Last Updated on September 2, 2022 by Jim Edwards
If you are looking for an alternative to chewing gum but want something more flavorful that you don’t have to spit out, then you are in the right place.
Hi-Chew is a chewing gum that you can swallow (see below for the fascinating history behind this!). Hi-Chews are double-layered gum with almost 170 flavors worldwide.
Hi-Chews have a loyal and very passionate following – so much so that fans often tags their social media posts as #HiChew or #ChewCrew so they can share with others.
These candies are both very fruity, with intense, authentic fruit flavors. And they are very chewy and fun to consume. They are loved by children and adults alike!
Contents
History and Background
This soft and chewy candy was initially introduced in 1975. In February 1996, it was re-released in its current formula in stick form, where all the candies are individually wrapped.
Hi-Chew was made by the famous confectioner Taichiro Morinaga of Japan.
The main motive behind the making of Hi-Chew was a Japanese taboo. In Japanese culture, it is not considered ethical to take out food from your mouth. And thus, Hi-Chew was invented.
Morinaga created Chewlets in 1931 by blending his chewy caramel with flavoring. However, the company got devastated during World War II, when Japan had a major reconstruction effort for many years to rebuild the damage that had occurred to the country.
In 1953, Morinaga reintroduced Chewlets in the form of Hi-Chews, as they are now known, and they became a huge success. Interestingly, Morinaga & Company became the largest confectioner in Asia because of this success!
What Does Hi-Chew Taste Like?
Hi-Chew candies are individually wrapped in either foils or plain white wax paper with logos. The outer layer is white and almost similar in all the flavors as it is a double-layered candy.
However, the inner layer is of varying colors depending on the taste you choose.
Hi-Chew Ingredients
- Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil
- Gelatin
- Glucose syrup
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Strawberry juice from concentrate
- DL-Malic Acid, Citric Acid, and other essentials
- Sugar
- In some variations, soya bean is also added.
- It is gluten-free.
Since it contains Gelatin and Palm Kernel Oil, it can be easily softened with warm water and removed from clothes or hair.
It has a very efficient calorie count of 21 with 4.1g of carbohydrate, 0.1g of protein, and 0.5g of fat per serving.
How Is Hi-Chew Manufactured?
The silky texture and chewability of HI-CHEW are its most notable features. These are achieved by stabilizing the use of every ingredient carefully.
Also a focus was placed on ensuring that the candy formula had long-lasting juicy and fruity flavors so special flavoring technology was incorporated into the manufacturing process.
Unique Flavors of Hi-Chew
When Hi-Chew was first introduced, it came up with nearly 200 different flavors. From sweet to sour and hot, it contains every type of variety. So, let’s find out some of the unique flavors introduced by Hi-Chew and no other candy brand.
- The Açaí flavor
- Kiwi
- Dragon Fruit
- Yogurt
- Green apple
- Strawberry cheesecake
- Cotton-Candy
- Chocolate melon
- Apricot-peach
- Cranberry-grape
- Mango-pineapple
- Chocolate covered banana
Related: Now and Later Candy
Lesser Known Facts About Hi-Chew
- Some celebrities are big fans of Hi-Chew gums including, Nicki Minaj, John Mayer, Chrissy Teigen, Ryan Gosling, and Macklemore.
- Morinaga America, Inc. places a high value on Hi-Chew research and development. Rather than selecting flavors based on artificial concepts, Hi-Chew flavors are generated based on market trends, consumer desire, and the ever-changing American taste.
- Mocktails are also made by fusing juices with Hi-Chew.
- In one case, a factory worker’s glove fell into a cooking vat at the Hyogo Morinaga factory. As a result, several production processes went awry and were not approved by the health departments of numerous countries.
Related: Jujubes Candies Reviewed
Hi-Chew Reduced Sugar
In the summer of 2022, they introduce a reduced sugar version in two classic flavors: mango and strawberry.
The reduced sugar versions look at taste the same as the originals but have 30% less sugar.
Hi-Chew Candy Taste Test
If you want to see a close up of the Hi-Chew packaging and a review and taste test, this short video from Nicole Tiana is worth a watch. You will get a much better sense of how the candies look in and out of the package plus a taste test of the flavors.
Related: Starburst Candy Review
Hi-Chew Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Hi-Chew A Gum?
No, it is a chewable candy. You can swallow it. It is similar to taffy and designed to be chewed and then dissolve in your mouth.
Is Hi-Chew Safe to Swallow?
Yes, its ingredients have the property to dissolve slowly in your mouth and are safe to swallow. So yes, you can swallow Hi-Chew.
Are Hi-Chews Edible?
Hi-Chew is meant to be eaten like a caramel. You can chew it slowly and let it dissolve in your mouth.
Are Hi-Chews Addictive?
Yes, Hi-Chews are indeed addictive in the sense that people love to eat a lot of them.
According to Major League Baseball Pitcher Matt Thornton:
“When I first saw it come into the clubhouse here, I knew immediately that it would be a huge hit with the guys.”There is something about them. I don’t know if there is some sort of illegal substance in them or something like that [that] makes them so addictive, but they are definitely one of those things where you can knock down 10 and not even realize it. I had a steady diet of them going on in the playoffs last year. They are good. They are kind of a newer candy over here.”
Source: ESPN
Are Hi-Chews Vegan?
It depends on the specific flavor. Many Hi-Chew products contain egg whites, fish glue, and gelatin.
How is Hi-Chew Made?
The Japanese candy brand HI-CHEW has become popular in the US in recent years. The candy is made with real fruit juices and was originally created as a substitute for gum in Japan. Here’s how the company manages to produce over 700 million pieces of their candy per year.
Related: Push Pop Candy – a favorite of kids everywhere!
If you want to join the Hi-Chew Crew https://www.hi-chew.com you can do that on their website –
Final comment – if you like Hi-Chew and want an even chewier fruity candy, be sure to see our review of Puchao
I’m Jim Edwards and I started this website to share my love of Junk Food. We cover new junk food, desserts, snack foods, fast food secret menus, candy (of course!) and other related news. We love trying “secret menus” at restaurants. And we love trying new products too. So, we are trying to have some fun with our hobby and share some useful information with you, our community. Please feel to send us your suggestions and feedback through the contact form. And if you have products you would like us to try, let us know…!