15 After the chicleros collect the sap, they bring it home to the village where it’s boiled and made into a sticky paste. Next is always my favorite part! My Mama, sisters and I get to help stretch, knead and mold the cooled paste into blocks called marquetas. Then our village sells the blocks to gum makers all over the world. *Today most gum base is synthetic (not real). It is very difficult to find gum made with natural chicle.