Beemans Chewing Gum is one of a line of four nostalgia-oriented chewing gums produced by Cadbury Adams, makers of ever-popular products such as Trident, Chiclets, and Certs. While we are not quite experienced enough to review this gum on its nostalgic qualities, we can, however, vouch for its goodness and qualifications as chewing gum.

Initially, Beemans Chewing Gum is slightly offsetting; its plain, drab packaging is neither eye-catching nor enticing, though perhaps this is where its charm lay. Certainly this is a goal of Cadbury Adams, and on this level, they do succeed. Ten points for nostalgia — but negative several million for its complete lack of style.

Contrary to any packaging flaws — as deliberate as they may be — this is, indeed, a quality chewing gum. Upon removal from its dual layered thin paper packaging, it is immediately noted how soft and flexible the gum feels. The packaging is not delicious — much to our delight, as we are not interested in a gum whose packaging steals away intense flavor sessions of chewing.

Of course, there is more to this gum than meets the eye — the smell it emits ensnares the senses with its chunks of wonderful mint. The initial flavor, however, is a tad disappointing, supposing the gum is smelt before entry into the mouth. Perhaps the creator of this gum — presumably one Mr. Beemans — was, in fact, lacking in the ability to sense with his schnoz.

When one begins chewing the gum, one realizes that perhaps initial reactions were unjustified. This gum is, unlike many other chewing gum products on the market, well-flavored. However, this chewing gum fails to break new ground as a product, the flavor has been nearly "done to death," as they say in the business world. Interestingly, Beemans Chewing Gum tastes very much like a Wintergreen-flavored Cert, which is another product of gum mogul, Cadbury Adams. However, in a tribute to Cadbury Adams quality, this gum is chewable for hours — if not weeks.

This gum succeeds where other new chewing gum products have failed — most notably the dismal quality Skittles-brand gum, which happens to be no more a chewing gum than a Skittle. Beemans is a wonderful product; despite its obvious flaws, there is a reason they are re-introducing this nostalgic chewing gum.

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Matthew Montgomery and Aaron Rasmussen,
musicGeek.org