Bigum

Modern chewing gum is composed of polysobutylene substance that chemically resembles polypropylene. In some countries they have been banned due to the resulting pollution and the difficult and costly removal. Due to their large consumption, chewing gum is second in pollution only to cigarette butts. There are also no benefits and vitamins and beneficial properties for health. BIGUM is a gum / candy that is based on 100% fruit and can therefore promote the integration of the properties present in it. Without preservatives or other chemical additives. It is also a product designed to stimulate the need to plant trees as many variants have a base that derives from a fruit tree. It does not require industrial production, but everyone can have their own production at home and give the shape/size they prefer according to their needs. The inspiration, after various tests, I found it online and it is an ancient Russian recipe little known. still in development as I am trying to make it as resistant as possible to chewing through various natural gums. Thanks to the process you get a material very similar to leather that could also be applied as packaging

To produce BIGUM you need few tools: fruit (of your choice), a lemon, a blender, an oven, a pot and baking paper. Once washed and cut the fruit will be enough to put it in a pot with the juice of half a lemon and a finger of water. Boil it slowly, until it reaches the thick consistency. Once the desired consistency is reached, move the mixture into the blender to remove any pulp residue. Arrange the parchment paper in a baking sheet and roll out the mixture with a thickness of about 4 millimeters. Let it dry at 60 degrees for about 8/10 hours until it appears dry and detaches from the parchment paper easily and without breaking. If you want it is possible to have a denser and more elastic consistency by adding a teaspoon of guar seed flour (about 4 grams per 200 grams of mixture. optional)

Once washed and cut the fruit put it in a pot with a little water and the juice of half a lemon. Boil it over low heat for about an hour (depending on the fruit you choose and how small it is cut) by turning with a spoon to prevent it from sticking to the pot. It will start to shrink in quantity and appear denser.

When it is gelatinous enough you can transfer the meal to a blender to shred any pulp residue. At this point the mixture is ready to be placed in a baking sheet protected by parchment paper.

Setting the oven to 60 degrees allow to dry for about 8/10 hours (the time may vary depending on the thickness you will give to the mixture once spread). You will understand that your BIGUM is ready when lifting the mixture from a corner of the baking sheet it will detach from the parchment paper without breaking and without making resistance.

Thanks to the consistency obtained at the end of the drying process, a material very similar to soft and elastic leather is obtained that if applied as a new material for shoppers and / or packaging would eliminate part of the pollution produced by disposable materials as this rubber is 100% vegetable and also edible. If dispersed in the wild it could fertilize the soil or be eaten by animals that would not suffer any damage (as in the case of ingestion of plastic and compostable plastic)

Go crazy with the colored fruit you prefer to’ create your perfect skin!