A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is an official designation that safeguards unique products linked to a specific territory, whose characteristics, quality, and reputation is directly attributable to their place of origin.
In our case, it guarantees the origin of natural chewing gum, which comes exclusively from the Mayan Forest of Quintana Roo and Campeche.
On October 24, 2024, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) officially published the Declaration of Protection of the Geographical Indication:
“Mayan Chewing Gum of Quintana Roo and Campeche”
This recognizes, at an international level, the natural chewing gum obtained from the sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen) as a unique and protected product.
The designated production areas are Quintana Roo and Campeche, where the ideal natural conditions—climate, soil, and biodiversity—enable the growth of the sapodilla tree and the production of authentic Mayan chewing gum. This makes the product an irreplaceable raw material with an exclusive origin.
The PGI protects not only the product but also the ancestral knowledge involved in its production:
Each stage follows official usage rules that ensure authenticity, quality, and traceability.
This protection recognizes the work of generations of Mayan chicleros who have preserved this ancestral activity for centuries.
The PGI protects not only a product, but also:
Our natural chewing gum comes from the responsible use of a non-timber forest product, under sustainable forest management practices.
The extraction of latex from the sapodilla tree helps preserve the forest while generating direct, sustainable income for the forest communities living within the production areas.
This supports our commitments to:
Many brands claim to include “natural gum” in their formulations; however, they do not use authentic protected Mayan Chicle.
The PGI guarantees to consumers that Chicza uses real, certified raw material sourced from a protected region.
When you choose Chicza, you choose: