Mentos

Mentos is a brand of prepackaged scotch mints sold in many markets across the world by the Perfetti Van Melle corporation. Perfetti Van Melle is an Italian-Dutch multinational manufacturer of confectionery and gum. Mentos was first produced in the Netherlands in 1948 and is known for its unique cylindrical shape and the many flavors it comes in.

History

The Mentos brand was first established in the Netherlands in 1948 by brothers Piet Van Melle and Michael Van Melle. The original flavor was mint, but the range has since expanded to include many other flavors. The brand was introduced to the United States in 1979 and has since become a popular candy worldwide.

Product

Mentos candies are sold in a distinctive resealable packaging, which is cylindrical in shape. Each package contains 14 pieces of the candy. The candies themselves are small, oblate spheroids, with a slightly hard exterior and a soft, chewy interior.

Mentos are available in several flavors including mint, mixed fruit, cola, and others. In addition to the standard flavors, there are also 'Sour', 'Air Action', 'Sugar-Free', and 'Chewing Gum' varieties of Mentos available in some countries.

Mentos and Diet Coke phenomenon

Mentos is well known for the Diet Coke and Mentos eruption phenomenon. When a Mentos candy is dropped into a bottle of any carbonated soft drink, it creates a geyser-like eruption, the cause of which is nucleation sites found on the candy reacting with the carbon dioxide in the soda.

See also

• List of confectionery brands
• Perfetti Van Melle
• Diet Coke and Mentos eruption