mixture. The chewing gum can be mixed with cocoa powder containing less than 1 percent of fat. Some manufacturers also tend to mix premade chocolate-flavored candy with premade chewing gum to bring about the flavor.
Some companies tend to add cocoa powder containing syrup to chewing gum. For preparing the syrup, the cocoa powder is mixed with glycerine. Sometimes, another flavor can also be added along with the chocolate base.
For instance, some manufacturers might add a little bit of chocolate syrup and then add in mint flavoring agents (or other flavors). These chewing gums might not have a typical chocolaty flavor but the other flavor (in this case it is mint) can be enhanced due to the addition of syrup.
Some manufacturers tend to cook the cocoa powder at a temperature of 220 degrees to 270 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. This can bring about a strong chocolate flavor to the bubblegum.
However, companies that do not want their bubblegums to have a strong chocolate flavor would avoid exposing the cocoa powder to heat.
Can the cocoa powder be mixed with softeners?
Yes, cocoa powder can be mixed with softeners like glycerine or propylene glycol. Certain oils can be blended with cocoa powder too.
Cocoa powder is mixed with softeners to make them easier to measure. Besides, it can be easier to mix cocoa in liquid form with bubble gum rather than in solid form.
How are gums sweetened?
Cocoa can give a bitter flavor to chewing gums. In such cases, it is important to sweeten them. This can be done by adding sucrose, maltose, dextrin, dextrose, fructose, galactose, levulose, or corn syrup solids. They can be added individually or in combination.
Artificial sweeteners like Aspartame, Saccharin, Acesulfame, and cyclamic acid might be added. Sugar alcohols like maltitol, xylitol, mannitol, or others can be added too.
What are some commonly available gum flavors?
Some commonly available gum flavors are strawberry, mint, blue raspberry, banana, vanilla, lemon, cherry, watermelon, orange, ginger, cinnamon, and menthol. Some add licorice to flavor their chewing gum too.
Sometimes, two contrasting or similar flavors can be mixed to obtain a better flavor profile. For instance, cherry lemon or apple lemon-flavored bubble gums are available. Herbal ingredients can be added to bring about a refreshing effect in the mouth.
Some bubble gums are bringing about unique flavors like root beer flavor, winter fresh, tutti frutti, sour apple, cotton candy, and cardamom.
Conclusion
In this brief article, we have answered the question, “Are chocolate-flavored gums available? and provided information on why chocolate-flavored gums are rare, how a chocolaty flavor can be brought to gum, whether cocoa powder can be mixed with softeners as well as how gums are sweetened.
