Curiously Stronger

October 23, 2009 2:16 PM

Where can I get the best (strongest) mints in the world?

I've been sucking on Altoids since forever. I'd like to change my game. Once, I was told by a friend who was working in Japan about these mints that were so strong that they made his eyes start to tear. Does this ring a bell? I know nothing more about them.

Of course I'm not limited to finding just these Japanese mints. Any other suggestions to replace my Altoids are welcome.

posted by cazoo to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

I don't know about that particular Japanese mint, but Penguin Mints are a lot of fun.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 2:21 PM on October 23, 2009

You could get an Altoid and soak it in peppermint oil. I can't imagine it would get more potent than that.

As someone who has done some extremely dumb things with essential oils and whatnot, I suggest you not do that, but it's your misery.
posted by adipocere at 2:21 PM on October 23, 2009

Best answer: I suspect he may have been talking about Dragon Soul mints, which are made by Frente, a Japanese company. Here's a review and a video of people 'enjoying' them. The video takes a little while to get going, but the effects seem unpleasant enough to match your friend's description. I'm not sure where you could get them, though.
posted by jedicus at 2:46 PM on October 23, 2009

Frisk mints are tiny but quite potent.
posted by backwards guitar at 3:03 PM on October 23, 2009

It should be worth noting that the Altoids Smalls are also significantly stronger (at least to my mouth) than the regular ones, so it might be worth giving them a taste while you search for something even more potent.
posted by quin at 3:09 PM on October 23, 2009

Awhile back someone handed me a package of Black Black mints from Japan, warning me that they were extremely strong. I of course popped two in my mouth, and almost passed out from the menthol power. People across the large conference table could smell my fresh breath.

After a quick Google search, though, I can't seem to find the exact product. It wasn't the gum pictured here, although that is the same brand.
posted by flod at 3:29 PM on October 23, 2009

In my experience, Black Black mints are about as powerful as Altoids.
posted by Nattie at 8:11 PM on October 23, 2009

I remember my best friend in grade school coming home after visiting her grandparents in Canada, and she had brought Frisk mints home with her. With wide, solemn eyes, she told me that they were illegal in the US because they'd allow you to pass a breathalyzer even if you were drunk.

I later found them in a K-Mart in Minnesota, so she was probably lying to me, but they were quite potent anyway.
posted by scarykarrey at 8:42 PM on October 23, 2009

I haven't had any in a while, but you might try the mints that Starbucks sells. I remember them as being pretty strong--to the point of almost burning my tongue if I put more than a few in my mouth at once.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 8:03 AM on October 24, 2009

I'm a big fan of King Mints. Apparently there's an extra-strong variety that I've never tried, too! http://www.candywarehouse.com/kingmints.html
posted by missmobtown at 3:37 PM on October 24, 2009

I vote for Black Black, they have candyand chewing gum. it hurts.
posted by stillhopeful at 7:12 AM on October 26, 2009