Long-lasting chewing gum having good processibility and method

A chewing gum having a prolonged sweet taste comprising a water-soluble phase comprised of aqueous softener in an amount of from about 2 to about 30% by weight of the chewing gum, a first sweetener in particulate form in an amount from about 20 to about 60% by weight of the chewing gum, an optionally hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in an amount of from about 0 to about 20% by weight of the chewing gum dispersed throughout the aqueous softener;

• and a relatively water-insoluble phase comprised of a plurality of separate and distinct masses suspended in and dispersed throughout the water-soluble phase, each of said masses comprising gum base, a second sweetener in particulate form, and optionally hydrogenated starch hydrolysate enveloped by said gum base, said gum base being present in an amount of from about 8 to about 25% by weight of the chewing gum, said second sweetener being present in an amount of from about 20 to about 45% by weight of the chewing gum, said hydrogenated starch hydrolysate being present in an amount of from about 0 to about 15% by weight of the chewing gum, provided that the hydrogenated starch hydrolysate is present in at least one of said phases, the water-soluble phase providing initial sweetness impact, the gum base providing a protective vehicle for the second sweetener to control and slow down release of the second sweetener, thereby providing extended sweetness after the initial sweetness impact has subsided, while the hydrogenated starch hydrolysate imparts cohesivity to the chewing gum thereby facilitating processibility thereof.