| Any reflective student of history is often amazed at | | | | Aztec’s. He obliterated their society and culture. |
| the products and processes invented and discovered | | | | The southern source of chicle was unknown to the |
| in the ancient world that we take for granted today. | | | | Spanish and thus lost for centuries. In 1870, Thomas |
| Paint, gunpowder, weaponry, cement, the arch, beer, | | | | Adams, exploring in Mexico’s southern-most |
| silk, papyrus, champagne, and so many others remain | | | | jungle rediscovered the ancient chicle resin. Soon |
| at the center of modern society and commerce in | | | | after, William Wrigley found the source and the first |
| one form or another. Two of the most interesting | | | | chewing gum war soon commenced. |
| ancient inventions are among the most popular | | | | Adam’s most famous brand of chewing gum |
| consumer products of modern times, chewing gum | | | | was Chiclettes. Wrigley launched the Juicy Fruit and |
| and chocolate. | | | | Spearmint brands. Both were very successful, though |
| Chocolate was first harvested and converted into a | | | | Wrigley came to be a towering beacon of Chicago |
| consumable drink by the Aztec’s in Mexico. | | | | commercial and social life. The Company he founded, |
| Before the Aztec’s, the cacao bean was | | | | in addition to the eponymous Wrigley Building and |
| considered a nuisance plant that neither animals or | | | | Wrigley Field, has seared the name Wrigley as one of |
| humans would eat. Tough, bitter, hard, and inedible, | | | | America’s great brands. |
| cacao was the plant seemingly least likely to have an | | | | Inadvertently, the search for new sources of chicle in |
| upside commercial destiny. | | | | Southern Mexico has lead to the discovery of many |
| The Aztec’s took the cacao bean and blended | | | | ancient Aztec and Mayan cities that the jungle had |
| the meat of the plant with peppers, cane and various | | | | devoured. To this day archaeologists are diligently |
| liquids to form a drink that was consumed vigorously | | | | working, and discovering lost tombs, pyramids and |
| as a luxury tonic. The cultivation of cacao became a | | | | ruins that might have never been brought from |
| significant industry in Mexico and the beans actually | | | | beneath the jungle’s grasp without the |
| represented a type of currency that facilitated trade. | | | | commercial desirability of chicle acting as the apex |
| When Hernando Cortes conquered Mexico, he and his | | | | prod for exploration. |
| Spanish conquistador’s were repulsed by the | | | | The Conquistador’s were not interested in |
| taste of the cacao spirit drink that the Aztec’s | | | | foodstuffs. They were lustily seeking gold, silver, |
| consumed in such large quantities. They spit it out | | | | jewels and mineral wealth. However, after plundering |
| and written accounts refer to their disgust at the | | | | Mexico and Central and South America of all the |
| drinks harsh, bitter taste. However, through | | | | booty they could pilfer and transferring this haul to |
| experimentation, they found that by removing the | | | | Spain they never recognized the real treasures they |
| pablano peppers and other Mexican herbs and | | | | had discovered. |
| substituting pure sugar the combination produced a | | | | Many types of grains, vegetables and fruits were |
| sweet, savory foodstuff that was consumable as a | | | | introduced to Europe and the world as a result of the |
| drink or a candy. | | | | rapaciousness of the Spanish Conquistador’s. |
| The undesirable cacao bean had found it’s initial | | | | These unintended side effects of the Spanish |
| commercial niche. Plant specimens were transported | | | | invasion of the New World were, at that time, |
| back to Spain and soon the popularity of chocolate | | | | considered tertiary benefits of the conquests. |
| spread across Europe. Planting of cacao trees spread | | | | Certainly, the exportation of chocolate and chewing |
| across parts of Africa and Asia as demand increased | | | | gum has provided the modern world with several of |
| and plantations were required to produce cacao in | | | | life’s most appreciated and satisfying products. |
| huge quantities. | | | | Cadbury, Nestle, Mars and Hershey are international |
| The Aztec’s likewise are central to the discovery | | | | behemoth brands that provide sinful delicacy and |
| and commercialization of chewing gum. In remote | | | | enjoyment to humankind at amazingly affordable |
| parts of southern Mexico, trees release a type of | | | | pricing. Hundreds of enterprises, large and small, all |
| sap called chicle. The Aztec’s harvested this | | | | over the world produce amazing confections based |
| chicle resin and developed a chewable paste that | | | | on the Aztec discoveries of chicle and chocolate. |
| could be imbued with herbs, sweets and flavors. For | | | | Today, we are the beneficiaries of the Aztec genius |
| hundreds of years the use of chicle as a forerunner | | | | for taking unwanted forest by-products and |
| of modern chewing gum was common throughout | | | | converting them to wondrous concoctions that make |
| Mexico and parts of Central America. | | | | our mouths salivate and tongue’s quiver with |
| Hernando Cortes however did not just conquer the | | | | delight. |