GERRIT J VERBURG BLACK JACK GUM

The original nostalgic Black Jack licorice gum.

In 1871, gum inventor and manufacturer Thomas Adams received the first patent on a gum-making machine and began mass producing a chicle-based gum called “New York No. 1.”
This gum had no flavoring, but sold well, which encouraged him to continue working on new and different ways to produce chewing gum.

Adams began experimenting with flavorings, beginning with sarsaparilla.
In 1884, he added a licorice flavoring and Black Jack Chewing Gum was born as the first flavored chewing gum in America.
At this time, chewing gum changed shape from lumps or chunks to sticks, and Black Jack became the first chewing gum to be offered in sticks as we know them today.