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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Spearmint Leaves
Spearmint Leaves are such a simple candy. A firm jelly molded in the shape of a mint leaf and flavored with spearmint oil (or a reasonable facsimile). I don’t how long they’ve been around (earliest mention on Google’s news archive is 1928). There’s no fantastical tale of their historical debut at any World’s Fair or even a county fair. They’re probably just a novelty shape of a traditional spice gumdrop. I don’t know who invented them or even who makes the best ones. Even passably good ones are good enough for me. They’re sold without any fancy brand names, simply Spearmint Leaves. You can get them in bulk, in tubs at the office supply stores or in peg bags at the drug stores.
I picked up my package of Walgreen branded Spearmint Leaves from their 99 cent peg bag selection. I usually look for bags that appear dry and the candies move around easily but that the candies also have a little give when squeezed. Too much moisture is an enemy of jelly candies. It makes the granulated sugar coating sticky and allows their qi to leak out.
I picked a good bag. The color is rather light and oddly on the blue side. The shape of the leaf is a bit narrower at the top than the bottom and has a nice point to it on the end with a little stem. So the molding is nice. The granular sugar coating is good - there’s enough to keep them from sticking but not so much as to overpower the flavor. The texture inside is smooth. It’s not sticky (at least not as sticky as Dots) and not too sweet. The spearmint notes are dead on - aromatic and kind of sparkly. There are small spots where the spearmint flavor really tingles to the forefront. It’s a fresh feeling, but not like eating a mint. I can eat a whole bag if I don’t control myself. They’re even still good when stale and a bit tacky. I know they’re not the sexiest, hippest candy but to be around this long without any sort of marketing support is a testament to their excellence. Other big candy companies that make Spearmint Leaves are Brach’s & Farley’s and probably others, if you have a favorite, please let me know. It’d be nice to find a company that makes all natural ones (which really shouldn’t be that hard to do) - the closest I’ve come are the fruit flavored gourmet Gum Drops from Whole Foods. This package isn’t marked Kosher and it says that it’s a product of Canada & USA (I can’t quite figure that one out). They are marked Gluten-Free. (And are probably also considered vegan.) They’re also silly-cheap, so it’s a low risk sort of thing. Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 3:03 pm
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICEAll content (text and photos unless otherwise credited) is copyright 2005-2009 by Cybele MayPlease do not use my photos without prior permission directly from me, they represent what I ate in preparation for these reviews and are not to be used for other purposes. Design by Hop Studios & powered by Expression Engine
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Spearmint Leaves are a comfort food. I am fifty-one and can remember buying bags of Brachs at the grocery store. I also hope they are around for the next million years.
Wow - I’m surprised how different these are to the spearmint leaves we get in Australia. Ours are a lot flatter, more teardrop-shaped, and of a less lurid green colour.
I had forgotten all about these. Thanks for the reminder and I will look for them the next time I go to the store.
I think I could read your blog all day, every day. It’s probably my favorite blog ever. All the other blogs I read are scrapbooking blogs. LOL.
Anywho, loved this review, and now I really want to go out and get myself a bag of these.
That article on qi is really interesting.
I picked these up after your post. You’re right, these are kind of fun. Honestly, I never buy private label as I must admit a bias against them. These weren’t bad!
Such grandma memories, when I think of Spearmint leaves and starlight mints.
I used to love these as a kid!
Dear Cybele - I’m late getting to these spearmint leaves since your posting but I’ve been avoiding them because I assumed they had gelatin in them What are some of the thickeners other than pectin, that are not animal based? Eva
Heh, spearmint leaves. I remember the first time I bit into one and promptly spit it out. Not my cup of tea, I’m afraid, but they’re pretty!
I work in a candy store and I remember when we carried the Spearmint Leaves. My…those were quite the seller. We’re still getting requests for them. It’s a shame we can’t get a hold of them anymore…
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