Clove Gum

by Adams

1914 – 1978 IT CAME BACK

Back, made by Verburg since 2018. The start year is murky: the current owner dates Adams' Clove to 1914, while trade coverage says the gum goes back to the 19th century — 1914 is the earliest documented Adams year.

Last verified Nov 8, 2026

Spicy, sweet and faintly medicinal, Clove gum rode out Prohibition as a speakeasy breath disguise — by its makers' telling — before American Chicle stopped making it in 1978, alongside Black Jack and Beemans.

🧾 One more thingWarner-Lambert revived the trio as a nostalgia line in the mid-1980s. In 2018 Mondelez sold all three to Gerrit J. Verburg Co., which now has them made in Morocco and added a sugar-free Clove in 2024.

Filed under: Candy & Gum · the ’70s & earlier

🎲 Remember another one 🛒 Test your memory

📅 Timeline

1914Adams took on Clove gum, the earliest year in the current owner's brand history.
1978Production of Clove, Black Jack and Beemans was halted.
1985Warner-Lambert reintroduced the three gums as a nostalgia line.
2018Mondelez sold Clove, Black Jack and Beemans to Gerrit J. Verburg Co. in August.
2024Verburg launched sugar-free versions, including Clove.

❓ People also ask

Is Clove gum still made?

Yes. Gerrit J. Verburg Co. has sold it since buying the brand in 2018, and added a sugar-free version in 2024.

Why was Clove gum popular during Prohibition?

According to the brand's own history, its strong scent was used to mask liquor on the breath, and its ads promised it would 'take your breath away.'

🧾 Sources

Vintage Gums (Gerrit J. Verburg Co.), The One and Only Clove (2020)
Vintage Gums (Gerrit J. Verburg Co.), A Flavorful Journey (2024)
Candy Industry, Gerrit J. Verburg acquires classic gum brands from Mondelez International (2018)

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