Gum – Gummies – Gum Trees

It’s safe to say if you have walked among trees, you have been near a Gum Tree. In the south, its hard not to find a Sweetgum tree near-by, or perhaps a Blackgum. Gum trees may be used for shade, gum, glue, and numerous other products. Some are planted for their beauty. The Acadia and Eucalyptus are grown in many countries.

(Don’t miss the Bible References section)

GUM FOR CHEWING

We have all had chewing gum – memories of chewing gum and memories of having gum stuck somewhere it doesn’t belong. As a child I slept with gum in my mouth only to find it in my hair the next morning. Mother used ice to make it brittle to keep from cutting too much hair. As a teenager I listened to a song entitled “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On the Bedpost Over Night?” My dad had a joke or saying he used whenever he failed to understand something. He would say with a mischievous smile, ”I’m as confused as the little boy who lost his chewing gum in the chicken house.” Most young, city folks have no idea what that means. 😁

Who had the idea of chewing gum anyway?

SAPODILLA

We might think chewing gum is a relatively modern invention. Not so! Gum has been around as long as our written history. Aztec Indians chewed gum as did the Mayans. Their main source was the  sapodilla tree, originally from Mexico is today grown in the Caribbean. The links provided give us insight into the history of gum, especially Chiclets.

THE BIBLE AND GUM PRODUCTS

According to Wikipedia, 5,000-year-old chewing gum made from birch bark tar, with tooth imprints, has been found in Kierikki in Finland. 

There are multiple varieties of Eucalyptus and other gum trees.

Truthfully, the idea of gum belongs to our Creator who made gum trees which have been used since recorded history.

There are many kinds of gum trees and it is used for many things.

I only recently realized gum is mentioned four times in the Bible. It was used for many things and a part of the economy of those days. The uses are not given, however we do learn it was aromatic and considered to be a good gift to others. Apparently it was quite costly as it is mentioned as a part of what Hezekiah showed the men of Babylon when the King of Babylon sent them with gifts and Hezekiah felt compelled to show them his wealth and riches.

BIBLE REFERENCES

Then they sat down to eat a meal. They looked up, and there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt. Genesis 37:25,

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and take them down to the man as a gift—some balsam and some honey, aromatic gum and resin, pistachios and almonds. Genesis 43:11,

The Lord said to Moses: “Take spices, gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense of equal amounts…Exodus 30:34,

And Hezekiah rejoiced over them and showed them his house of aromatic gum, the silver, gold, spices, good oil, all the house of his weapons, and all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing that Hezekiah had not shown them in his house or in all his dominion. Isaiah 39:2
Source: Knowing Jesus

GUMMIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

There are so many products on the market today that we may not realize The original Gummy Bear appeared on 1920.

The “gummy” in gummy bear comes from the resin of an acacia tree. The manufacturer called it Gummibären. In English we say Gummy Bear.

Today we have a wide variety of edible gummy products that include the original Gummy Bear, other gummy candies, vitamins, and many medicinal or supplemental products.

SEE ALSO: THE SPRUCE and BURKS BACKYARD

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