What are your favorite mints?

August 8, 2024 8:59 AM

I am in search of interesting mints to enjoy. What are your favorite breath/candy mints and what do you like about them? Hard, melty, chalky, chewy, whatever; as long as it's something outside what is offered at a standard American gas station. Bonus if they're available online.
posted by RisforKickin to Food & Drink (34 answers total)

Jesmona Black Bullets. Hard, long lasting.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 9:02 AM on August 8

Soft peppermint candies are sometimes called sweet stripes. They are closer to a butter mint than to a starlight mint. They are crunchy and a little chalky, but softer than a candy heart.
posted by soelo at 9:04 AM on August 8 [6 favorites]

Are Jesmona Black Bullets peppermint, or the softer spearmint?
posted by wenestvedt at 9:08 AM on August 8

I'm addicted to the chai mints at Trader Joe's.
posted by mykescipark at 9:13 AM on August 8 [3 favorites]

For texture and 19th century German song references: Mentos

For strength: Altoids

For summer: frozen After Eights

(I am not currently in the same country as Peppermint Patties and Junior Mints, but I would be intrigued to try freezing those)
posted by Pallas Athena at 9:28 AM on August 8 [2 favorites]

I could eat mentos for lunch
Edit: my reading comprehension is for the dogs. I read as something you can find at a gas station - whoops!

Also: TJs green tea mints
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:40 AM on August 8

I like the Dutch kind called King Pepermunt. Chalky, come in a paper tube.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:42 AM on August 8 [2 favorites]

Les Anis De Flavigny
posted by HearHere at 9:43 AM on August 8

I don't know if herbal/licorice flavor counts for you as "mints", but I really like Pullmol lozenges. One amazon listing described them as "Classic Lozenges-Bonbons Pastille Drops with Honey and Menthol" (but also licorice).
posted by leahwrenn at 9:44 AM on August 8

Kendal Mint Cake is a primitive, but charming, mint from northern England that I got semi-addicted to while hiking in Cumbria.
posted by niicholas at 9:46 AM on August 8 [3 favorites]

I'm addicted to the chai mints at Trader Joe's.

I also came to say the TJ's chai mints.
posted by phunniemee at 9:51 AM on August 8

Choward's anything but particularly the Violet mints.

Fazermints and Marianne (in toffee and chocolate, I prefer the chocolate.)

I'll be back later with more.
posted by ApathyGirl at 10:40 AM on August 8 [3 favorites]

Manhattan chewy soft mints..yummy.
posted by SarahSarah at 10:48 AM on August 8

Seconding the Trader Joe's chai mints. The green tea ones are good too, and the little tins are very useful once they're empty!
posted by maryellenreads at 10:55 AM on August 8

Wenestvedt: Black Bullets are peppermint.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 11:02 AM on August 8 [1 favorite]

Meyer lemon Simply Mints
posted by box at 11:04 AM on August 8

Also there are many many flavours of Leone pastilles including polar mints. Chalky texture very small.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 11:11 AM on August 8

If Andes Crème de Menthe thins are available at my gas station, I'm there.
posted by credulous at 11:19 AM on August 8 [2 favorites]

(chalky) Trader Joe's Gingermints (or Altoids version which may be exactly the same). If you like ginger. I do try not to chew them but usually chew them.
posted by Glinn at 12:12 PM on August 8 [2 favorites]

Trebor mints are basically giant altoids, but unconscionably expensive to order in the US. They're nice and strong though.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:27 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

If you like black jellybeans and original Ricola you might like Lakerol Herb Menthol Pastilles.
posted by jocelmeow at 12:40 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

See's Peppermint Twists have been popular with my dinner guests who wanted a sweet but not a dessert. Wouldn't carry them in my purse tho.
posted by beaning at 12:45 PM on August 8 [2 favorites]

I have no idea if you can find them outside of northern Europe, but I quite like the Dutch "chalk" licorice, which is a hard mint candy shell surrounding a salty black licorice. (The piece look like a stick of chalk, hence the name.) The combination of mint and salty anise is a real kicker.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:49 PM on August 8 [2 favorites]

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls - keep you all aglow!

Pros: the loveliest mint, good old fashioned cooked sugar flavour with just enough irregularity in the peppermint level of each candy to be super charming. Excellent mouthfeel

Cons: may not be available outside of the UK
posted by cabbage raccoon at 2:00 PM on August 8 [4 favorites]

I really loved these "Mint Lentils". Nice to have a bit of a mint and more of a eat-it-and-done than the hard sugar mints.

I also really loved Simply Mints.

Now, I can no longer have sugar and have been using Risewell a-HA Mints. No idea about the health claims but they are kinda chewy in a weird/good way and do make my mouth feel "clean".
posted by miscbuff at 2:13 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

Trader Joe's mini choco covered mint patties. Above the freezer where the candy is.
posted by bookworm4125 at 2:37 PM on August 8

The Dutch chalk licorice is called "Schoolkrijt". It's easy to find in larger cities in the USA. Look for European food stores. For example, in San Francisco, Lehr's German Specialties have them. Schoolkrijt is wonderful.
posted by blob at 2:59 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

I love love love Lifesaver Orange Mints

They taste intensely orange, not at all minty. Sometimes you get a crumbly one which is divine. You can find them at Target and most drug stores, individually wrapped inside the bag.
posted by Kangaroo at 3:20 PM on August 8 [2 favorites]

Altoid Smalls: sorbitol/magnesium stearate free; very minty and small, sugarfree, Don't leave them in a hot car.

Fisherman's Friends: Menthol/eucalyptol/capsaicin; ridiculously strong menthol, very hard, physically durable, also sugarfree.
posted by the Real Dan at 4:24 PM on August 8

Seconding the Fisherman's Friend recommendation. They're sold as cough drops in Canada and pack enough of a punch to be pretty effective without any medicated ingredients. I love em!
posted by peppermind at 4:40 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

Trebor extra strong mints are chalky and potent.

And I have to throw in Mr Soft here, it's a legal requirement. I believe softmints are still a thing - chewy, obviously.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 12:45 AM on August 9

Actually, you need to know about fox's glacier mints too. Not super strong, more on the sweet side, and crunchy. If anyone you know is flying from the UK anytime soon they're common airport fodder.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 12:48 AM on August 9

Wilhelmina. Chalky, but not too potent. Very addictive and cutely packaged.
posted by Dotty at 5:56 AM on August 9 [1 favorite]

GInger mints. These are available at whole foods and other usual places. Delicious!
posted by bluesky43 at 6:30 AM on August 9