Black Black
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Type | Chewing gum |
|---|---|
| Current owner | Lotte |
| Country of origin |  Japan |
| Introduced | 1983 |
| Website | http://www.lotte.co.jp/ |
Black Black (ブラックブラック Burakku Burakku) is a brand of caffeinated chewing gum produced in Japan by Lotte. It has been sold since 1983,[1] and is popular in Japan, partially due to its well-known television commercials that star Jean-Claude Van Damme. It became popular in the United States after being mentioned in Wired Magazine.[2] The gum's name is derived from its charcoal-like color.
Ingredients include sugar, starch syrup, grape sugar, erisuritol, oolong tea extract, ginkgo extract, chrysanthemum flower extract, gum base, flavorings, coloring agents (cacao, gardenia), caffeine, and nicotinamide. A persistent urban legend holds that the gum contains nicotine, the misconception stemming from confusion with nicotinamide, a much different substance related to the B vitamins. The packaging contains some strangely phrased Engrish on the label that reads, "HI-TECHNICAL * EXCELLENT TASTE AND FLAVOR". Some sticks also say "YES, CHEWING!".
In western Japan (Osaka, Shikoku, etc.) the gum sells for around 105 Yen a pack in most supermarkets and convenience stores.
In the United States, Black Black may be procured through a variety of mail order and online companies and in many Asian supermarkets.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ "ロッテ 商品カタログ ガム, Lotte(Japan) products information of chewing gum" (in Japanese). Lotte (Japan). http://www.lotte.co.jp/products/catalogue/gum/03.html. Retrieved 2008-01-25. "昭和58年6月に「眠気スッキリ！ブラックブラックガム」を発売 In June, Shōwa 58 (1983), the sales of black black gum started."
- ^ "What Wired staffers bought this month". Wired magazine. February 2003. pp. 1. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.02/play.html?pg=14. Retrieved 2006-09-12.
[edit] External links
 |
This confectionery-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
