chicle
Sapodilla tree sap
Chicle is the milky latex of the sapodilla tree, native to Central America.
Traditionally tapped and dried into blocks, it served as the original base for chewing gum before synthetic substitutes became standard.
The word comes from Spanish, borrowed from Nahuatl.
Tropical fruit tree
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- evergreenRetains foliage year-round
- MesoamericaPre-Columbian Central American region
- YucatánMexican state and peninsula
rainforest · canopy · fruit · Central America · Mexico · native · tree · bark
Repeated light striking
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- sapodillaTropical fruit tree
- extractionAct of removing
- macheteHeavy broad-bladed knife
coagulation · blocks · drying · rainy season · collection · yield · slash · bark
Chewy, blowable confection
- chewingCrushing food orally
- spearmintMild-flavored mint species
- peppermintAromatic mint hybrid
- cinnamonAromatic bark spice
sugarless · Chiclets · Wrigley · freshen · breath · flavor · minty · candy
Elastic polymer from trees
- resinViscous plant secretion
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- elastomerStretchable polymer substance
- coagulantAgent inducing clotting
milky · vulcanization · synthetic · natural rubber · isoprene · polyisoprene · elastic · stretchable
Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilization
- AztecsPre-Columbian Mexican empire
- MesoamericaPre-Columbian Central American region
- pre-ColumbianAmericas before 1492
- ancientVery old indeed
traditional · indigenous · Santa Anna · New York · 1860s · commercialization · cultural · ritual
Able to endure long-term
- biodegradableAble to decompose naturally
- organicFrom living matter
- harvestingGathering mature crops
- exportForeign-bound sale
trade · cooperatives · fair trade · artisanal · eco-friendly · plantation · decline · revival
sapodilla
Tropical fruit tree
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- evergreenRetains foliage year-round
- MesoamericaPre-Columbian Central American region
Yucatán · rainforest · canopy · fruit · Central America · Mexico · native · tree · bark · cultivation
tapping
Repeated light striking
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- sapodillaTropical fruit tree
- extractionAct of removing
machete · coagulation · blocks · drying · rainy season · collection · yield · slash · bark · boiling
bubblegum
Chewy, blowable confection
- chewingCrushing food orally
- spearmintMild-flavored mint species
- peppermintAromatic mint hybrid
cinnamon · sugarless · Chiclets · Wrigley · freshen · breath · flavor · minty · candy · sweet
rubber
Elastic polymer from trees
- resinViscous plant secretion
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- elastomerStretchable polymer substance
coagulant · milky · vulcanization · synthetic · natural rubber · isoprene · polyisoprene · elastic · stretchable · moldable
Mayans
Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilization
- AztecsPre-Columbian Mexican empire
- MesoamericaPre-Columbian Central American region
- pre-ColumbianAmericas before 1492
ancient · traditional · indigenous · Santa Anna · New York · 1860s · commercialization · cultural · ritual
sustainable
Able to endure long-term
- biodegradableAble to decompose naturally
- organicFrom living matter
- harvestingGathering mature crops
export · trade · cooperatives · fair trade · artisanal · eco-friendly · plantation · decline · revival · niche market
- chewablesgum, bubble gum, bubblegum, gummy bears, gummies
- gum ingredientssugar, sorbitol, xylitol, aspartame, sweeteners
- Nahuatl wordsaxolotl, macuahuitl, metate, Nahuatl, achiote
- latex plantsrubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, milkweed, milkweed pod, euphorbia
- natural gumsgum arabic, guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, mastic gum
- Polyterpenesnatural rubber, polyisoprene, balata, squalene, carotenoids