December 19, 2010 - Berry Chew
Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

Some of you might remember Clark’s Teaberry Gum that was popular in the 1960s. It actually dates back to about 1900 when it was developed in Pittsburgh by David L. Clark, an Irish immigrant. Teaberry gum was named after wintergreen, an evergreen plant also known as teaberry. Each fall wintergreen berries ripen to a bright red. They have a unique spicy flavor similar to that of teaberry gum. Although the berries are not eaten in great quantities by wildlife, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, white-footed mice, eastern chipmunks and red foxes eat them on a regular basis. Deer browse the green leaves in winter and even gray squirrels occasionally eat its leaves. Teaberry gum might not be as popular as it once was, but just like with wintergreen berries, those who enjoy its flavor always come back for more.

This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.