# Juicy fruit **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447 "2002-10-01T20:59:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/1 "2002-10-01T20:59:54Z")
I’ve been a big fan of Juicy Fruit gum since I was a wee tyke, but recently a question arose: What flavour is it? Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/2 "2002-10-01T21:49:31Z")
fruit. _sheesh_. My favorite Life Saver flavor was red. When found in nature, licorace must obviously be black. Well, I guess it’s kind of a Mango. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/3 "2002-10-01T21:54:13Z")
Short lived? I like the flavor of Juicy Fruit, but it never seems to last more than two minutes. As for what flavor exactly? It’s probably just a combination of random artificial fruit flavors, but none specifically. mango sounds pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/4 "2002-10-01T22:46:35Z")
I thought it wa ‘fruit salad’ flavour; If I had to pick a single fruit that was closest to the taste, I’d probably say guava. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/5 "2002-10-02T01:06:08Z")
I always thought it was just slightly banana flavored. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/6 "2002-10-02T01:20:30Z")
[Durian](http://www.durian.net/) and banana combo. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/7 "2002-10-02T01:30:35Z")
Slightly related [column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_345.html) by the Master. The question mentions Juicy Fruit. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/8 "2002-10-02T14:41:49Z")
Thanks folks…I’m leaning towards peach and banana, but even that doesn’t quite cut it. Now if only the folks at Wrigley will get back to me… ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/9 "2002-10-02T14:49:17Z")
Hmmm. I detect a hint of nutmeg. that’s right… NUTMEG. call me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/10 "2002-10-02T15:10:11Z")
I think if you’re going to say peach and banana, you’ve got to have melon in there too. ---
**Author:** ![Amfet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Amfet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amfet)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/11 "2002-10-02T16:11:43Z")
Looked at the[Wrigley](http://www.wrigley.com/wrigley/products/products_juicy_fruit.asp) site but they just describe the tase as…well…sweet and juicy. I do not know what flavor manufacturer produces the flavor for juicy fruit and since flavors are typically not patented (they are considered trade secrets) they probably would not be willing to make any information on the formula public. Pretty sure “Juicy Fruit” is a fantasy flavor, which means it does not exist in nature. Most likely it originated as a cocktail of aroma [chemicals](http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/flavornet/chem.html) that that some _flavorist_ thought would make a good flavor for chewing gum and was not modeled after any real fruit mixture. It is certainly possible that the flavor for Juicy Fruit gum contains compounds that are not normally found in natural fruits…so the short and correct answer to your question is, it’s Juicy Fruit flavor! ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/12 "2002-10-02T16:13:44Z")
Generic “fruit” flavours are very easy to come by - many of them are simple esters of organic acids. I remember from the chemistry lab that they have readily identifiable fruit fragrances, with mixtures of them producing other fruits. [How Stuff Works](http://www.howstuffworks.com/question391.htm) gives Juicy Fruit as an example of a flavour that has been “made up” using these basic fruit flavours. My guess is that the banana flavour (isoamyl acetate) is a major component. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/13 "2002-10-02T16:20:57Z")
And [this Googled thread](http://216.239.53.100/search?q=cache:BnfTcSUybYcC:inthe00s.com/archive/quizzes/1026707226.shtml+%22juicy+fruit%22+flavors&hl=en&ie=UTF-8) claims to have the answer: > [@](#): > > Quoting: > \*The four flavors are Lemon, Pineapple, Banana, and Orange. > > —cornboy98 > End Quote\* > > Those are correct. (Do you work for Wrigley’s?? 😉 ) But do we believe them? ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/14 "2002-10-02T19:28:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by r\_k \* > \*\* > But do we believe them? \*\* Let’s not. I doubt there are any citrus fruits in it, because it doesn’t have the necessary acidic overtones. Pineapple? Perhaps. Banana? Almost definitely. Oh, and **Mangetout,** I think you’re most likely right. There’s probably melon in there. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/15 "2002-10-04T13:27:18Z")
I sit corrected. I just got an email from Wrigley, and the official word is: > [@](#): > > This brand is flavored with a combination of natural and artificial flavors, but I’m afraid we can’t be very specific because, for competitive reasons, we consider our Juicy Fruit flavoring formula to be a trade secret.  I can, however, tell you that the mixture of fruit flavors in Juicy Fruit is comprised of predominately lemon, orange, pineapple and banana notes. > > Sincerely yours, > > WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY > > Nancy Slivoski >                                                         Consumer Affairs Coordinator So there you have it folks, the straight dope. Oh, and mods? I’m not sure if putting the text of the email on the boards is kosher. If it isn’t, please remove it. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/16 "2002-10-04T14:54:19Z")
Wow, straight from the horse’s mouth. Nice work. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juicy-fruit/130447/17 "2002-10-05T02:52:32Z")
Great work. I wish more posters would tr;y e-mailing companies. I have found that they usually respond rather positively. I get a satisfactory answer more times than not.