American soldiers used chewing gum to quench thirst and reserve water supplies in World War I, but as its popularity spread through Europe, so did aversion to it. Among its detractors was Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky. Contributor Curtis Vreeland tells the story in an excerpt from "Candy Goes to War."
Aside from discussing garden variety mints, the sourcing of this herb typically doesn't surface to the forefront -- until now. Given consumer interest in sustainability issues, mint has also come under scrutiny regarding its origins and harvesting.
Mint, which some of us have grown in our gardens, just doesn’t immediately come to mind when it comes to sustainability issues. And yet, it’s one of the critical ingredients in Mars Wrigley’s mint and gum products.