# How can you describe the "Bubblegum" flavor without saying "bubblegum"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723 "2005-10-04T12:19:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/1 "2005-10-04T12:19:39Z")
The title says it all. Everyone knows what the “bubblegum” flavor is. It’s the way bubblegum tastes. But what the hell IS it? And don’t say “pink.” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/2 "2005-10-04T12:34:05Z")
The taste of that particular variety of Crest toothpaste. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/3 "2005-10-04T12:49:48Z")
Indistinct ester-fruity taste. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/4 "2005-10-04T13:10:25Z")
I believe the industry term is “Mixed Fruit.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/5 "2005-10-04T13:23:34Z")
Like cotton candy, but chewier. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/6 "2005-10-04T13:41:47Z")
Like “Big Red” soda. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/7 "2005-10-04T13:43:20Z")
I could have sworn there was SD column about this, but I cannot find it. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/8 "2005-10-04T13:53:47Z")
This was discussed before. The flavor comes from the ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. I’ll try to find the link. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/9 "2005-10-04T14:08:58Z")
Cecil [speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/980327.html). ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/10 "2005-10-04T18:58:30Z")
Wrigley’s Juicyfruit chewing gum (which is similar to a lot of bubblegum flavour) tastes exactly like Jackfruit. I ate Jackfruit for the first time a year or so back, and was amazed to discover this. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/11 "2005-10-04T19:00:59Z")
To me Bubblegum has a vaguely Banana & Rubber Taste. That would be my try to describe it. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/12 "2005-10-04T19:28:56Z")
> [@istara](#): > > Wrigley’s Juicyfruit chewing gum (which is similar to a lot of bubblegum flavour) tastes exactly like Jackfruit. > > I ate Jackfruit for the first time a year or so back, and was amazed to discover this. Really? I’ve always wondered at the name Juicyfruit - while the gum isn’t bad, it doesn’t taste particularly like any sort of fruit I’ve ever tried. But then, I’ve never tried jackfruit. I suppose they could have been more specific in their labeling. Actually, I’ve read that it’s a mixture of various random fruit flavors - seems like banana and pineapple were in there. I dunno. Maybe I don’t have a sufficiently discerning palette - I don’t seem to taste much other than an amicable sweet flavor. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/13 "2005-10-04T19:39:19Z")
tutti frutti :smack: ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/14 "2005-10-05T09:14:44Z")
IIRC, the original tutti frutti (Italian for all fruit) artificial flavoring was concocted by a baker using rum, butterscotch and vanilla extracts. My attempts to find this on google were futile, it seems tutti frutti and bubble gum flavors are propriatary blends from the flavoring suppliers. I guess they’re not too keen on giving out recipies. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/15 "2005-10-05T09:41:03Z")
The [Dubble Bubble](http://www.dubblebubble.com/) brand, tastes mildly like [wintergreen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_salicylate) (Specifically [Sathers’ Wintergreen Lozenges](http://www.farleysandsathers.com/Products_Sathers.htm)) to me, and [pepsin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsin). (I’m actually fond of [Beeman’s gum](http://www.giftideasforyou.com/old-fashioned-candy/retro-candy/beemans-gum-save.html), that’s how I recognize the taste.) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/16 "2005-10-05T12:35:11Z")
It tastes like ylang ylang smells, with added sugar. Real ylang ylang essential oil, not the fake perfume crap. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/17 "2005-10-05T14:26:57Z")
When I hear the word bubblegum used as a flavor I assume it tastes like Topp’s Bazooka bubble gum. (Naturally since my Dad worked for them when I was a toddler). I’d like to know what’s in it to give that unique taste. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/18 "2005-10-05T15:42:59Z")
They sell a soda in South Korea that has that flavor. We called it bubblegum juice. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/19 "2005-10-05T16:49:03Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Really? I’ve always wondered at the name Juicyfruit - while the gum isn’t bad, it doesn’t taste particularly like any sort of fruit I’ve ever tried. But then, I’ve never tried jackfruit. I suppose they could have been more specific in their labeling. > > Actually, I’ve read that it’s a mixture of various random fruit flavors - seems like banana and pineapple were in there. I dunno. Maybe I don’t have a sufficiently discerning palette - I don’t seem to taste much other than an amicable sweet flavor. To me, jackfruit tastes a lot like a mixture of banana and pineapple, and [this site](http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/jackfruit.html) agrees. If there is any similarity to Juicyfruit, I think it is because Juicyfruit is just a melange of various “fruity” flavors. ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723/20 "2005-10-05T18:22:16Z")
Ok my curiosity was killing me this morning after posting last night so I tryed a little experiment in the kitchen. 2 drops rum extract 1 drop butterscotch 1 drop vanilla in a glass of sugar water. Hmm, pretty damn bubble-gummy but not exactly what I would call good. I dumped it out, now to drink enough coffee to get that rank aftertase to go away. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-describe-the-bubblegum-flavor-without-saying-bubblegum/324723.md?page=2)