Zeno Blood Orange Gum
What Is It?
A bright, citrus-forward chewing gum made with blood orange flavoring — one of the first commercial citrus-flavored gums in American history.
History
Blood Orange was among the most popular of Zeno's exotic gum flavors, remarkable for being one of the earliest commercially produced citrus-flavored chewing gums in America. At a time when most gums were peppermint, licorice, or fruit-generic, Zeno's Blood Orange offered a specific, vivid citrus character that stood apart. Like all Zeno products, it was sold for a penny per stick through the company's oak vending cabinets — machines that used a clockwork motor to gently push out a single stick of gum. The idea of getting a specific exotic flavor from a coin-operated machine was novel enough that the machines themselves became a novelty attraction. Blood Orange wrappers survive today as collectibles and appear occasionally at auction. Original sticks of Zeno Blood Orange gum — still in their wrappers — are extraordinarily rare, with a few known examples documented through antique markets and estate sales.
Other Products from Zeno Manufacturing Company
- Zeno Forbidden Fruit Gum
A penny-a-stick chewing gum with an exotic licorice-forward flavor profile, sold via oak-cabinet coin-operated vending machines in bars and barbershops.