Many cultures chew substances made from Mother Nature, such as herbs, plants, and resins. The history of chewing gum actually dates back to the ancient Greeks, being their favorite hobby. However, it was William Semple, not a Greek, who first patented chewing gum on December 28, 1869 and Susan Montgomery who blew the largest bubble gum in history at 23 inches in diameter. She is registered in the Guinness World Record.
The most popular brands are not always the best for blowing bubbles. Companies like Bubble Yum and Bubbicilious have created gums that are soft, easy to chew, full of flavor, and long lasting; great for those who want to chew gum, bad for those who want to blow bubbles. If you want to pop championship bubbles, choose a less popular brand like Double Bubble or Bazooka. They contain less sugar and are harder to chew, but offer superior bubble strength.
The trick is to use a small amount of gum. If you still find gum in your mouth after you’ve inflated the bubble, it doesn’t mean you need more gum. Just more practice. More gum doesn’t make more bubbles. Also, you can only use three pieces of gum to contest the world record.
To beat the odds of blowing gum bubbles to their full potential, try practicing indoors where it’s easier to control the wind and temperature. These two factors are crucial to your success. Too cold, the skin of the bubble will become thin and break easily; too hot, your bubble will collapse prematurely.
All gums have sugar and artificial flavors for taste. However, these two ingredients are bad news for those who want to make big bubbles. One trick is to chew the gum until most of the sugar and artificial flavoring are removed, which in turn will create superior strength for the bubbles. The next step is to get the gum to the right consistency. It gets more difficult as it gets colder after you’ve blown a bubble. Heat it to make it softer by chewing it more. With the right consistency, you can effortlessly push your tongue through the gum and fill the pocket with air to make bubbles.
If you want to make the biggest bubbles possible, be careful and blow slowly. Use slow, even breaths, this gives your gum time to stretch and grow, but also maintains even pressure on the gum to prevent it from collapsing. Don’t purse your lips around the bubble like you’ve just sucked on a lemon, this will force you to blow harder and pop the bubble. Instead, keep your mouth open to inflate the bubble through a larger hole.
A champion is not born without practice. Then again, to blow really big and impressive bubbles, you also need a strong jaw, tongue and diaphragm. You should try all the tips mentioned above and see what combinations work best for you. It’s more fun, which is the main thing, if you can practice and compete with your friends.