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Synthetic chewing gum scam?

Have you noticed that chewing gum thrown on the ground never seems to disappear? You find the same chewing gum, flattened into the crack of the same wall bricks, again and again as you pass by. Typical chewing gum found in stores contains synthetic chewing gum base, which is mixed with artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and colorants. Conventional chewing gums are not recommended to be swallowed, but we also do not believe that grinding plastic compounds is good for you, so our selection of chewing gums uses only natural ingredients and genuine chewing gum base collected from trees.

Read below to learn more about what typical conventional chewing gums usually contain and understand why we do not recommend them. We also tell you more about traditional and natural Chicza chewing gums, which according to our values are biodegradable, 100% natural, and collected in an ecologically sustainable way respecting ancient traditions.

Chicza - Genuine biodegradable organic chewing gum

According to the ancient tradition of the Maya Indians, natural chewing gum base, Chicle, is obtained from rainforests, which is the 100% foundation of Chicza chewing gum. Chicle is the sap/milky fluid of the Sapodilla tree, collected sustainably from Central American rainforests. The sap collection resembles the domestic collection of birch sap and does not harm the rainforest tree population. The production of Chicle is strictly controlled work according to FSC certification standards. Best of all, Chicza chewing gum is completely biodegradable. When you throw it away, its completely natural ingredients turn to dust within weeks.

  • 100% Organic
  • Vegan
  • Biodegradable
  • Gluten-free
  • Without additives or synthetic compounds
  • Sweetened with Agave syrup
  • Fairtrade product
  • Kosher certified
  • Winner of the International Vegan Society's International V-Label Awards 2021

Chicza organic chewing gum is natural and vegan

Chicza is a very clear demonstration that it is possible to do things in harmony- not only in harmony with nature, but also between humans.

- Pablo Muñozledo

Dark secret of chewing gum

The base mass of conventional chewing gum contains many questionable ingredients that may not be listed on the product packaging. It is rarely natural rubber, as the base mass usually consists of a mix of synthetic rubbers made from petroleum. The same petroleum from which plastic is also made. Some of these synthetic rubbers are practically the same material used, for example, in car inner tubes.

However, this is not the only problem with chewing gum. Another unpleasant feature of conventional chewing gums lies in their hormone-disrupting compounds. Chewing gum may contain additives E320 and E321 (BHA and BHT) used as antioxidants. The Food Authority's recommended maximum intake of these is quite low and rightly so; even very small amounts of these compounds can, according to some studies, cause developmental and reproductive disorders as well as problems with nervous system or immune function.

These compounds are unfortunately also common in cosmetics and packaging. Especially children and pregnant women are advised to avoid all products containing BHA and BHT compounds, as even small doses increase the overall effect of these compounds.

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  • INGREDIENTS OF REGULAR CHEWING GUM

    "Gum Base or chewing gum base" (polyisobutylene + polyvinyl acetate + styrene-butadiene rubber + butyl rubber + paraffin + microcrystalline wax + hydrogenated vegetable oil + lecithin) + Aspartame + Acesulfame K + Sucralose + Glycerin + Sorbitol + Maltitol + Xylitol + Isoglucose + artificial flavorings + artificial colorings + Titanium Dioxide + Calcium Caseinate Peptine +
    Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) + BHT

  • CHICZA-CHEWING GUM INGREDIENTS

    Sugarcane* + Chewing gum base* (100% Chicle) + Glucose* + Agave syrup* + natural flavors*

    *Certified organic raw material

  • CHICLEROS

    Chicleros is the name for those who collect Chicle sap as their livelihood. Chicleros are part of the indigenous rainforest communities who take care of ancient ecosystems. There are about 2,000 of them, and including their families, they number nearly 10,000 people.

    By purchasing Chicza chewing gum, you also support the traditions and work of indigenous peoples.

  • SUSTAINABLE RAW MATERIAL COLLECTION

    Sap is collected by making V-shaped cuts in the bark of the tree, along which the sap slowly flows into collection containers waiting below. One tree produces about 3-5 kilograms of sap, after which the tree is allowed to rest for 6-7 years before the next collection. The collection does not harm the trees, and many of them are really old, some even over 300 years old. When sap is collected repeatedly from the same tree, the practice is ecologically sustainable.

  • ORIGINAL TRACEABILITY

    The activities carried out in the rainforest are FCS-certified (Forest Stewardship Council). This means that every batch of Chicza can be precisely traced back to the individual Chiclero as well as the exact location of the tree. Few products in the world offer such precise traceability.

AWARD-WINNING VEGAN PRODUCT

Chicza won the International V-Label Awards in 2021 in the category "sweets and snacks"!

The world's leading vegan and plant-based product label V-Label annually awards the best vegan and plant-based products in various
categories.

The Vegan Society guarantees that the product and its manufacturing process do not contain animal-derived products, by-products, or derivatives, the product is not tested on animals, and it does not contain genetically modified organisms (GMO).

World-leading vegan & vegetarian trademark V-Label just revealed the winners of this year’s International V-Label Awards at the Virtual Awards Ceremony held on November 4th.

The international jury panel consisted of 15 leaders from the plant-based industry, vegan influencers, and representatives of NGOs.

Simple and natural manufacturing method

Vastly extensive tropical rainforest areas in southeastern Mexico merge with the Central American rainforest regions, together forming the world's second largest rainforest area. In the regions of Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatán in Mexico, there is a vast rainforest area that continues to thrive through rainforest conservation. Unlike other areas in Mexico, where up to 80% of the original jungle has been lost due to logging and agriculture, traditional methods are trusted here to protect nature.

Chicle, or sap, is collected from trees using traditional methods by tapping. It is boiled into a sticky substance and shaped into tiles called 'marquetas'. These are melted together with natural waxes, resulting in a natural chewing gum base. Natural flavors and Agave syrup are mixed into the hot mass. Agave syrup has a low glycemic index, meaning that consuming it does not raise blood sugar levels like regular sugar does. Therefore, it is a more recommended sweetener than many other sweeteners used in industry. Finally, the mass is shaped into ready chewing gum sheets.

Monosyllabic

  • 100% Biodegradable

    It is said that Chicza comes from the earth and returns to the earth. Like a leaf falling from a tree. This is completely true, because unlike ordinary chewing gum, Chicza is fully biodegradable.

  • Kosher certified

    Chicza meets the strict Kosher quality requirements of the Jewish community. Many people, regardless of religious background, choose Kosher products because they are safer and healthier. Kosher products may also be better suited for allergy sufferers and people sensitive to certain ingredients.

  • Counterargument to aspartame

    Chicza is sweetened with Agave syrup, which is known to have a very low glycemic index. Agave syrup contains a lot of fructose, which is the fruit sugar naturally found in fruits.