Chicza –Organic Rainforest Chewing Gum.

Does anyone remember what chewing gum really is? Where it originally comes from vs. what you purchase today? Probably not. Do you know what chewing gum today is normally made from? Have you looked on any city side walk to see the effects? And what about the effect on birds and animals as well when today’s chewing gum is carelessly disposed?

Now – you have a choice. Chicza. The world’s original, and today’s first 100% organic, biodegradable chewing gum. And by choosing Chicza – you automatically help save the rain forest, and as well provide yourself with a natural experience – as from a millennia ago – an almost lost art – of chewing gum!

Consumption of Chicza promotes a sustainable activity compatible with the conversation of rain forest, contributing at the same time to the economic and social welfare of the Maya region of South East Mexico in the rain forest of the Grand Peten.

Where to purchase

History of modern chewing gum:

In 1856 events led Thomas Adams to the rediscovery of chicle. Former Mexican dictator Santa Ana, exiled in the US, was trying to go into business with Mr. Adams using latex extracted from the Chicozapote trees. The intent was to vulcanize it and use it in carriage wheels. Two tons were brought up to New York for experimentation. Turning it into rubber proved impossible. Soon enough Mr. Adams was stuck with 2000 kilograms of chicle latex that was useless for the intended purpose. Then he recalled Santa Ana telling him that the people in Mexico used to chew this gum. According to the most wide spread stories, this is what led Mr. Adams to sweeten and flavor the chicle to make chewing gum as the market as we came to know it.

By the end of World War II, artificial, petrol based polymers were substituted for natural chicle. Today most all chewing gum is synthetic, and the very few that use some portion of natural chicle only use small amounts ad combine it with synthetic gum. This is why disposed of chewing gums are such an environmental and sanitary threat to cities all over the world, where asphalt and gum polymers tend to bond forever.

Biodegradabiliy:

Like many other organic compounds that constitute the raw material of rain forests biomass, chicle is made of atmospheric Carbon captured by huge, efficient and reliable oxygen factories – the Chicozapote tree. (Manikara zapota). Once fixed in solid and liquid compounds by plants, Carbon usually ends up integrated to the soil. Rain forest play a key role in Carbon capture since they stay green throughout the year.

Primarily combined with Hydrogen, captured Carbon takes many different forms in plants. One of them is latex, produced only by a rather small botanical group that ranges from herbs like Milkweed to trees as massive as the Chiczapote. Latex is mainly water, depending on the time of year, at least 50% and up to 70%. Among the remaining solids are small amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, in organic components and amino acids. However, most of the solid is made from polyisoprenes. While polyisoprenes are formed naturally in plants and animals it features a singular characteristic – they are elsastomers. This means recovering original shape after being strained. This is what makes rubber the most popular product obtained from latex. Various tree species are used for rubber.
The Chicozapote tree is very different from otherwise similar rubber trees. This uniqueness is due to an unparalleled mix of polyisoprenes that render a non-toxic, hydrophilic, non-vulcanizable substance.

Chicza is natural organic gum base and therefore has all the virtuous features of this innocuous, hydro soluble, non-sticky, biodegradable source. Easily decomposed by weathering, combined with bacterial and enzymatic biodegradation, it turns to dust and goes back to the soil, just as rotten wood, fallen leaves and other organic origins of rich soil.

Keepers of the rain forest

Vast extensions of tropical rain forest in southeastern Mexico merge into those in Central America to form the Gran Petén, the second largest rain forest after Amazonia. Unlike other regions of Mexico, where up to 80% of original jungles have been lost to logging, cattle ranching and agriculture, these rain forests have survived and thrive. Covering almost 800,000 hectares in the states of Qunitana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatan, these jungles the rise and fall of Mayan culture and is home to some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. With over 120 tree species, 60 mammal species, 240 bird species and millions of insects – it is also home to the Jaguar.

Contrary to a widespread and incomplete concept of conservation, they key to protecting these rainforests has not been the absence of humans, rather the presence of conscious communities who sustainably manage these ancient jungles and also recover rain forest and water in the process. These are the communities of the Chicleros, harvesters of chicle.

Chicozapote tree is one of the most abundant trees in the rain forest with some trees as old as 300 years. Chicozapote trees will not yield latex if planted outside their environment. This tree needs the complex biological symphony of the rainforest around them to work their magic. This is one of the reasons why Chicleros are such brave defenders of the jungle.

The Harvest

During certain parts of the year, generally from around August through to February chicle is harvested. Latex is extracted from the tall Chicozapote trees by making Z-shaped superficial cuts on the bark which zigzag down to a bag placed at the base. Dripping sap slowly fills the bag. This process does not harm the trees. Each tree renders about 2 kilograms per harvest and then will rest for a period of 6 to 8 years before it will be harvested again.

The sustainable management of their rainforest is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

Social – A Fair Green Equation.

The Consorcio Chiclero is a coordinative body of 56 cooperatives, numbering some 2000 members spread across some 800,000 hectares of rain forest, through which production, logistics, trade and finances are managed. Since the first half of the 20^th century, Chiclero communities have survived attempted exploitation, a dwindling market thanks to synthetic gum which reduced their numbers from a high of approximately 20,000 in 1942 to a low of 1,000 in 1994, and as well a political wave in the 1970’s that terminated or neutralized many agro-coops. The Chiclero cooperatives stayed independent and grew stronger and better organized. By the turn of the century, the Consorcio Chiclero was formed.

A long time and precious goal was to transform chicle into finished product and this became one of the first formal projects under the new consortium. Four years later, after a journey defined by solidarity, courage and perseverance, Chicza was introduced, the world’s first 100% natural and biodegradable chewing gum.

Sustainability as a concept encompasses equal and balanced exchanges among all the individual elements of any given interaction where healthy feedback loops are the very essence of sustainable systems. While fair trade schemes are bringing much better economical dynamics to many groups around the world, production of a value added product clearly had a more relevant impact on this equation. Selling chewing gum instead of chicle means an income 6 times higher for an average Chiclero.

This means that each and every human chewing Chicza gum anywhere in the world will make a personal and direct contribution to a better life for a chiclero family, and of course to a greener (thus cooler) planet.

Join the New Circle

Trees, rainforest communities, Chicleros and Chicza chewers are about to add a new network of positive interaction to the green side of the planetary equation. The union of sustainable practices and fair exchange will cast its magic and render benefits to every stakeholder taking part in this cycle. It is about bringing good things to your life and in so doing, bringing back life to our planet.

Chicza Chewing Gum:

Not only a product of the rainforest and 100% organic and biodegradable, Chicza is the gourmet choice of chewing gum. With a consistency that only natural chewing gum can give, Chicza is available now in 3 delicious flavors, Mint, Spearmint and Lime.

Offer your customers Chicza organic chewing gum. For retailers, log-in and order your Chicza today!

Where to purchase:

Internet Webshops:
www.ekosunda.se

www.sproutinghealth.se

www.grongava.se/shop/category/16/12

shop.blueberrylifestyle.se/

www.alternativetshop.com/chicza-kravmarkt-tuggummi/

Stockholm:

Blueberry Lifestyle.

www.blueberrylifestyle. Se

Sibyllegatan 15

Birger Jarlsgatan 21

NK, Stockholm

Nature, Livets Apotek

Drottninggatan 86

Humlegårdsgatan 3

Eat

Tegnergatan 3

Lifeland

Norrtullsgatan 25A

Melisse Hälsokälla

Drotninghomsv. 19

8T8
Swedenborgsg. 1

Matmekka hos Etnografiskamuseet
Djurgårdsbrunnv. 34

Danderyd
Open World Cafe
Sätraängsvägen 134

Järfälla
Nature
Viksjö Centrum

Linköping
COOP Konsum Lambohov
Tröskaregatan 33

Coop Konsum Lägerhyddan
Rekrytgatan 5

Lund:

Planet Blå AB / OMTANKErnStora Södergatan 27

Nacka:

Källtorpsträdgård

Ältavägen 105