Mentos is famous for two completely different reasons: it's a genuinely popular chewy mint in its own right, and it's the candy behind the internet's favourite fizzy-drink science experiment. Both are why people keep searching for it.
A Dutch mint with a 90-year history
Mentos was created in the Netherlands by the Van Melle company, launching in 1932. It's now owned by Perfetti Van Melle, one of the largest confectionery groups in the world, and the chewy-shelled, mint-centred format has stayed recognisably the same for decades — a firm outer shell over a softer chewy centre, sold in the distinctive roll pack.
"The Freshmaker" and the Diet Coke geyser
Mentos built its reputation in the UK and US around the "Mentos: the Freshmaker" advertising campaign, but it picked up a second life in the 2000s when people discovered that dropping several Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke triggers a dramatic, fast-erupting fountain. The reaction is physical, not chemical — the mint's surface texture rapidly releases the carbon dioxide already dissolved in the drink — but the resulting videos turned it into one of the most widely recognised food-science demonstrations online.
What we actually stock right now
We don't currently stock Mentos directly. If it's a chewy or hard mint you're after, we do carry Polo Original Mint Tube 34g, which is in stock now, and Bonds Mint Imperials Bag 105g, also in stock. Neither has the same chewy shell as Mentos, but both are genuinely available roll/bag-format mints if you need something today rather than a specific brand.
FAQ
Is the Mentos and Diet Coke reaction dangerous?
It's a physical reaction — rapid release of dissolved carbon dioxide — rather than a chemical one, but it happens fast and with real force, so it should only ever be done outdoors and away from anyone's face.
Where does Mentos come from?
The Netherlands. It was launched by Van Melle in 1932 and is now made by Perfetti Van Melle, a major international confectionery company.
Does Supreme Sweets sell Mentos?
Not at the moment, no. We're not going to list it as available when it isn't — we do stock other mints, including Polo Original mint tubes, which are in stock now.
What's a good substitute for Mentos if you're after a strong mint?
Polo Original Mint Tube is our closest in-stock option for a classic hard mint, and Bonds Mint Imperials work well if you want a bigger bag rather than a tube.