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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Trader Joe’s English Soft Peppermints
The back of the package didn’t tell me much more except that they were actually a product of The Netherlands (and not English as the name may have led me to believe). The ingredients were pretty simple: Sugar, Cream of Tartar and Natural Peppermint Oil. What what manner of soft mint were they? Open the package and it’s clear. They’re pillow mints. Lovely, king sized pillow mints (not those domestic throw pillow mints you get at the drug store!). They smell of sweet peppermint and at first as light and cool on the tongue. Then the blistering peppermint kicks in. It’s like the word “English” is code for"Altoid” or something. I enjoy pillow mints and their Butter Mint brethren, but the intensity of these doesn’t make for popping them one after the other very pleasant. Perhaps that’s a good thing, I could learn a little self control through negative feedback behavior modification. With fresh breath as a side effect whether I’ve learned anything or not. As a breath mint, these are fine and dandy. As a candy, they’re not quite munchable. Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 9:14 am
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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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INEDIBLE 
Have you tried the TJ’s peppermint marshmallows? We just got some yesterday and they’re soooo good.
I wish I had access to a Trader Joe’s!
Like you, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I brought these home, but with the name “soft peppermints” I had to find out. I ended up really enjoying them; they reminded me of the after-dinner mints that steak houses used to provide in jars near the register. Mine didn’t have quite the “Altoid” kick yours did, but the peppermint flavor was nonetheless quite aromatic. A definite winner in my book!
I’ve been trying to find good peppermint candy this holiday but have found very little. Usually the boxes of candy canes at the grocery store are appealing looking and fairly satisfying but this year all I seem to find is super-generic discount canes that are more pink-and-white than the classic red-and-white I’ve come to expect.
I found a box of King Leo peppermints that are a described as “soft peppermints” and were almost what I was hoping to find except for a slight chalky aftertaste.
Any recommendation for good peppermint candy canes or sticks? Thanks!
I also enjoyed the Trader Joe Soft Peppermints and yesterday went to buy another tin and they don’t have them anymore. I have had this problem with Trader Joes more than once. They seem to carry new items only briefly. It is very frustrating.
I had previously purchased a similar product under a different name from England/Netherlands. But the store stopped carrying it, said company no longer making product. Then “voila”, found the same product “soft peppermints” at Trader Joe’s. Needless to say I bought a bunch, they are so gooooooood!!! But like some of you, when I went back again, they were all out. They carry them sort of in a hit-miss way. Wish they would keep it stocked all the time. Yum-Yum
I love these peppermints. The problem is that my Trader Joe’s keeps shifting them around or hiding them or just doesn’t stock them all the time.
I wish that we could purchase some items on-line and get TJ’s to ship them to us.
no trader joe’s carrys these peppermints [why not]
I asked at my Trader Joe’s, and they said the peppermints were “seasonal.”
Does anyone know the manufacturer of the TJ’s Soft English Peppermints? Maybe you could order directly through the manufacturer?
Oh WOE IS ME! and my mother!
TJ is no longer carrying the Soft English Peppermints in the blue tin!!!
Does anyone have something to recommend as a replacement?
Advance thanks to all who reply.
:o)
S
I put in a request at Trader Joe’s.com to find out who their manufacturer is/was.
yes, I did put in a request about a month ago. I happened to talk to an employee who was also a fan of the mints (she had hoarded her last can, eating only one at a time for MONTHS!!!”
“...I said I would get back to you with any info regarding the soft mints. Unfortunately I was only able to find out that we cannot reveal the source due to our on going business with them. I hope you find another just as good…as I recall you like to send them to your mother a few at a time what a great way to share and keep in touch…”
Waaaahhhhh!! I want my soft English mints!!! I should have bought a whole bunch the last time I saw them. I am so disappointed, an employee at the new TJs told me they are no longer carrying them because they didn’t sell. I still hope she was just making that up. I would buy them direct from the manufacturer as well, why do you do this to us Trader Joe’s? Addict us to good stuff and then it’s gone!
I am down to my last tin of Trader Joe’s soft peppermints!! Does anyone have knowledge of a recipe that could achieve similar results? Only three ingredients!! Come on, we can do it!!
Remind me, what are the three ingredients?
I will join you in figuring out a recipe. There really are four ingredients - let’s face it - the “blue tin” adds to the flavor!
Oops, I just re-read the top text:
The ingredients were pretty simple: Sugar, Cream of Tartar and Natural Peppermint Oil.
I will add it to my list of “ongoing search for the perfect recipe”.
Shall we post our attempts here?
S
Here are some, no indication they will be soft melt in your mouth. Similar ingredients are in Candy Canes.
POURED MINTS FROM SCRATCH
2 cups granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 cups boiling water
Flavoring desired (Peppermint)
1 1/2 quart sauce pan
Candy Thermometer
.
Butter the sides of your saucepan. Mix all ingredients. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Cook without stirring to soft ball stage (238°). Pour onto a platter or shiny cookie sheet with sides. DO NOT SCRAPE SAUCEPAN. Cool mixture until only slightly warm (about 30 minutes). With a spatula or wooden spoon, scrape fondant mixture from the edge of platter toward the center. Gradually the fondant mixture will turn stiff and white. Knead until free of lumps. Wrap and place in covered container. Allow to ripen 24 to 48 hours. Add coloring, roll in to small ball to fit mold shape. Dip front half in granulated sugar, press sugar side in mold shape and flex out of mold.
Mint Creams
> Hi, I’m searching for a recipe for a very simple candy, but I don’t
> know the name of the candy, so it’s hard to find a recipe. The candy
> is usually found at Christmas time in shapes like bells, wreaths,
> trees, etc. and my or may not be decorated with the kind of icing
> that turns hard. The candy may be white, green or red, but always
> is peppermint flavored. It looks sugary outside, but melts on the
> tongue to an almost creamy consistency. The ingredients are sugar,
> dried egg whites, oil of peppermint and food coloring, if desired.
> Can you help?
> Sincerely,
> CKay
Hi CKay,
Well, your persistence is rewarded. Below are two recipes for “mint creams.”
Phaed
Mint Creams
Makes about 20
Cute and colourful mint creams to adorn your Christmas table
Ingredients:
1 tsp. peppermint essence (oil)
1 egg white
8 oz. (225g) icing sugar (powdered sugar)
red and green food colouring
Cooking Instructions:
Gradually fold in the egg white into 6 oz. of the icing sugar until stiff
Add the rest of the icing sugar and the peppermint essence then knead to
form a stiff paste
Divide the paste into three pieces, adding red colouring to one, green
colouring to a second and leaving the third piece plain
Lightly dust a work surface with icing sugar then roll out each piece of
paste to a thickness of about a quarter of an inch (5mm)
Cut into one and a half inch (3.5cm) rounds with a round or fluted biscuit
cutter transfer to a sheet of greaseproof paper and leave overnight
————————————————-
Peppermint creams
Ingredients:
1 egg white
3 cups of icing sugar
1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
Whisk the egg white until frothy. Stir in the icing sugar and peppermint
extract.
Make the dough like mixture into little balls and place on a greaseproof
tray. Press the balls flat. Best left overnight.
*you can add colouring to the mixture to make coloured mint creams
The following website has two recipes right after each other about making mints and making dark chocolate peppermint creams:
http://www.naturesgift.com/hints-recipes.htm#Party-Mints
These look promising, thanks!
What is it that makes some cookies “soft” and others hard?
Can we do this? “yes, we can!”
I am guessing, based on my limited candy making experience of peanut brittle (also uses cream of tartar), taffy and cornballs, the hard/soft is a combination of how high a temperture the cooked mixture reaches and how much cream of tartar is used. My guess is lower on the former, higher on the latter.
S
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