Hubba Bubba has been a mainstay on the bubble gum scene for decades, providing nonstick bubble-blowing enjoyment for generations of cheerful chewers. From the Gen X classic original TV advertisement showing cowboys in a bubble-blowing shootout to the current commercials touting the tape version, the bubble gum giant has demonstrated extraordinary lasting power as a beloved retro candy brand. Along the way, the Bub has toyed with flavors that brought contemporary tastes to gum lovers, experimenting with trendy sour options and doubling up with flavor-within-a-flavor formulas that bring two bold tastes together in a single pack. Hubba Bubba even turned itself into new shapes, introducing gum in tape form for a modern reinvention that made chewing exciting again.
How does the current flavor selection stand up when sampled side by side? Does altering the shape impact the taste, and if so, which form makes for a more enjoyable chew? I gathered up a pocketful of the gum that took its name from old-timey slang to see how Hubba Bubba packs do in a head-to-head showdown. With the introduction of Skittle-flavored Hubba Bubba, I seized on a fresh opportunity to rechew what has become a classic for gum lovers and remind myself what the Hubba Bubba hubbub is all about. Bubbly Bubble Gum
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The fun spark of Sour Blue Raspberry Chunk Hubba Bubba provides undeniable gum-chewing appeal. The cubic shape gives your teeth something solid to bite into, activating a tangy tingle strong enough to make your eyes twitch as you chew, similar to super-sour crybaby gumballs. Fortunately, there's no sugary crust on this gum to overwhelm the sour spots on your tongue; unfortunately, after about a minute or so of righteous chewing, the flavor all but disappears and the texture becomes tough and begins to tire your jaw. Basic bubble-blowing will tell you that chewability equals better bubbles. This form of Hubba Bubba is so stingy with its elasticity, it's difficult to get bubbles even half the size of other versions.
Leisure Snacks Peeling back the wrapper to find such a shockingly blue bit of gum made us hopeful that defying the traditional pink bubble gum color also meant bucking the system whereby inferior bubble gum requires novelty flavors and eye-catching hues to compensate. Sadly, Sour Blue Raspberry Hubba Bubba left a bad taste in my mouth and a sore ache in my jaw, making this my lowest-rated pick.