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- This article is about the candy. See Mint (disambiguation) for other meanings.
A mint is a candy characterized by the presence of mint flavoring or real mint oil, whether it be peppermint oil, spearmint oil, or another natural or artificial source. Wintergreen and other oils or flavors are frequently used in mints, however they are not of the mint (mentha) family or botanical class. 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 Meltzer's Puremints, Altoids 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. 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 FDA, however, does not acknowledge this effect. Soft mints, such as "dinner mints" and "butter mints", are soft candies with a higher butter content, that dissolve more readily in ones mouth. An example of a soft mint is Mentos. A "mint imperial" is a small, round, white confection popular in Britain and other Commonwealth nations. Older examples were spheroid; more recently fashion has moved towards a larger, discoid shape, somewhat akin to a flattened flying saucer. Candy canes are traditionally peppermint flavored.
References
- Blumenthal, et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs First Edition 1998 American Botanical Council, USA.
- Phytomedicine. 2005 Aug;12(8):612-6.Links. Pharmacology and preclinical pharmacokinetics of peppermint oil.Grigoleit HG, Grigoleit P.
- http://herbalmusings.com/Peppermint.htm
- http://www.rd.com/content/stomach-soothers/
