Looking for the name of a candy

I just stumbled into this forum as a result of Googling and searching for "mints". My wife and I were, just yesterday, talking about these mints. We used to get them for my grandfather back in the 70s. We got them at SHILLITO'S in Cincinnati. They had them at all the candy counters... as long as they had the candy counters. They have gone the way of in store tea rooms and restaurants ... helpful clerks ... things cooked in lard ... all the good things, But, I digress.... they were about the size of a half dollar and probably less than 1/4" thick ... several colors ... they did have ridges or grooves in them ... you didn't have to chew ... they just melted ... ahg, the good old days!!!

I would really like to find the real thing or a recipe for them. Has anyone tried any recipes? I'm not so much interested in "something like" as in the real deal.

I don't think Shillito's had an exclusive on them, but they probably did make them in their own kitchen ... at least in the earlier days.

I'll keep watching

thanks

Oh Jack1104 how great you remember "the REAL thing"! Those are exactly what I was talking about. It's the ridges I remember and the 5 colors with each being different in flavor!

You probably don't remember anyone who used to work for that store do you? If so, maybe you could track down who made them. Are you saying you think they were made on site or were they brought in and sold like I remember.

Afraid I go back a few centuries more then you do, because I remember these in Virginia in the late 50's and 60's.

BTW did you happen to see RubyRose's recipe for the MerryMints?


Thanks so much for your input! Really interesting and please keep us posted if you find out anything else.

Delamere

Can we all agree that the "real thing":
1) had ridges only on one side and were smooth on the other side?
2) Colors and flavors were: white-peppermint, pink-wintergreen, green-spearmint, yellow-lemon, orange-orange (all colors were pastel shades)?
3) did not have sugar cystals sprinkled on them like french creams, although the consistency of the interior was similar?
4) were about the size of a half-dollar?
5) came in a box about 9 inches long with white corrugated paper on the bottom of the inside of the box?
6) are not any of the ones currently made with colored mint-flavored waxy white chocolate?

Jack, I am working on perfecting the recipe I posted on page 2 and need to get the little bottles of flavored oils instead of extracts to get the correct flavors to match the colors.

(Edited to add that they were pastel colors)

Hmmmmmm I don't know, RubyRose---LOL! Yup think you've summed it up very well. Certainly makes it a lot easier when all the characteristics are in an orderly list. Thanks for doing it.

Delamere

Nope, not them. The nes Delemere was talking about were a pastel color. . . the "dried icing" description described the texture. . . grooves on the back.
My g'mother always kept what we thought were "fine" candies and they were one of them. . . along with chocolate covered thin mints, Whitman Sampler chocolates. . .

Hi SouthHillbilly,

Thanks for your input. Not sure who you're addressing your comment to, but RubyRose just posted a list and in it she mentions the colors (all pastels) and flavors. Do you not remember them this way?

Delamere

FYI. Here in California Meltaways came in a cardboard tub and were sold by the Charles' Chips guy. They were/are wonderful. Only sold in winter months.

Hi RedPatti,

Really! Wonder how to get them. We're on the northern coast of California by Mendocino, and I haven't seen them up here that I can remember, but that doesn't mean anything, I just may have overlooked them. Are they the different flavors also?

Delamere

Hi, Delamere!
I want you to know that, I, too, have been exhausting a search for these "merrimints". They bring back such fond memories, and tasted really really good!

I guarantee that we will find someone who does or someone who will make these. The more interest we show, the better the market will be for them.

Good luck, and keep us posted!
Daisy

Delamere!

I wrote to Heberts Candy Store in Shrewsbury, Ma yesterday, and they emailed me back today, and said that they have ALWAYS made the merrimints! They only have a shelf life of 2 weeks, but they will ship them!Hi Denice,



"Guess what, we have always made these mints. We have Pastel, just like you describe, and Pink Sandwich Mints that have a chocolate center. The shelf life of these candies is very short (2 weeks) due to the fact that we use no preservatives and that we use pure sugar.



We can ship them to you. Just call in an order to our sales floor, 888 476-6467 x243.



I’ll look into Roadfood.com and I’ll ask my web-site designer to add them to the site.



Thanks for thinking of Hebert Candies!



Pete Perkins

President"
So, I am going to call as soon as I get offline, and order some. Let's hope that these are what we are really looking for!

Good luck!
Denice

Hi Denise,

How exciting! Of course the ones with the chocolate centers aren't the original, but heck, if they're good we may buy them anyway.

Keep us posted! Good work!

Delamere

Hi, Delamere,

I called and ordered the mints today. The ones I ordered are the regular flavors (without the chocolate). The sales lady, Liz, told me that they make the original five flavors, they just call them "pastel assorted mints", have the ridges, and are made with pure sugar. We will see in a few days. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Take care, and I'll keep you posted!
Denice

Denice, thank you for your dedication to the merrimint quest and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that these are the ones.

As my grandmother used to say, this thread has been "more fun than a barrel of monkeys."

Wow how weird. I posted a reply to both Denice and Peachpie, but neither one has shown up, and now whenever I get an email notice of someone replying to this thread I get 5 of them at a time. Anyone else having problems? I wrote the webmaster twice, but haven't heard anything so far. Hope this one comes through OK.

OK, Peachpie, if this is a repeat forgive me, but as I thought I said to you, I hope we haven't oversold these candies, and we'll wait for Denice to do the taste test.

Denice. good luck and can't wait for your report!

RubyRose. Your grandmother is right this has really been a fun thread. We'll have to think of another search after this one's over.

Good Morning Catherine,

Thanks for the reply and kind words! It's really weird about the email notifications. When I just got yours there were 6 other notifications alerting me of your message. It's not just you, thought, it's happened with others on this thread. Just wish one of the "powers that be" would answer my request and give me an opinion as to what may be wrong.

Well, if you're not going to order any candy, we'll be sure to let you know bite, by bite, how good/bad it is. Just waiting for our "guinea pig", Denice to go first.

You're right, the hunt is always so much fun.

Thanks again for your reply,

Barbara "Delamere"

Hi, everyone!

I am just waiting for the candy to get here (today's Friday, should be here tomorrow latest). I can't wait!

Boy, my life is such a party!It's funny how those little candies bring back such fond memories. Mine are of my grandmother, who was raised Pennsylvania Dutch. She always wore aprons (which I now collect) and looked just like Aunt Bea!

This guinea pig will post a message as soon as she's had a bite!

Take care all,
Denice

Hi Denice,

Boy am I jealous! You mean you're not going to share will all of us? Why not just send us each one piece so we can all test them first before we buy them---LOL! Well, we're all here waiting with baited breath for your report! Make it good so we can savor each and every bite.

Your grandmother sounds wonderful! Think we all wish we had an "Aunt Bea" in our lives. Great memories, I'm sure.

Delamere

Today is Tuesday, and the candy has been shipped. I am waiting, sitting on my hands lol. As soon as I open that box I will be on with comments (although they may be muffled by eating sounds tee hee). Talk to you soon, hopefully with very good, very yummy news!

Denice

YIP, YIP, YAHOO!

Oh, Delamere....
I received my box of candies not 5 minutes ago. In that time I ate one of each color...white, green, pink, yellow, and orange...these are it!

They are just about the size of a half dollar, with checkerboard design on back instead of straight ridges, otherwise they are identical!

I called my sister, who was passing my street. She turned here, just ate them, and said BINGO!

Okay...Hebert's Candies has done it! Their phone number is:
888 476-6467 x243. The candy is less than $4.00 per box, they send it UPS ground shipping. Even though they are fragile, not one was broken.
Their web address is: http://www.hebertcandies.com and I think they take orders online. They are located in Shrewsbury, Mass.

I can't wait to hear from you and others after you've had a chance to get some! And I hope this puts a beautiful smile on your face .

Talk to you soon!
Your "minty" friend,
Denice

Denice, I feel like watching the end of the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade video. The Holy Grail has been found and I'll be ordering tomorrow. Thank you so much and thanks to Delamere for being such a gracious host to this Mintquest thread.

Roadfood means different things to different people but this seems to fit the definition at the bottom of the page: It is non-franchised, sleeves-up food made by cooks, bakers, pitmasters, and sandwich-makers who are America’s culinary folk artists.

We might have to ask Stephen to add candymakers to the above.

Dear RubyRose,

I agree, kudos go to Delamere for firing us up! I can't remember when I've had so much fun researching something, none less getting to reap some of the yummy benefits. Delamere, you're the greatest!

Can't wait to see your notes after you receive your mints. Enjoy...time to have a mint party!

Wow don't know what to say other than "Thank you" Denice for being our Guinea piglet-----and a darn good one I might add! Thank you also RubyRose for those beautifully written thoughts and kind words. It's been a pleasure. Shoot I feel like this is the end of a beautiful friendship----see the tears??

I'm going to order right after I send this. Maybe we should search for something else.....any ideas?

Thanks again everyone.....I'm off to prepare for the arrival of some fabulous old and colorful friends. Yum!

Delamere (Barbara)

Dear Barbara,
You are more than welcome! I ended up eating two of each color, and boy, there was that rich, yummy candy, sickeningly sweet, lol. I just can't believe it. You are a very good leader on this thread!
Another search? My friend asked me today to find the "10:30 candy bar". LOL! I did find it on the discontinued list, but she thinks that they may still be made. It was white chocolate with rice krispies, and orange drizzle on top.
Thank you so much, and can't wait to hear about your first bite!
Denice

Hi Denice,

Glad you wrote, cause I just went to the site and I thought I was losing it. I looked over the whole site, did a search and nothing came up. I thought ohhhhhh noooooo, and then I was too embarrassed to write you and admit I must have failed site navigation 101! Finally remembered something you wrote when you first contacted them, so I re-read your message and found the woman said she was going to talk to her webmaster about adding them to the site. Whew!

I also noticed she said they only have a shelf life of 2 weeks-------Yeah, right----as if that's going to be a problem! 2 minutes are more like it for me.

I'll call them tomorrow, and place the order. I live in California so according to their map it'll take 5 days to receive them. The sounds you'll hear will be my fingers drumming on the table top

Never heard of the "10:30 Candy Bar", and I must say, from your description, it doesn't sound that appealing to me-----I'm sure I'm wrong-----shhhhhh, don't tell your friend.

I'll write when I receive them, and in fact I'll write as I'm taking one out of the box and plopping it into my mouth.

Barbara

Barbara,
LOL about the 10:30 bar...we need to find something else to look for that we allll want to eat! Also, I cannot stop eating these darn things! I'm trying to pace myself ha ha!
Will watch for your "biting" moment when you receive them. I can't wait! Talk to you soon, Denice

Great Denice,

I'll be checking back without "subscribing" since for some reason I just got 19 notification notices to your reply---LOL! Anyway, my email is yelling at me, so forgive me if I forget to answer sometimes since I'll no longer get a message telling me someone has replied. I'll check back and also I'll let you know when I get the candy.

Barbara

Just checking in to see if anyone got their order yet...my family has finished a box, and my sister is only letting her kids have one a day! It's hysterical! What a payoff, though, all because Delamere got us fire up about our wonderful mints! Talk to you soon---Denice

Hi Denice,

Nope---believe me you'd have heard about it if I had. They told me it could take maybe 2 weeks. If I don't hear anything by next week, I'll call and see if maybe they've been eaten en route---LOL!

Thanks for checking in.

Delamere

OK gang--they arrived this afternoon. I said I was going to wait till I got on here to try them, but my husband was on the computer and I COULDN'T WAIT!

Here goes. First, some of them arrived broken, but that's OK, I didn't care. The box has the window etc, but the mints are smaller then I remember-----but then again so was I so maybe my memory is just clouded. The colors are all there, but without their divider (maybe that's why some were broken). Instead of the ridges (like Ruffles potato chips) they have a tiny waffle pattern as Denice said.

Taste was very much as I remember except maybe the "orangish" color one. I may be wrong about that though, as I said it was many moons ago so again I may have forgotten. Must confess I haven't tried the white one yet since I didn't like them years ago, and I might be putting it off. The rest were spot on I think. The ONLY complaint---if I can even refer to it as a complaint is that I think they may be a bit "chewier" then I remember. Again that's OK, but seems to me the original ones were a tad snappier--and melted quicker? These seem to be a little bit creamier then the others.

Whew finally my appetite for these things has be satisfied! Was it worth it? You bet! Met some fun people here and again Denice thanks for being our Guinea Piglet!

I'm sure I'll run into some of you on another thread, so until then----happy nibbling!

Delamere

I ordered mine but requested that they not ship until after Easter. Delamere, I bet the reason they seemed chewier and creamier was because the ones we remembered were sitting on the shelf in the grocery store for a while. Maybe we always ate them on the stale side and never had fresh ones.

Oh for heaven's sake, I never thought about that! I wonder! I know when I ordered them the woman said they didn't have a very long shelf life, so that's why I only ordered 2 boxes to begin with.

Can't wait to get your review. Hope it doesn't take as long as mine did. I live in California so that's the reason, but again it was worth the wait!

Dear Delamere,
I am so glad you got them! The pink and green ones are my favorite! It is true, these are not identical to what we had. I told my sister I thought they were smaller, but she said the same thing...we were small, too! I have a "loving" term for these mints...gagalicious! They are so sweet, they are creamy, and they have a lot of flavor.
But I am truly truly happy that your cravings have been satisfied! It was a lot of fun with you and Ruby and others looking for these things. I have started a new search...round eskimo pies that we used to get near Binghamton, NY. They were round with a hole in the middle, vanilla ice cream with chocolate coating. My dad is looking for them, too. Thank you again for so much fun, it was a delight to pull this thread! Denice

"I told my sister I thought they were smaller, but she said the same thing...we were small, too! I have a "loving" term for these mints...gagalicious! They are so sweet, they are creamy, and they have a lot of flavor."


Hi Denice,

Well, that may be the case, but heck I wasn't that small. I was in my teens. Anyway, I think they're pretty darn close. I just found them a little bit chewier then I recalled, but as RubyRose suggested it could have been they were on the shelf longer.

Funniest thing, I thought I'd ordered two boxes and after I finished the "first" one, I couldn't find the second one. I asked my husband who said he'd torn the box up for the garbage, but didn't see it. I ran out to the recycle can, almost dove down into it till I found all the pieces of the box and stuffings, but didn't find the candy. Came back in the house, got my invoice and saw that I had only ordered 1 box!! I was crushed. Guess I'll have to order more than 1 at a time next go around.

Sorry, can't help you with the Eskimo Pie. I do remember them from the "old days" complete with the ice cream man etc., but don't remember them as being round at least in Virginia. Good luck on your search, and yes it's been a blast. Hope we run across each other again on another search.

Think they should just have a special section on these forums for searching foods.

Barbara (Delamere)

I know exactly the candy you're talking about! I used to get them from a little shop called Peterson's Corn Crib, a very cool candy store with giant candy canes out front, near Jamestown, New York. The pink ones were wintergreen, green was lime, white was peppermint, red was cinnamon, blue was clove, and yellow was lemon. I don't quite remember whether or not they had an orange one. Maybe they still make them! I found their phone number on a Shopping in Warren County, PA website: 716 487-1595. Good luck!

Hi Suzanne,

Welcome to our little thread! You've probably read most of the replies and see that we've found some that are very close to the original. Now, I must say that, at least in Virginia, we had no blue or red in our mix. Interesting! I'd sure try yours if they still make them. Love to see what the clove is like. No, ours were pink, yellow, light orange, green and white.

Thanks so much for your message, and think I'll see if they have a website.

Barbara

I've tried to find a website for them in the past but was unable to find it. The candies were just as you described, though, and were delicious. They were sold by weight. Let me know if they still make them!

Interesting! I'll let you know if I call and order from them.

Barbara

Clove sounds like it would be a good flavor for those. I have off work until Monday so might make another batch and add some oil of cloves, which I have for making clear hard candy.

Boy RubyRose--my hat's off to you. Bet yours are even better then what we can get. I agree, even though clove and cinnamon were not among the original flavors I bet they'll be really good. Let us know how it turned out.

I remember the mints. Merrimints are made from Compound Coating, not a real chocolate, as you have determined, not what you are looking for. The sherbert mints are what I remember and Lammes makes them as you know. The Crystal Freedom Creams I don't remember those colors, but they looked like the same kind of candy. I can't seem to want to part with almost $20. for 18 oz. of candy, since it probably only costs the candy company about $1.00 if that for the candy including the box. I think I'll try Ruby's receipe. In fact I sent it to our candy maker to make for me, I cheat! LOL

Hi 205don


"I can't seem to want to part with almost $20. for 18 oz. of candy"

Guess it works out close to that. I paid $3.99 for 7 oz which certainly kept me satisfied initially. The company said the self life isn't that good, so I didn't want to get a larger amount anyway. I'll order again when the urge strikes. Thought they were as close to the original taste as I've found so far.

I contacted Lammes, but they don't make mints anymore, and never made different flavors when they did. Many years ago they did carry them, but the woman I spoke with said they got them from another source, but couldn't remember where.

Anyway, I'm sure RubyRose's recipe will be great....I'm just not that adventuresome. Let us know how they turned out.

Delamere

delamere, did you try the corn crib candy shop that i told you about? i'm sure they're the same candy, and they're handmade. they have the corrugated bottom and melt in your mouth. they have the extra flavours because they make them there themselves.

Hi Suzanne----No, I didn't----don't even know if I tried to find a website. I'll go do that now. Thanks for the reminder.

Hi Suzanne,

I did a "Google" for them, but couldn't come up with either an address or website so I called them. Unfortunately there was no answer and no machine. If you find out any other information please let me know, and in the meantime I'll try them tomorrow.

quote:

Originally posted by Delamere

Hi Suzanne,

I did a "Google" for them, but couldn't come up with either an address or website so I called them. Unfortunately there was no answer and no machine. If you find out any other information please let me know, and in the meantime I'll try them tomorrow.

I can't believe it.....I have been searching for these mints for the last few year. My grandmother lived in Keyport, NJ and she used to get them all the time(60's and 70's). When my dad became ill I looked for them on the web for old times sake. I remember the white box, the thin half dollar size colored mints, the smooth harder outer shell with the softer middle(not soft but softer than the outside), ridges on the bottom. They melted in your mouth. My grandma used to get the french shaped mints also, I don't remember them as well. I have enjoyed looking at everyones responses. So what is the final verdict? Were the ones with the waffle bottom close enough?

Please someone let me know!

Hi Splady,

You know it's been a few months now, but yes, I think it was worth it. They did taste similar to the ones I remember as a teenager back in Virginia.

I was checking the Vermont Store site the other day, and although they have the very same long white "windowed" box, with the same 5 colors they do not have the different flavors, BUT on the same page is another candy mint smaller and chunkier in some sort of a shape that supposedly does have the different flavors. I haven't tried them yet, but all in all I was pleased with the ones I got from Herbert's Candy Store, and thanks for the reminder----time for another order I think.

Delamere (Barbara)

quote:

Originally posted by Delamere

Hi,

I wonder if anyone here is old enough to remember a mint candy wafer that came in a long box. This was back in the 50s and 60s. I remember them when I lived in northern Virginia. I think there were about 5 different colors each in it's own section of the box. There were white ones (peppermint) green (lime), pink (spearmint, I think), sort of an orange color one and a yellow one which was lemon. They were each about the size if a silver dollar and the backside of each mint had ridges like the potato chips. I cannot for the life of me remember the name, and would love to know if they're still around. The Vermont store had something like them a couple of years ago, but when I called to ask if each color had a distinctive taste they said no, so don't think they were the same.

Thanks everyone for any help you can give me.

Delamere

Just read your message...did you ever find out the name of those candies....they were Merrimints and yes, Vermont Country Store has them in their Christmas 2005 catalog. samiam

quote:

Originally posted by Delamere

Hi,

I wonder if anyone here is old enough to remember a mint candy wafer that came in a long box. This was back in the 50s and 60s. I remember them when I lived in northern Virginia. I think there were about 5 different colors each in it's own section of the box. There were white ones (peppermint) green (lime), pink (spearmint, I think), sort of an orange color one and a yellow one which was lemon. They were each about the size if a silver dollar and the backside of each mint had ridges like the potato chips. I cannot for the life of me remember the name, and would love to know if they're still around. The Vermont store had something like them a couple of years ago, but when I called to ask if each color had a distinctive taste they said no, so don't think they were the same.

Thanks everyone for any help you can give me.

Delamere

Hello Samiam,

Thanks for the reply. As far as the company's name, I don't think we ever came up with the exact name, but we finally found this company ( http://www.hebertcandies.com/) who comes close to the taste and look of the "real" ones.

As far as the Vermont Store, yes, they do have the candies, and they're in the long box with the windows and the colors are even the same, but they are NOT different flavors. All colors are the same taste. I called them and asked. Now, they do have another candy that's shaped differently that they (the catalog) says are different flavors. I haven't tried them yet.

Delamere

I remember those, too. Those Crystal Mints do look an awful lot like them! I would love to know if that is them, Delamere. Could you let me know if they are?

Hi Grammas53,

I'm sorry, which Crystal Mints....from where?

Merrimints, I guess. Which ones did you say you ordered?

Hey, does anyone remember MilkShake bars? Why did they take those off the market?

I got mine from http://www.hebertcandies.com/ . The candy is called "Pastel Mints" and the price is 7 oz for $3.95. The candy is NOT on their site, but can be ordered from their toll free number which is (866) 432-3781 extension 243. If that number isn't correct let me know and I'll do it again.

Good luck,

Delamere

Delamere .... I have been reading this topic for months. I love french creams ... but I decided to join to tell you that Vermont Country store is making the merriments in different flavors. Someone beat me to it but you told them they are not diff. flavors .. check out the link and see that they are new new new .. hope you all like them :) .. here is the description ..
In our quest to find Merrimints for our customers, we were surprised to learn these once popular candies are no longer being made. Unwilling to let yet another classic confection slip into oblivion, we had a candy maker produce these pastel mints to look, feel, and taste just like their now defunct counterparts. Everything from the crystal-to-creamy melt-in-your-mouth texture and sweet, refreshing flavors to the ridges on one side are exactly the same. Each box contains peppermint, wintergreen, lemon, and spearmint flavored mints. 1 lb. box contains approx 16 mints of each flavor. (Gift wrap not available.)]http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=31398&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=38&iSubCat=179&iProductID=31398

Wow Dasl,

This is really wonderful news! All I know is when I first started this I called them and was told that although they were different colors, they were all one flavor. I finally forgot about it and then later decided to call them back thinking that whoever I talked to didn't know what they were talking about, but again I was told that they didn't have different flavors. That's when I started on my search for other sources.

Thanks soooo much for the "heads up" and I'm going to order some after I get off this thread.

My apologies to Samiam for believing him/her.

Delamere

It was great to find this thread the other day since I grew up in a family of Merrimint-lovers. I bought the ones Vermont Country Store sold that had all the same flavor a few Christmases ago and gave them as gifts to my parents and sister, but we were all disappointed that the flavors weren't what we remembered. So this is exciting to hear that VCS is now carrying mints so similar to Merrimints, and I plan to order them for my family this Christmas. Thanks for the link, dasl, and for starting the thread, Delamere.

Geez, Delamere, I can't believe it. I wonder if the Vermont Store people read your thread and saw sales possibilities! They sure look exactly like them. I'm ordering some for sure (jumping up and down with glee this morning).

Hi Diner-Lover and Ruby Rose,

I know, isn't this great! I know what you mean Diner-Lover. I almost made the same mistake, but fortunately called first to check.

Now I must warn you---better go to the bank first, and take out a loan. These little "puppies" must be made of gold. My one box is $19.95 and with tax it'll come to over $20.00. Boy I hope and pray they're worth it :-).

As far as VS reading this forum---could be. I know one of the times I called I told them a bunch of us from the site were on a search to find them. Now the weird thing is I think they do/did make another pastel mint candy. They're shaped like little chunky leaves or fruit????---some sort of a shape like that I think, and according to their catalog they DO come in the flavors we're talking about. I was so hooked on finding the "originals" I guess I never saw them.

Anyway my box has been ordered so I'll give a report once I've had a chance to check them out.

Delamere