While perusing the candy shelf for a breath freshener, there’s one brand I usually tend to avoid – Tic Tac. That is of course until I saw their new – dare I say genius – flavor variety.
Tic Tac and Universal Studios have partnered on a Limited Edition Minion version of their “artificially flavored fruit mints,” and all your favorite Minions are here – Overalls that look like a goatee Minion (aka “Heisenberg Minion,”) Furrowed Brow Minion, Ol’ One Eye, and last but certainly not least, Bob – the eponymous Minion gracing the box.
Who doesn’t like the Minions? I know kids definitely love them. I can imagine every child under three throwing a tantrum after their mother refuses to buy them a box, and it’s all because Tic Tac had the brilliant notion to paint little black faces on each mint.
I can sit here and praise this marketing stroke all day, but these are meant to be eaten and not played with, right?
The flavor here is passionfruit, which is disappointing considering the only words I remember the Minions saying in English were “bottom” and “banana.” These should be banana flavored. I expected them to be banana flavored. Why aren’t these banana flavored?!
Sure “banana-mint” doesn’t sound all that appetizing, but does “passionfruit-mint”? These aren’t even minty. I’ve always found Tic Tacs to be very liberal with their usage of the word “mint” when it comes to the fruit varieties.
Like most Tic Tacs, the flavor is great at first, but quickly becomes nearly unappetizing. This is the point I usually just chew them to get it over with. They’re much better when consumed that way. That’s a good trait of the Tic Tac, it’s a softer mint that won’t wreck your teeth.
Fruit Tic Tacs tend to get sour the longer you keep them in your mouth and these continue that trend. The sour hint remains for a good 5-10 minutes after eating them. Tic Tac mint varieties have a similar characteristic. White Peppermint starts with a delicious vanilla taste, then devolving into an easily recognizable artificial mint flavor. I have to imagine I’m not the only one who chews these after a while.
Tic Tac fruit mints as a whole haven’t been all that impressive. Orange stormed on the scene and took the game over, but its successors have never really stacked up. These passionfruit-flavored ones aren’t bad, and for all I know can be 100% authentic to the actual fruit which I’m not sure I’ve ever actually come in contact with. I should seek them out, because I can use a little more passion in my life…but I’ll save that for a different blog.
While I’m discussing Tic Tacs, I’d be remised not to mention their main problem – the packaging. Tic Tacs are a pain in the neck to carry around in your pocket, lest you want people to know you are approaching from four blocks away. What other mint turns you into the Human Maraca? You might as well be that Minion who impersonated the fire truck siren. “Bee-do, bee-do.” See, I saw the movies!
So all in all, these aren’t too bad. The idea definitely outweighs the flavor. I can’t get over how simple and brilliant this partnership was. They get bonus points for that alone. When you pair that with a decent flavor, they’re worth dropping a buck on if only as a conversation starter. Don’t forget to use that little indentation on the lid to share with your co-workers – every internet list has informed me that is a “life hack,” because who doesn’t want like one Tic Tac at a time?
Kampai! (Minionese for “Cheers.”)
(Nutrition Facts – 1 mint – 2 calories, 0 calories from fat, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 milligrams of sodium, 0.5 grams of carbohydrates, 0 gram of fiber, 0.5 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.)
Item: Limited Edition Tic Tac Minions
Purchased Price: $1.01
Size: 1 oz.
Purchased at: Harmon Discount Drug
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Quite possibly the most impulsive of the buys. Heisenberg Minion. Tasty enough. Genius cross marketing.
Cons: Sour. Tic Tac pocket rattle. “Fruit-mints.” Not banana flavored. Limited Edition. Passionless life. Life-hack lists.
It is better if they did in banana flavor. I like the cute faces on each mint.
Here in new zealand we have banana flavour 🙂
Just be glad they’re not bottom flavored!!
i think packaging definitely impact on a brands image, attraction is a great deal specially to children and that can be achieved with innovative packaging.
http://youtu.be/ZRg5E1pGDi8
The package is that shape for a reason. I only found this out recently.
Weirdly, they are banana flavoured in the UK, but it seems they’re only in quantity in odd places like the British equivalents of Forever 21 and Dollar Tree. I saw them but am kicking myself for not buying them.
Mints must be a general term for little sweet things. I get small xylitol-sweetened things to use after eating (starves out the bad microbeasties, neutralizes the mouth) and they’re generally called mints even when made with fruit or licorice flavors and no peppermint/spearmint. They’re tic tac size or much smaller, depending on the brand. Confused the heck out of me for a while.
I intend to buy a pack of these just to keep on my desk. I have no desire to eat one, but they’re cute enough that I’d like to have them around to look at.
where did you find them
does anybody know where to find minion tic tacs plz and thank you
Walmart
In the east, Giant Eagle and Market District both have them.
In Vasai west ambadi road behind health plus medical you will get it for Rs.15
I believe papaya is also mentioned by one of the minions in the new film, if the advert scene where one of them meets and falls in love with a fire hydrant is used in the film. But yes, I expected it to be banana flavoured as well.
The 200 mint, 98 g Tic Tac packages available here in Canada don’t contain individually printed tic tacs but the packages feature individual minions, mine featuring “Kevin” (whose name appears on the package).
I like tic tac minions