Chicle for Dummies

Alright, so "chicle" is a word that comes from the Nahuatl language, which is spoken by indigenous people in Mexico. It refers to a type of natural gum that comes from the sap of the sapodilla tree. This gum has been used for many years to make chewing gum.

So, imagine the sapodilla tree as a kind of big, tall tap that you might see at a soda fountain. Instead of serving up soda, this tree oozes out a sticky, gooey substance called chicle. This chicle can be collected and used to make chewing gum. So when you're chewing gum, you're actually chewing on chicle. It's kind of like a natural, plant-based chewy candy!

But the word "chicle" can also have another meaning. In some places, like in Mexico, the word "chicle" is also used to refer to bubblegum. You know how bubblegum is that super fun, stretchy gum that you can blow into big, colorful bubbles? Well, in Mexico, they call that "chicle" too.

So, in a nutshell, "chicle" can mean the natural gum that comes from the sapodilla tree, or it can refer to bubblegum. Either way, it's all about that chewy, stretchy, tasty stuff that we love to pop into our mouths and enjoy!