'Splash?', more like 'Drip'. (Trident Splash Strawberry and Lime Sugarfree Gum)

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	Trident Splash Strawberry and Lime Sugarfree Gum
Date:	05/02/09 (275 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting Concept

Disadvantages: Lose Flavour Quickly, Artificial Ingredients

Whist walking through the supermarket today, I noticed 'Trident Splash' for sale next to the checkouts, a strawberry and lime flavoured chewing-gum with a liquid centre. Each of the colourful packets contain nine individual gums, and retail at 49p from Tesco. I generally chew gum a lot of the time, and decided to give this interesting looking product a go - it would make a change from my usual Wrigly's Extra.

In terms of the ingredients, the product contains;
Sweeteners (Maltitol, Sorbitol, Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Gum base, Stabiliser (Glycerol), Flavourings, Gelatine (Bovine), Acids (Malic Acid, Citric acid), Emulsifier (Soya lecithin), Colours (E171, E104, E133), Glazing agent (Canuaba wax), and Thickener (E466).

The above list is packed with dodgy ingredients, including a lot of e-numbers, the potentially harmful Aspartame, and Bovine Gelatine (essence of mashed up cow!) - so this product is certainly not suitable for vegetarians.

The packaging states that "No real fruits were used or harmed in the making of this chewing gum", and whilst the makers are trying to be humerous with this sentance, it does bring home how artificial the product is.

Each of the chewing gum resemble an oversized Wrigley's Extra - a square white object with rounded corners. The first bite releases the lime flavoured centre which actually tastes pretty good, and the white sugar shell is quick to dissolve, yet very crunchy for the first ten or so chews. As something which is supposed have a 'liquid centre', these gums are quite disappointing - the centre doesn't burst open into the mouth, it's more of a slight moistness that you can detect - certainly nothing special.

The second problem I found with Trident Splash, is that the flavour disappears very quickly. In under a minute of one of these being inside your mouth, the delicious strawberry and Lime taste has all but gone, leaving you with a bland lump of rubber to munch on - which isn't so pleasant.

Trident Splash is a product I won't be buying again - although the initial flavour is very pleasant, the short 'chew-life' of each of the gums, combined with the dodgy ingredients is enough to put me off. These seem really to be marketed at kids, and whilst I didn't personally find them that appealing, I'm sure there are lots of people out there who would enjoy the novelty of the liquid centre.

Summary: Not a bad taste, but generally disappointing