kids encyclopedia robot

Andes chocolate mints facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Andes chocolate mints
Andes-Mints.jpg
Andes Mints
Type Confectionery
Owner Tootsie Roll Industries
Country United States
Introduced 1950; 75 years ago (1950)
Markets United States

Andes Chocolate Mints are yummy, small rectangular candies. They are famous for their special taste, which is a mix of cool mint and rich chocolate. Most Andes Mints have a green mint layer tucked between two chocolatey layers. Each candy is usually wrapped in shiny green foil with the Andes logo, showing snowy mountain peaks. These popular mints first came out in 1950. Today, they are made by a company called Tootsie Roll Industries in Delavan, Wisconsin.

The Story of Andes Mints

Andrew Kanelos started a small candy shop in Chicago, Illinois, way back in 1921. He first named his store "Andy's Candies." But he soon realized that many of his male customers didn't like giving candy boxes with another man's name to their wives or girlfriends. So, he cleverly changed the name to "Andes Candies."

The famous Andes Mints were first created in 1950. Over the years, the company changed owners a few times. In 1980, a Swiss candy company bought Andes. Later, in 2000, Tootsie Roll Industries became the owner. They still make Andes Mints in Delavan, Wisconsin.

In the United States, Andes Mints are often given out after dinner at restaurants. A well-known example is Olive Garden, which offers a special mint made just for them. It tastes very similar to the regular Mint Parfait flavor.

What Are Andes Mints Like?

Andes Mints are thin, rectangular chocolate bites. The most common kind has three layers: two chocolatey layers with a green mint layer in the middle. These candies are usually wrapped in green foil. The foil has the Andes logo printed on it, which looks like words among snow-capped mountains. A typical Andes mint is about 1.5 inches long, 0.75 inches wide, and 0.25 inches thick.

Other Andes Flavors

Besides the classic mint, Andes has offered several other flavors over the years. Some of these include:

  • Amaretto (no longer made)
  • Cherry Jubilee
  • Mint Parfait
  • Toffee Crunch
  • Peppermint Crunch (you can find this one during certain seasons)
  • Chocolatey Orange
  • Milk Chocolatey
  • Mint Cookie Crunch

In 2007, Andes also introduced a special collection called Limited Edition Dessert Indulgence. This collection had three new flavors:

  • Raspberry Cream
  • Lemon Meringue
  • Key Lime

Andes Mints in Other Products

Andes Mints are so popular that they are used in many other yummy products! You can find them as baking chips, in ice cream, cookies, and even cake rolls.

Some popular restaurants and coffee shops have also used Andes Mints in their treats. For example, you might have seen them in milkshakes at Jack in the Box or Arby's. Caribou Coffee has used them in a cool drink, and Yogurtland has offered them as a topping for frozen yogurt. The baking chips, which look just like the original mints, first came out in the fall of 2003.

See also

kids search engine
Andes chocolate mints Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.