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Girl Scouts First Sold Thin Mint Cookies In 1953

Recognized by the US National Confectioners Association, National Chocolate Mint Day is observed annually across the nation on February 19th. This holiday has been set aside for all the chocolate mint lovers to eat their favorite treats all day long.

  • In the mid-1800s inventions and improvements in processes made it possible for confectioners to begin mass-producing chocolates. Even then, small candy shops served a local public.
  • Advertisements for mint chocolates, or chocolate mints, did not start showing up in newspapers until the turn of the century.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association states that mint chocolate chip is the 10th most popular flavor of ice cream.
  • One of the earliest mass-producers of chocolate mints was Huyler’s in New York. Their chain of stores spread across the country.
  • Girl Scouts first sold Thin Mint cookies in 1953 and are still their most popular cookie.
  • Thin Mints account for over 25% of the annual Girl Scout cookie sales.
  • Mint chocolate is also the name of an herb with edible leaves that tastes like chocolate and mint.
  • The ancient Greeks and Romans valued mint for its ability to aid in digestion, freshen one’s breath, and was used in many different kinds of foods.
  • This aromatic herb, however, combined with chocolate didn’t truly become a popular concept until York peppermint patties came to be during the 1920s.
  • In tea houses and dinner halls of the early 1900’s mint sprigs and dark chocolates served after desserts for patrons to ‘chew for good breath and aid digestion.
  • Andes chocolate mints, created in 1921, have little to do with the Andes mountains. They were once called “Andy’s Candies”  but the owner ‘found that men did not like giving boxes of candies with another man’s name on them to their wives and girlfriends’ so he changed the name.
  • Frango Mints, perhaps the first chocolate mints, were first patented in 1918. They were sold in tea houses and sold frozen to emphasize the sharp mint flavor.
  • Ancient Greeks believed mint could cure hiccups.
  • Peppermint is the number 1 selling flavor among non-chocolate, hard candies.
  • The most common mint flavors are peppermint and spearmint, but there are more than 20 types of mints growing around the world.
  • Mint’s essential oils are used in perfume, cosmetics, air fresheners, drink flavorings, candies and medications.
  • The US produces 70% of the Worlds peppermint and spearmint,
  • Mint gets its name from Menthe a Greek mythical character
  • Ancient Hebrews used to scatter mint over the synagogue floor for its scent
  • Mexicans call mint Yerba Bueno or good herb
  • Mint has been found in Egyptian tombs from as far back as 1000 BC!
  • The health benefits of mint include improved digestion, weight loss, relief from nausea, depression, fatigue, and headache. It is also used in the treatment of asthma, memory loss, and skin care problems.
  • In 1973, a culinary student, Marilyn Ricketts invents mint chocolate chip ice cream at South Devon College in the UK.
  • Junior mints are a popular choice with movie theater patrons.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Days of the Year

Foodimentary

Jamie Geller

American Spice

Always the Holidays