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Mint (candy)
Encyclopedia
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
(sweet in British English) characterized by the presence of mint
Mentha
Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...
flavoring or real mint oil, whether it be peppermint
Peppermint
Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...
oil, spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata syn. M. cordifolia is a species of mint native to much of Europe and southwest Asia, though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils...
oil, or another natural or artificial source. Wintergreen
Wintergreen
Wintergreen is a group of plants. Wintergreen once commonly referred to plants that continue photosynthesis throughout the winter...
and other oils or flavors are also frequently used in mints; however, these are not of the mint (mentha) family or botanical class.
Hard mints
Hard mints, often called "breath mints", are popular as breath fresheners since the taste and smell of mint oil and its active components are quite strong and feels clean and cool to the mouth as well as soothing to the stomach. Examples of hard mints include AltoidsAltoids
-Flavors and varieties:-Mints:Altoids mints are available in eight flavors: peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon, ginger, liquorice, crème de menthe and cool honey. "Sugar-Free Smalls", tiny square mints sweetened with sorbitol and sucralose, are also available in peppermint, wintergreen,...
and Tic Tacs. In addition to breath freshening, mints that actually contain peppermint oil or extract have been popular in helping with digestion after a meal. Peppermint has muscle relaxant
Muscle relaxant
A muscle relaxant is a drug which affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone. It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and hyperreflexia. The term "muscle relaxant" is used to refer to two major therapeutic groups: neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics...
properties and therefore may relax the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the contents of the stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
to move upwards into the esophagus
Esophagus
The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
. Peppermint also seems to be effective in relieving intestinal gas and indigestion. According to the German Commission E Monograph, real peppermint oil or extract has been used for cramp-like complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. This can help to explain why mints with real peppermint oil, in addition to peppermint tea, have been popular for and are frequently used after meals to help with digestion as well as to help freshen the breath. The mint flavoring is also connected with learning or subsequent recall, it has been shown to lead to context-dependent effects because of the sucking on mint candy, or the chewing of mint gum. The FDA, however, does not acknowledge this effect.
Candy cane
Candy cane
A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint or cinnamon; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and may be decorated with stripes of different colors and thicknesses...
s are traditionally peppermint flavored.
Soft mints
Soft mints, such as "dinner mints" and "butter mints", are soft candies with a higher butterButter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
content, that dissolve more readily in one's mouth.
Scotch mints
A "mint imperial", "scotch mint" or "Pan Drop" is a white round candy with a hard shell but a fairly soft chewy center, popular in Britain and other CommonwealthCommonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
nations. The scotch mint and other candies were spheroid, more recently moving toward a larger, discoid shape. (The Van Melle
Perfetti Van Melle
Perfetti Van Melle is a privately held Italian global manufacturer of confectionery and gum. It was formed in 2001 with the acquisition of Van Melle of the Netherlands, by the Italian group Perfetti of Italy and having its corporate headquarters in Lainate , Italy.Perfetti Van Melle bills itself...
company markets such scotch mints as Mentos
Mentos
Mentos is a brand of mints, of the "scotch mint" type, sold in many markets across the world by the Perfetti Van Melle corporation. Mentos was first produced in the Netherlands during the 1950s. The mints are small oblate spheroids, with a slightly hard exterior and a soft, chewy interior...
candies.) The name "scotch mint" comes from the specific mint plant Mentha × gracilis
Mentha × gracilis
The mint hybrid Mentha × gracilis is known by the common names of gingermint, redmint and Scotchmint. It is a mint species within the genus Mentha. Gingermint is a hybrid between Mentha arvensis and Mentha spicata....
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Gallery
Further reading
- Blumenthal, et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs First Edition 1998 American Botanical Council, USA.