Pastille facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Troche, medicated lozenge |
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| Type | Confectionery |
| Main ingredients | Thick liquid |
A pastille is a type of sweet or a special kind of pill. It is made from a thick liquid that has been made solid. You are meant to eat it by chewing it lightly and letting it slowly melt in your mouth. The word "pastille" can also describe certain types of incense.
A pastille is sometimes called a troche. This is a medicated lozenge that melts in your mouth, much like a regular sweet.
The History of Pastilles
The word "pastille" comes from the same root as "pastry." It comes from the Latin word pastillus, which meant a small lump of meal or grain. This word itself came from panis, meaning "bread."
Originally, a pastille was a small, pill-shaped lump of pressed herbs. People would burn these lumps to release their medicinal properties. For example, in the novel McTeague, a character burns pastilles to cover up a bad smell in a room.
During the 1700s, pastilles were very popular in Western cultures. People used them to take herbal cures and medicines. Over time, these medicinal pastilles slowly developed into the sweet candies we enjoy today.
How Pastilles Are Made
Pastilles are made by pouring a thick liquid into a special mold. This mold might be covered in powder, sugar, or wax. The liquid is then left to set and dry.
When you chew a pastille and let it dissolve, the substances inside are slowly released. These substances are then taken in by the soft tissues in your mouth or by your digestive system. Many different things can be put into pastilles, whether they are for medicine or just for flavor.
Because some active ingredients, like essential oils, can be a bit oily, pastilles often use mixtures of starch and gum arabic. These ingredients help mix the oily substances and hold them together. The starch and gum also make the pastille dissolve more slowly. This means the active ingredients are released gradually. Gum arabic also makes pastilles harder and stronger, which helps them last longer during storage and travel.
Different Kinds of Pastilles
There are many well-known types of pastille candies and lozenges. Some popular ones include:
- Fisherman's Friend medicinal sweets
- Läkerol
- Violets
- Mason Dots
- Mentos
- Mint (candy)
- Pine Bros. throat drops
- Vocalzone Throat Pastilles, which are natural throat pastilles for people who use their voice a lot
- Jujube
- Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles, which are small, round sweets
- Vichy Pastilles, which are octagonal (eight-sided) candy pastilles
- Wine gum
- Grether's Pastilles
- Pastiglie Leone, which are herbal digestive aids and candy pastilles
