The company that invented Hi-Chew was started up in Japan by Taichiro Morinaga. At the time, chewing gum was popular but the act of removing it from your mouth to throw away was considered very rude in Japan. Morinaga decided to invent a gum-like candy that lasts a long time, just like chewing gum, but one which eventually dissolves in your mouth. Hi-Chew was born. Hi-Chew candy has been made in no less than 170 different flavours over the years. Today's American Hi-Chew flavour line up is considered the crème de la crème of taste!