The Candy Wrapper Museum

Silly me, I had thought that I had made a great candy coup when I found these Canada Mints at the 7-11 back in the 1970s. I had thought they were super-rare, a really odd find. Who had ever heard of Canada Mints? Surely this was a candy that would come and go without notice. Little did I know that these are one of the oldest and most popular candies in America! They were even given away at the cash register at restaurants, making them about as mundane as a candy can be.

Oh, well… it goes to show the regional nature of candy in the 20th century. I grew up in California, where Canada Mints apparently had not yet caught on. For what it's worth, many Americans have never tasted an Abba-Zaba bar and think of it as exotic, while to Californians, they're as ordinary as a Snickers bar. Vive la difference!

NECCO Canada Wintergreen 1970s
I always wondered whether these mints were named “Canada” for the connotation of a cool climate. Perhaps that was part of it, but it as it turns out Canada Mints were simply the name for Chase Mints when Chase & Co. sold their lozenges in Canada. “Chase” was stamped on the Chase Mints in the U.S. and “Canada” on the mints in Canada. Over time, Chase Mints were phased out and Canada Mints survived.

NECCO Canada Licorice Mints
Canada Mints came in peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon, chocolate, and licorice flavors at various times during their lengthy candy career. Although Necco is now gone, Spangler acquired Canada Mints along with their chalky candy counterparts, Necco Wafers and Sweethearts. I have yet to see these new Canada Mints back on shelves, but I hope they will appear sometime soon.


	Necco Home Necco Wafers More Necco Wafers Canada Mints Sky Bar Rolo and Drums Caramel Roll Return to Classics	Silly me, I had thought that I had made a great candy coup when I found these Canada Mints at the 7-11 back in the 1970s. I had thought they were super-rare, a really odd find. Who had ever heard of Canada Mints? Surely this was a candy that would come and go without notice. Little did I know that these are one of the oldest and most popular candies in America! They were even given away at the cash register at restaurants, making them about as mundane as a candy can be. Oh, well… it goes to show the regional nature of candy in the 20th century. I grew up in California, where Canada Mints apparently had not yet caught on. For what it's worth, many Americans have never tasted an Abba-Zaba bar and think of it as exotic, while to Californians, they're as ordinary as a Snickers bar. Vive la difference! I always wondered whether these mints were named “Canada” for the connotation of a cool climate. Perhaps that was part of it, but it as it turns out Canada Mints were simply the name for Chase Mints when Chase & Co. sold their lozenges in Canada. “Chase” was stamped on the Chase Mints in the U.S. and “Canada” on the mints in Canada. Over time, Chase Mints were phased out and Canada Mints survived. Canada Mints came in peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon, chocolate, and licorice flavors at various times during their lengthy candy career. Although Necco is now gone, Spangler acquired Canada Mints along with their chalky candy counterparts, Necco Wafers and Sweethearts. I have yet to see these new Canada Mints back on shelves, but I hope they will appear sometime soon.