I found these simple looking Silver Mints at Giant when I was in Pennsylvania last month. The packaging is from their house brand and has no fanfare or description on the package.
What compelled me was the window on the package that showed the shape and style of these hard candies was charming - they’re little flowers, and without any artificial colors at all. In fact, the ingredients list had only three things listed: Sugar, Glucose, Peppermint Oil.
They reminded me of Brach’s Sparkles, which were a dense hard candy that was discontinued some years ago. I was hoping this was similar. Sparkles where fruity flavors (though may have had a minty version), and this Silver Mint also came in a mixed fruit version - but the garish colors turned me off in the same way that the elegant lack of color attracted me to these. (But now I regret not buying them.)
Each piece is 6 grams (.21 ounces) but felt heavy and dense compared to a Starlight Mint (which are usually about 5 grams each). They’re one inch in diameter and it seemed really large when I ate it.
The flavor is not overly sweet but very minty. There are no voids or bubbles at all, so the dissolve is exceptionally smooth. The texture is similar to a Jolly Rancher, a little tacky and not at all “crunchable.” The peppermint flavor is clean, and has little pops of intense flavor (reminding me of Reed’s hard candies). All I can say is that when I was done with the candy, I didn’t feel like I was sticky sweet, I just had a clean freshness in my mouth. I found one exceptionally satisfying, probably because I can’t chew them up, so I have to let them dissolve.
These are made in Canada, and probably exist in other store brand versions around North America. The package states that they were made in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, soy, eggs, wheat and milk. Yay, they’re shellfish free!
Note: The original posting said that these were purchased at Wegman’s. I’ve since been informed that this is a Giant house brand (I don’t remember shopping at Giant, but it’s far more likely that’s what I did than Wegman’s carrying a competitor’s generic brand).
Related Candies
- Fard Cardamom Sugar Plum
- Regennas Clear Toys
- Spangler Candy Canes
- The Apothecary’s Garden: Spices
- Goodbye Reed’s
Just in case anyone wants to get these, the item pictured is from Giant or Martins.
http://mypbrand.com/2011/06/06/giant-foods-private-brands-get-new-design/
April - thanks for the link and correction. I could have sworn I bought this at Wegman’s (I can’t remember even buying anything at Giant).
From the logo on the bag, it’s either from Giant, Stop&Shop;, or Martin’s. (They once each had their own logo but the parent company has migrated to a shared logo.)
The little logo on the bag right above the word Silver Mints, is a Stop and Shop logo
The logo on the bag looks like Stop N Shop’s new fugly logo. Possibly owned by the same company?
That’s the logo we have for the Giant stores here in Maryland (I shop at one weekly!). I’m pretty sure it’s the same overall company in MD/VA/DC and PA.
They seem a bit like Fox’s Glacier Mints - in terms of what they be, all clear and smooth and superhard and minty, rather than shape. There also exists Fox’s Glacier Fruits, which you might like.
Where can I get these from
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