In 1871, gum inventor and manufacturer Thomas Adams received the first patent on a gum-making machine and began mass producing a chicle-based gum called "New York No. 1." This gum had no flavoring, but sold well, which encouraged him to continue working on new and different ways to produce chewing gum.

Adams began experimenting with flavorings, beginning with sarsaparilla. In 1884, he added a licorice flavoring and Black Jack Chewing Gum was born as the first flavored chewing gum in America. At this time, chewing gum changed shape from lumps or chunks to sticks, and Black Jack® became the first chewing gum to be offered in sticks as we know them today.

To help in the sales of his new product, Adams hired attractive young women to pass out sample sticks of Black Jack on the streets of New York City. Black Jack was mass-produced and sold for more than 90 years before being discontinued in 1978, only to be brought back to the market in 1985 and again in 2012 as a limited-edition nostalgia product.

DISCLAIMER: As many fans are aware, this product is only made every 3-5 years. The "best buy" dates are set approximately 1 year after production. The product may have an expired "best buy" date (depending on the year). No refunds. Black Jack is sold in five-stick packs and is being released as a limited-edition product.