People in many different parts of the world used to chew different types of aromatic substances as a type of freshener or to cope with their thirst. Some of these were beeswax, aromatic twigs, and tree resin.

Today, the modern chewing gum is made of a natural latex-like chicle extracted from trees. A few of the ones used for gum are jelutong, pine rosin, or gutta-percha. The first form is a liquid that looks something like milk.