There is something about Bazookah that tastes so good. I remember as a young girl in Australia loving Bazookah gum because it was the only Kosher gum that was available. By the time we go it, it was barely edible - but it was the best we had.
The life cycle of a packet of Bazookah - from Israel to Perth Australia!
1. Manufactured at the Elite factory in Bet Shemesh
2. Sits in a warehouse for +/- 6 months because they have a surplus stock.
3. Order comes in for 30 cartons to be sent to Australia, no make that 20, no maybe 35. Shall we add another 2 weeks for the order to be confirmed. Boxes packaged to go to Australia.
4. Four months sitting on the Israeli docks while the stock workers strike.
5. Two months sitting on a boat waiting for exit papers because the export offices are striking
6. Twelve weeks at sea (Australia is a far far far away place)
7. Arrives at the port in Sydney (now let's be honest here, there is no need for it to go all the way to Sydney, afterall Perth would be the most logical first stop. But the import company is in Sydney so to Sydney it goes)
8. Six weeks sitting on a boat because the Israeli side got the paperwork all wrong/missing.
9. Two months sitting on a dock in Sydney, it's Pessah in 1 month's time and the import company in Sydney don't want to pick up the shipment containing chametz until after Pessah.
10. Packages picked up! Stock dispatched to Sydney and Melbourne shops. *Where the hell is Perth* - let's do that one next week. (For those that don't know Perth is 5 hours from Sydney by plane. It is the same distance +/- as London from Israel).
11. It's Easter this week so no one is taking deliveries of Kosher gum to Perth. Bet they would take it if it was chocolate Easter bunny shaped eggs - it's a conspiracy I tell you!
12. Perth stock finally on way to Perth. It goes by truck which adds another 4 days.
13. Truck gets stuck in middle of Nullabor plain due to locust plague, locusts all over the engine. 3 weeks to fix.
14. Truck arrives in Perth, but the Perth distributor won't be available to pick up the stock till the following week.
15. Stock picked up but not sent to shop (there is only one Kosher shop in Perth - which may explain the reluctance of the import company to send the stuff there anyway) because the shop is "broigus" with the distributor over pessah stock that arrived 2 months after Pessah.
16. FINALLY we have Bazookah - the only Kosher gum you can buy in Perth!
Last week I had my first ever Bazookah in Israel. When I put it in my mouth I was amazed that it was soft. I said to the guy who gave it to me "I think these are soggy - did you leave them in the rain or something." But somehow after 2 minutes of eating it some chemical transformation took place and the piece of gum I was happily chewing just before turned to a rubbery (sole of shoe) type tasteless blob.
They just don't taste the same. I think I will leave mine in the cupboard for a year and half and occasionally take it out and stick it in the sun for a bit - maybe then it will be right!
