Bubblicious

Bubblicious is a brand of bubble gum owned by the Italian-Dutch company Perfetti Van Melle.

The gum wrapper of the Lightning Lemonade flavor featuring LeBron James. This flavor was introduced in 2005 and modified from the original.

Originally produced by the American Chicle Division of Warner-Lambert, the brand was launched in 1977 in response to the tremendous sales of Bubble Yum, the first soft bubble gum. The brand struggled upon introduction, but sales took off with the advent, in 1978, of the "Ultimate Bubble" advertising campaign. Bubblicious was later expanded internationally.

Flavors

There have been 28 flavors of Bubblicious, all except watermelon have been discontinued. Flavors have included Cotton Candy, Paradise Punch, Sour Cherry, and Choco Choco Chip. Bubblicious is available in original format and Bubblicious Bursts with a liquid-filled center.

The original "Lightning Lemonade" flavor was discontinued in the year 2000. However, in 2005 the flavor was re-introduced as LeBron's Lightning Lemonade, based on a partnership between Bubblicious and basketball player LeBron James. The caricature featured on the packaging was illustrated by cartoonist Grey Blackwell. When the flavor was re-introduced, it was changed to include a raspberry flavor element.

"Bubblicious Ink'd!" was a somewhat sour flavor the coloring of which caused the chewer's tongue to turn blue. The flavor was supported by Cartoon Network's Klik Street Skaters' Group, who performed a commercial similar to the company's original Ink'd! commercial.

Bubblicious Sherbet ice cream is made by Breyers with bubble gum pieces and a bubble gum swirl.

Trivia

Bubblicious was involved in the Guinness World Records for the most bubble gum bubbles blown at one time. Hundreds of Little League players and fans joined Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith to set the world record with over 100 fans and 300 pieces of Bubblicious gum.

In June 2013, former New England Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez was linked to a murder by his purchase of Blue Cotton Candy Bubblicious.^[1][2]

References

1. Duboff, Josh (June 26, 2013). "Smoking Gun in Aaron Hernandez Case? Blue Cotton Candy Bubblegum". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
2. Sterbenz, Christina (February 19, 2015). "A single piece of bubble gum is at the center of the murder case against ex-NFL player Aaron Hernandez". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2016-01-26. Retrieved 26 January 2016.