Bubble Yum Original – History and Review

Background

Bubble Yum has an awesome and fascinating history. According to the company, it was the “first soft bubble gum marketed in the U.S.” You probably assume it was dreamed up in some big lab. Nope! It was originally created by a housewife in a Missouri home back in 1975. The lady named it “rubber bubblegum.” Thankfully, that name didn’t stick, but the recipe sure did. She asked her son to pass it out at school, and it must have been a big hit, because soon afterwards, the woman was able to sell the recipe to Life Savers. People instantly loved Bubble Yum because it really was different–it was a softer and longer-lasting alternative to the big competition of the day: Bazooka and Double Bubble. Experts say Bubble Yum was responsible for a big boom in bubble gum sales between 1975 and 1979. The soft texture meant you could chew with ease and avoid a sore jaw. Other companies saw the success of Bubble Yum and competition like Bubblicious and Hubba Bubba began to emerge. Check out some of these vintage Bubble Yum ads:

Spider ?️ Eggs?!

In 1977, a nasty rumor began to get around that Bubble Yum’s super secret ingredient that made it so soft and chewy was spider eggs! The rumor was serious enough that Life Savers Company had to take out a full page ad in the New York Times to tell people it was bogus. In 1984, Paul Krassner, a comedian and writer, took credit/responsibility for the rumor (source).

Hershey’s Buys Bubble Yum ?

Bubble Yum was kicking some butt in the 1980s and became the #1 selling gum in the world! Ownership of the brand has changed hands a few times through mergers and acquisitions. In 2000, The Hershey Company decided to buy the brand in a deal with $135 million (this would be about $240m today, adjusted for inflation). Bubble Yum, Ice Breakers, Carefree, Fruit Stripe and Breath Savers were all a part of that deal (source). Bubble Yum still lives with Hershey, the kiss company.

What’s Up With the Duck?

His name is Floyd and it’s a good thing you didn’t call him a goose. We heard that really bothers him. Floyd, the punk rocking duck, has been the mascot of Bubble Yum since an ad campaign in the 1990s. Bubble Yum was especially marketed to young people and the idea of “blowing your own bubble” appealed to the rebellious spirit of teens and young adults. Floyd is still on the package of every Bubble Yum today. Floyd was a true pioneer in duck-based advertising and paved the way for others, like the Aflac duck.

Would you like to see the real Floyd in action? I thought so! Here ya go:

Fun Facts

Let’s wrap up the Bubble Yum background with some fun facts, then we’ll get to our review!

Fun Fact #1

Leonardo DiCaprio once starred in a Bubble Yum commercial. Take a look at the back half of this ad:

Fun Fact #2

Pete Carroll, the famous football coach (USC and Seattle Seahawks) constantly chews gum. He’s kind of famous for it. Want to know what kind? You guessed it…”I’m a Bubble Yum guy.” -Pete Carroll.

 

Our Review

Ok, so Bubble Yum is a legend among bubble gums and probably deserves a spot on the Mount Rushmore of bubble gums because of its cool history, level of innovation, popularity, and of course Floyd. But what does the Bubble Bunch review team think of it?

The Bubble Bunch reviewed Bubble Yum with a standard 1-piece serving of 8.5g.

Taste – 4.0 (out of 5)

It’s called Bubble Yum for a reason. Our review team gave it a solid score of 4.0 yums. Everyone agreed that is has a rich traditional & classic bubble gum flavor. You know those Jelly Belly jelly beans that are flavored like bubble gum? I bet this is the type of gum they used as a flavor target.

Flavor Duration – 3.9 (out of 5)

In our experience, most of the flavor is gone in just under 10 minutes, which equates to a score of 3.9 out of 5. Not too shabby.

Texture – 5.0 (out of 5)

Bubble Yum scores a perfect 5.0 for texture. This soft texture is what made it so successful and innovative in the first place. In addition to striking a perfect balance of soft and hardness, Bubble Yum doesn’t stick to your face like other gums. If you get a nice big bubble to burst, it easily comes off your honker or lips. You nailed it, Bubble Yum!

Bubble Blowing Ability – 2.8 (out of 5)

Bubble Yum offers solid bubble blowing ability. Our reviewers noted “nice thick walls to the bubbles” and “big bubbles” especially after 5 minutes of chewing. Overall, a score of 3.0 equates to an average max bubble size around the size tennis ball. Some of our expert bubble blowers were able to get a softball sized bubble. The large bubbles are partly due to Bubble Yum’s generous portion size of 8.5g, which is larger than most gums.

Conclusion

We like Bubble Yum! After ~50 years, it still holds up a great choice in bubble gum with excellent classic flavor and texture. You’ll get nice big bubbles and it won’t stick to your face. We just wish the flavor would last a little longer. Long live Floyd the duck!