Travelling light
If you want mints in a pocket or small bag rather than a sharing bag, compare individual pack weights and stated counts. Tic Tac UK lists an 18 g Mint pack containing 37 mints.
Who might choose a compact pack?
Comparing sugar-free options
A small pack is not necessarily sugar-free. M&S lists its 18 g Sugar Free Curiously Strong Mints with 0.2 g sugars per 100 g; check the ingredients and warnings on the pack you buy.
Sharing or packing for several journeys
Rolls and multipacks give you several portions to carry or divide between travellers. Tesco Groceries and Waitrose & Partners list Polo and Trebor multipacks, though carrying one compact pack takes less space than carrying the whole multipack.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with how much you want to carry for this journey, then compare sugar status and the label information that matters to the passengers.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | Compare the stated weight, number of packs and mint count where given. Tic Tac UK lists an 18 g Mint pack with 37 mints; Tesco Groceries and Waitrose & Partners also list rolls and multipacks. | I would rather carry one small pack than a large bag. For sharing or several journeys, I may want more than one roll or pack. |
| Sugar and sweeteners | Read sugars per 100 g and the ingredients list on the exact product. Tic Tac UK lists 94.5 g sugars per 100 g for Tic Tac Mint; M&S lists 0.2 g per 100 g for its Sugar Free Curiously Strong Mints. | If I want a sugar-free option, pack size alone will not tell me which one to choose. I also want to know which sweeteners it contains. |
| Flavour | Check the named flavour and any description of strength. M&S describes its 32 g Curiously Strong Mints as extra-strong pressed mints; that description does not establish how every passenger will find the flavour. | For a shared pack, I want a flavour the other passengers are willing to take, rather than choosing by size alone. |
| Ingredients and warnings | Read the current pack for ingredients, allergen information and product-specific warnings. Tic Tac UK warns that small sweets in its Tic Tac TWO range may lodge in the throat, especially in children; its Raspberry & Lemon variant also carries a warning about excessive consumption. | If I am packing for a child or someone who needs to check ingredients, I will assess the particular product before offering it. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming every portable roll is a mini pack
A roll can fit in a bag without being the smallest format for one journey. The listed 18 g compact packs differ in weight from the 32 g M&S roll and the larger Polo and Trebor rolls listed by UK retailers.
Compare the weight of the pack you would actually carry. Choose a multipack deliberately if you intend to share or keep mints for later journeys.
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Using pack size as a guide to sugar content
Tic Tac UK lists 94.5 g sugars per 100 g for Tic Tac Mint, while M&S lists 0.2 g per 100 g for its 18 g Sugar Free Curiously Strong Mints. Both have an 18 g format, so size does not settle the sugar question.
Compare the nutrition panel and ingredients on the exact pack when sugar status affects your choice.
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Applying one sugar-free product’s warning to every mint
Warnings depend on the particular formulation. Tic Tac UK states that excessive consumption of its Tic Tac TWO Raspberry & Lemon variant may produce laxative effects.
Check the sweeteners and warnings on the product you intend to take, especially if you expect to eat several mints.
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Relying on an old ingredient listing
M&S advises that its product information can change. An earlier listing or pack image may therefore differ from the mints you have in hand.
If ingredients or allergens matter to a passenger, read the current package label before the mints are eaten.
Which brands and retailers offer relevant formats?
Polo
A roll option if you prefer that format or want packs for more than one journey.
- Tesco Groceries lists a 34 g Original Mint Tube and single and multipack sugar-free formats.
- Check whether you need one roll or a multipack; neither format should be assumed to be the smallest individual pack.
Trebor
Peppermint rolls and multipacks for travellers considering a traditional roll.
- Waitrose & Partners lists Extra Strong Peppermint in a 41 g roll and a 4 × 36.4 g multipack.
- A multipack supplies several rolls rather than one mini pack for a short trip.
Tesco
An own-brand option if you are considering a larger bag rather than a compact travel pack.
- Tesco Groceries lists Mint Imperials and Mint Assortment in 200 g packs.
- Compare the amount you would carry with the amount needed for your journey.
Sainsbury's
A retailer with a mints and chewing-gum range.
- Its category includes mint flavours alongside chewing gum.
- Check an individual product’s pack size, ingredients and label before choosing it as a compact travel option.
M&S
Own-brand choices include a compact sugar-free pack and a larger extra-strong roll.
- M&S lists Sugar Free Curiously Strong Mints in an 18 g pack and Curiously Strong Mints in a 32 g roll.
- The 18 g product lists sweeteners; M&S advises checking the current label because product information can change.
Waitrose
An own-brand route for larger mint packs, alongside listed branded rolls.
- Waitrose & Partners lists own-brand Mint Humbugs, Mint Imperials and Mint Assortment in 200 g packs.
- Those own-brand pack sizes serve a different carrying need from one small pack for a journey.
Joybuy mint options for train journeys
These options include a Tic Tac multipack that can be divided between journeys and two sugar-free mint packs. Compare the amount you would carry and check the current label before choosing for other passengers.
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Tic Tac Mint 4 Pack 72g
Four packs let you take one for a journey and keep the others for later. Joybuy’s product description identifies 37 mints in each pack; Tic Tac UK lists 94.5 g sugars per 100 g for Tic Tac Mint, so this is not the sugar-free route. Check the current pack information if offering mints to children.
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Asahi Mintia Sugar-Free Refreshing Grape Mints 22g
The 22 g sugar-free grape-mint pack is an option when you want to carry one pack rather than a multipack. Check its current sweeteners, warnings and pack format before buying, particularly if a child will use it.
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Smint Peppermint Sugar Free Mints 35g
This 35 g sugar-free peppermint pack gives you a different size and flavour to compare with the 22 g option. Its product descriptions conflict about the sweetener formulation, so check the ingredients on the current pack before choosing it; check child-safety information if relevant.
Questions about packing mints for a train
What pack size makes sense for one train journey?
Choose by how many mints you expect to carry or share, rather than treating every portable format as mini. Tic Tac UK lists an 18 g Mint pack containing 37 mints, while M&S lists an 18 g sugar-free option; a larger roll may suit several journey legs or more than one passenger.
Can I eat as many sugar-free mints as I like?
Do not use “sugar-free” as a substitute for reading the pack’s directions and warnings. Tic Tac UK warns that excessive consumption of its Tic Tac TWO Raspberry & Lemon variant may produce laxative effects; check the specific product rather than applying that warning to every sugar-free mint.
How do I check ingredients and allergens before travelling?
Read the current label on the mints you will take, especially when buying for someone with an allergy. The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland state that, since 1 October 2021, UK prepacked-for-direct-sale food labels must show the food name, a full ingredients list and the 14 regulated allergens emphasised within it; that rule applies to that category of food, not automatically to every mint pack.
Does a mini mint format make it suitable for young children?
No: size alone cannot establish suitability. Tic Tac UK warns that small sweets in its Tic Tac TWO range may become lodged in the throat, especially in children, so follow the safety information on the particular pack before offering it to a child.