A method of selecting a commercially viable chewing gum including testing a chewing gum using nonlinear rheology, compiling rheological data from the nonlinear rheology, and then comparing the rheological data obtained to rheological data ranges of commercially acceptable chewing gum. The nonlinear rheology can include large amplitude oscillatory shear test, start-up of steady uniaxial extension test, and uniaxial compression test (lubricated or unlubricated) and relaxation.
