Mintia
I am not a big fan of mints. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy mint flavoured things. I just don’t enjoy mints. You know, those things that come in a weird chalky form and are supposed to make your breath feel fresh, when really all they do is barely mask that awful problem, never really solving the underlying issue at hand.
Ironic then, that chocolate mint is one of my favourite combinations. I bring this all up because during my trip to Japan I decided to move out of comfort zone and try buying some mints. I figured what better way than to try Mintia, a well established brand of mints by Asahi. Yes that Asahi, the ones that are probably most famous for their beer. Like many other Japanese conglomerates, they do a lot of other things. A LOT. But for the purpose of today we will focus on their line of mints. Random thought – if they can do xylitol cooling sodas and ice teas, why can’t they do that for beers and coolers?
Perhaps not immediately obvious, but my disdain for mints has led me to get lazy and simply review four different varieties of Mintia at once, instead of putting in the usual effort of painstakingly reviewing each and every flavour. I just don’t foresee myself liking them that much. If I do, then maybe going forward I’ll do them as separate reviews. But for now, let’s some general observations.
These mints comes in a very nice, slim, compact rectangular shape. The mints themselves are quite small, and would have to be on account of each pack containing 50 mints. They remind of Tic Tacs, but only in the sense that the opening has a very clever design that will only allow you to get one piece at a time. You can tell a lot of thought went into the packaging, and it’s great for getting just one mint without having to worry about spillages or unhygienic handling. They are all a very small, round tablet sized mints. Each one gives off a strong aroma, so I’m guessing they pack a punch too.
Starting off with the Aroma Mint – this one is a mix of various citrus fruits. I can’t really tell you with more than 80% confidence what the various citrus fruits are. What I can surmise is that it contains a slight hint of grapefruit and the typical lemon flavour. It certainly lives up to it’s name, and is indeed quite aromatic. It’s got a strong citrus peel flavour going, which is actually quite refreshing. It has a strong flavour throughout, and it doesn’t leave any burning aftertaste in my mouth, the way a lot of citrus candies do. You know, that slight burn in your mouth from the citric acid. I like these. They don’t remind me at all of cleaning product, which is kind of a big deal for me when consuming something.
Jasmine mint seems pretty self-explanatory, right? It definitely smells like jasmine, but with an extra minty after bite. The immediate flavour of these is definitely jasmine, but the jasmine quickly gives way to a strong mint flavour. Don’t get me wrong, it’s refreshing, but I was hoping for a stronger jasmine flavour. The jasmine is kind of the low confidence guy in the checkout line with 12 items, and the mint is that lady with two items who cuts in front of him saying that it’s just more efficient use of everyone’s time for her to go first. Sadly, she lied to him and her husband now joins in the line with her with a cart of at least 26 items. So poor jasmine doesn’t really get a chance to shine. It’s just mint and her exploitative husband taking the front stage. This one is kind of disappointing, but if sold as just mint with a slight hint of jasmine, it still works.
Chocomint is well….chocolate and mint. I feel like I’ve said this before, but chocolate mint seems to be a very polarizing flavour (pun totally intended). I personally love almost all things chocolate mint. Even those chocolate mint Oreo’s that so many people claim taste like toothpaste. I love it. The pieces even remind me of chocolate mint. They have a slight greenish hue to them, with smell flecks of brown which I assume are chocolate flavouring. This one is surprisingly tasty. The ratio of mint to chocolate is more in favour of chocolate, which makes this a little more rich in flavour than refreshing. It reminds me more of an ice cream than anything, which is what I’m down for. This one is also a winner. The only downside is these won’t make you feel any better on a hot summer day.
Not gonna lie, I’m most excited about this grape flavour. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that most confectionery companies really nail grape flavours in Japan. Based on how these smell, I doubt this will be the exception. These ones are slightly purple, and not much to look at, but boy do they have a strong aroma. I try to temper my expectations as I pop one in my mouth, but that goes out the window pretty quickly. These are by far the highlight of the four. These are wonderfully tasty, and nail the grape taste. They are surprisingly refreshing, and are more like a sugar free candy than any type of refreshing mint of any kind. But I’m fine with that because of how good these are. These are what PEZ should taste like. How do the Japanese keep doing this?!
As is customary in reviews with more than one flavour or product, I must do my due diligence and provide a ranking for you lazy bums who don’t want to read my rants:
- Grape
- Aroma Mint
- Chocomint
- Jasmine Mint
It should come as no surprise what my favourite and least favourite ones are. Chocomint and Aroma Mint were fairly close, but I had to give it to Aroma Mint for being more unique and refreshing in an interesting way. I would recommend all four of these flavours, if I’m being honest. Even the Jasmine mint. Sure the jasmine is a bit weak, but as a mint, it’s the most refreshing one of the four. At this risk of sounding like most of my school teachers, I’m just disappointed in the failed potential. Grape and Aroma Mint are more candy than anything, but because they are sugarless and tiny, they make for a good, relatively guilt free treat in a pinch. I would consider hunting for other flavours if I go to any specialty stores.
