Creating Willy Wonka's Multi-Course Gum

The gum that got Violet Beauregarde into so much trouble in Willy Wonka's factory could soon be a reality. Picking up the research where Willy Wonka and his team of Oompa Loompas left off is Professor Dave Hart, who is looking to recreate the same kind of multi-course flavor phenomenon as Wonka’s gum – without, of course, creating a human blueberry at the end.

This Fortean Times article explains:

Professor Hart and his team are exploring whether nanotechnology could encapsulate and release such diverse flavours in a precisely controlled way. He has developed a process of capturing molecules of particular flavours, vitamins or living cells inside capsules before they can be incorporated into the ingredients for food; the molecules would acquire an oily shell from the capsules thus allowing them to be kept separated from other flavours. "The tomato soup capsule,” explains Hart, “would break on contact with saliva, followed by roast beef and blueberry pie in stronger structures - providing a sequential taste explosion as you chew harder".

Personally, I'm holding out for schnozberry-flavored wallpaper.