Things you didn't know about Tic Tacs

At some point, just about everybody has had a container of Tic Tacs shaking in his or her pocket. This famous little mint has come a long way since it was first invented in 1969: today, Tic Tacs are available in more than 100 countries.

Even though you’ve probably popped more than a few in your life, we bet that there are some things you didn’t know about this humble little mint.

1. Their Original Name was “Refreshing Mints”

(Ferrero, Tic Tac USA)

The rather blah original moniker was jettisoned in 1970 and replaced with the name Tic Tac, an onomatopoetic reference to the sound the mints make in their container.

2. The Grape Flavor Was Eliminated for a Scary Reason

(Ferrero, Tic Tac USA)

Within the first few years of their existence, flavors like cinnamon, orange, sour apple, berry, mandarin, strawberry, pink grapefruit, and a mixture of orange and grape were added to the lineup. In 1967, the grape flavor was eliminated, however, because the red dye that was used in it, amaranth, was named a suspected carcinogen.

3. Only White Tic Tacs are Sold in Other Countries

(Ferrero, Tic Tac USA)

In many foreign countries, it’s the box that’s colored, not the Tic Tacs. Even flavors like orange and cherry are stark white.

4. They’re Not “The 1 ½ Calorie Breath Mint” Any More

(Ferrero, Tic Tac USA)

The company started using that tag line in 1980, but in recent years it was abandoned because the size of Tic Tacs have increased slightly. Today, they’re 1.9 calories per candy.

See more fun Tic Tac facts.

More from The Daily Meal

13 Things You Didn't Know About Dunkin' Donuts

Ultimate Guide to Candy Around the World

5 Best Sour Candies

The 9 Stages of a Sour Candy Obsession