Taste Testing: Trident Layers

Cadbury North America has launched Trident Layers, Canada’s only “gumwich.” The unique sugar-free gum features a soft middle layer, combining two fruit flavours in one format. The new gum is available in two varieties: Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus, and Green Apple + Golden Pineapple. Each single pack contains 14 pieces of gum, and sells for a suggested retail price of $1.69. Here’s what our taste testing panel had to say:

Female, 12
Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus. “The package is cool. Yum, this gum smells really good, and the taste is awesome! I love this!”

Male, 40-something, editor
Green Apple + Golden Pineapple flavour. “The first thing that struck me when I opened up the pack of gum was its packaging. I’m unsure how to properly describe it except that it opens up like a pocket book, with each side containing seven typical Trident short sticks of gum. Oh wait. I get it. The packaging is in layers! The tri-layered gum itself – a montage of apple and pineapple – is pretty juicy once you get it going in your mouth – very apple-y – with a hint of pineapple, I think. I’m unsure if I taste the pineapple or not. Regardless, it’s an enjoyable flavour. While the ingredients are listed on the fanciful package, I did not see the nutritional information box. How many calories are there per stick? Don’t they have to list the nutritional facts on the package? It’s on their Trident White brand of gums – then again, that uses a typical blister package.”
EDITOR’s NOTE: Nutritional information is actually found on the external cello wrap that seals the gum – taste testers were not given this outside packaging.

Female, 20-something, sales
Green Apple + Golden Pineapple. “Not too squishy, really flavourful and juicy. I wish the apple flavour lasted longer though. It gets too sweet for me pretty soon as well. The package is cute, and appealing. Unfortunately the package came apart in my purse meaning that some of the gum fell out, so the flap concept isn’t my favourite.”

Female, 30-something, art director
Green Apple + Golden Pineapple. “It’s very citrusy, tangy and appley! I like the texture, it’s very mushy like bubblegum – as if you have a lot of gum in your mouth. I could taste the aspartame though. I normally prefer mint gums, but for people who enjoy apple or fruit flavours it would be good.”

Female, 10
Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus. “It smells really fruity, I like it. It’s a bit hard at first, but then it tastes so good that I wish I had a million pieces all at once! The flavour lasts along time too.”

Female, 40-something, business analyst
Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus; Green Apple + Golden Pineapple. “The package is really unique – I love the fact that the package is sturdy, without being too bulky or taking up too much room in my purse. It’s also recyclable, and I like that it doesn’t have a glossy outer covering. Both varieties of the gum smell delicious as soon as you open the package. And the taste is just wonderful! It’s been a long time since I’ve chewed such a juicy gum. I usually stick to mint gums, but this is a great alternative. I also really like the thickness – the texture doesn’t get gummy when you’ve chewed it for more than 10 minutes.”

Female, 30-something, teacher
Trident Layers Green Apple + Golden Pineapple. “I love the packaging. The artwork and design are catchy and modern. The package itself looks like it would prevent the pieces of gum from being squished together in my purse. I couldn’t really smell anything from the pieces, so I was disappointed. Their design – the a sandwich – reminds me of a fancy candy or dessert. What a concept. It’s like a special treat. And what a pleasant surprise when you take your first bite! The flavour is tangy – it bites back a little bit, which I really like. It’s fruity and the gum is fun to chew. I would never have thought of putting these two flavours together, but they work. I wasn’t impressed by the aspartame, though. I chew gum very rarely so this would be a sometimes treat. I might buy them.”