Andes mints are a tasty, gluten-free snack owned by the Tootsie Roll company. Andes mints are small, chocolate, rectangular candies consisting of one mint-green layer sandwiched in between two cocoa-based chocolate layers. The signature candies wrapping includes green foil imprinted with the company’s logo. Andes mints are largely distributed at restaurants like Olive Garden.
Andes mints are gluten-free. They are made with sugar, palm kernel and oil, cocoa, milk products, and natural and artificial flavors. They are made using no wheat derivatives. However, Andes mints are highly processed and contain a large amount of refined sugar. The best healthier, gluten-free alternatives include ChocZero Dark Chocolate Peppermint Keto bark and Keto Krisp Chocolate Mint.
Want to know more about these mints and what exactly is in an Andes mint? If the answer is yes, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll take a deep dive into the nutrition facts and some healthier alternatives to Andes mints that are still gluten-free, but with less sugar and guilt and chocolatey taste that you’ll enjoy!
Contents
History
Andes Candies was established in Chicago, Illinois by Andrew Kanelos in 1921. Originally called Andes Candies, started as a small storefront that produced and sold a variety of boxed chocolates. The business went on to expand, including 150 stores. With the expansion, a factory was built to supply the stores.
In 1950, the Andes store product line was expanded to include the Crème de Menthe candy piece. The three-layer mint became the cornerstone of this candy brand. Today, this tasty and refreshing candy is the top-selling after-dinner mint.
Over the years, Andes expanded its products to include a variety of flavors and packages including the popular Cherry Jubilee, Mint Parfait, Toffee Crunch Thins, and the seasonal Peppermint Crunch.
Andes was bought by the Tootsie company in 2000, further expanding its line in 2003 to include Crème de Menthe baking chips. Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips were added in 2005.
Are Andes Mints Healthy?
As a chocolate mint candy, it may surprise you that Andes mints are made using a gluten-free formula. However, gluten-free does not equate to being healthy. Andes mints contain sugar, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa, milk, and other ingredients such as natural and artificial flavorings.
The majority of the Andes mints’ ingredients are highly processed and high in saturated fat. Cocoa on its own can be rather a health promoting. Cocoa comes from the seeds of cocoa trees and is the main ingredient in most chocolate products.
Raw cacao is known as a superfood due to its high antioxidant content as well as vitamins and minerals. Nonetheless, in Andes mints, the cocoa is processed to be made into chocolate and sugar, milk, and oil are then added to the chocolate. Through the processing, use of additives and preservatives, the cocoa is stripped of its health benefits.
Bottom line: Although Andes mints are gluten-free, they are not the healthiest snack out there. Andes mints are high in saturated fat and sugar. They are not the best snack option to consume regularly (after dinner) as advertised.
Questionable Ingredients
When looking at the ingredients in Andes mints some can be questionable. Let’s start with sugar being listed as the first ingredient, meaning the most abundant ingredient. When we have sugar as the first ingredient in a food product we know it probably isn’t the healthiest.
Sugar
Consuming high amounts of sugars especially refined can cause an array of health problems. Secondly, palm kernel and palm oil which is partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. The process of making partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHOs) produces trans fats and is high in saturated fat, which can raise the body’s total cholesterol levels.
Artificial Coloring and Flavoring
Artificial coloring and flavoring are used to enhance food flavors and color, also aids in preserving foods. Some health risks associated with food additives include allergic reactions and food hypersensitivity, worsening of asthmatic symptoms, and GI upset (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting).
Always be sure to check nutrition labels for “questionable ingredients” such as the ones previously mentioned. A good rule of thumb is to always check for how much sugar a product has especially per serving and from what sources. Additionally, watch out for hydrogenated oils, aka trans fats which are processed vegetable oils.
Gluten-Free, But Not Vegan-Friendly
Andes mints are gluten-friendly, thus a fine option for those who have gluten allergies or are gluten sensitive. However, being that some of the key ingredients are milk products, it is not a vegan-friendly food. A dark chocolate treat made with no dairy products would suffice as a vegan alternative to these Andes mints.
Andes Mints Nutritional Facts
While Andes mints do offer a variety of flavors, they mostly consist of the same key ingredients and nutritional information. All Andes mints are made using their signature formula including three rectangular layers of chocolate.
The main difference between the various assortments is the coloring and flavoring of each variety. Below are some of the most popular Andes mints flavors with a more detailed look at their ingredients.
Original creme de menthe
Andes original creme de menthe is the original and probably most well-known variety of Andes mints and the top-selling after-dinner mint. A smooth blend of mint and chocolate flavors, an ideal post-meal treat. This is formula serves as the blueprint for all other Andes mint flavors. Below is its list of gluten-free ingredients.
Its ingredients are:
- Sugar
- Palm kernel and palm oil
- Cocoa
- Nonfat milk
- Milk protein concentrate
- Soy lecithin
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Peppermint oil
- Artificial colors (Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake)
Nutrition Facts (per 2 pieces, 10g):
- 50 cal
- 5 g fat or 4% DV
- 0 mg sodium or 0% DV
- 6 g carbohydrates or 2% DV
- 5 g sugar or 10% DV
- 11 mg calcium
- 0 mg iron
- 34 mg potassium
Peppermint Crunch Thins
Andes Peppermint Crunch Thins are a festive version of the Andes original mint great for candy dishes and holiday parties. A creamy mouthfeel with crunchy bits of peppermint throughout the layered mint. This gluten-free formula is listed below.
Its ingredients are:
- Sugar
- Palm kernel And palm oil
- Nonfat milk
- Milk protein concentrate
- Flaked corn
- Yellow corn flour
- Flour
- Peppermint oil
- Corn starch
- Artificial Colors (Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake)
Nutrition Facts (per 8 pieces, 38g):
- 210 cal
- 13 g fat or 17% DV
- 25 mg sodium or 1% DV
- 22 g carbohydrates or 8% DV
- 22 g sugar
Holiday Cherry Jubilee
This Andes variation consists of two thin layers of a creamy chocolate layer with a pink cherry center in its iconic rectangular shape. With a similar ingredient profile to the Original and Peppermint Crunch Andes mints, the Holiday Cherry Jubilee makes a great after-dinner treat.
Its ingredients are:
- Sugar
- Palm kernel and palm oil
- Nonfat milk
- Cocoa
- Lactose
- Milk protein concentrate
- Dried cherries
- Maltodextrin
- Soy lecithin
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Artificial Colors (Blue 1 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake)
Nutrition Facts (per 2 pieces, 10g):
- 50 cal
- 5 g fat or 4% DV
- 5 mg sodium or 0% DV
- 6 g carbohydrates or 2% DV
- 5 g sugar or 10% DV
- 13 mg calcium
- 0 mg iron
- 32 mg potassium
Healthy, Gluten-Free Alternatives
As concluded, Andes mints are indeed gluten-free, but the question of if they’re considered healthy still lingers. As we discussed earlier, just because a product is gluten-free does not make it healthy. And in this case, Andes mints are not the healthiest food although they are gluten-free. Nonetheless, let’s go over some alternatives to Andes mints that are still gluten-free, but have healthier ingredients and less saturated fat and refined sugar.
ChocZero Dark Chocolate Peppermint Keto Bark
A peppermint flavored, dark chocolate keto bark that is great for Christmas or any other occasion. Keto bark is a crunchy, handspun, sugar-free chocolate treat, made from 55% cacao chocolate. This Keto “bark” is a thin piece of dark chocolate. Free from major allergens- soy, dairy and gluten, making them both keto and vegan friendly as well as non-GMO. The ChocZero Dark Chocolate Peppermint Keto bark is a healthy alternate option to Andes mints as it contains recognizable ingredients and is sugar-free.
Its ingredients are:
- Dark Chocolate
- Soluble Corn Fiber
- Peppermint Pieces
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Monk Fruit Extract
- Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans.
Nutrition Facts (per 28g):
- 100 cal
- 7 g fat or 9% DV
- 0 mg sodium or 0% DV
- 19 g carbohydrates or 7% DV
- 0 g sugar or 0% DV
- 6 mg calcium
- 1mg iron
- 68 mg potassium
Keto Krisp Chocolate Mint
Keto Krisp Chocolate Mint is a whole food, protein nutrition bar, it is gluten-free, low carb, and sugar-free. This bar contains pure peppermint extract blended with real almonds and coconut (MCT) oil. A great option to satisfy your chocolate craving while consuming whole foods and no sugar additives.
Its ingredients are:
- Almonds
- Chicory fiber
- Whey crisps
- Coconut erythritol
- Chocolate
- Cocoa butter
- Alkalized cocoa
- Milk protein isolate
- Whey protein isolate
- MCT oil
- Sunflower lecithin
- Natural flavors
- Sea salt
- Stevia
Nutrition Facts (51g):
- 220 cal
- 17 g fat or 22% DV
- 100 mg sodium or 4% DV
- 19 g carbohydrates or 7% DV
- 2 g sugar or 0% DV
- 10 g protein or 20% DV
- 80 mg calcium
- 2 mg iron
- 260 mg potassium
Hu Mint Dark Chocolate
The Hu Mint Dark Chocolate bar is a wholesome combination of chocolate and mint. The main ingredients in this decadent bar include house-ground 70% dark cacao and organic peppermint oil providing a fresh yet subtle mint flavor with a satisfying crunch from the cacao.
Its ingredients are:
- Organic Cacao
- Unrefined Organic Coconut Sugar
- Organic Fair-trade Cocoa Butter
- Organic Fair-trade Cacao Nibs
- Organic Peppermint Oil
Nutrition Facts (per 30g):
- 180 cal
- 13 g fat or 17% DV
- 10 mg sodium or 0% DV
- 14g carbohydrates or 5% DV
- 8g sugar or 16% DV
- 3g protein
- 34 mg calcium
- 4 mg iron
- 239 mg potassium
Final Thoughts
As concluded, Andes mints is a gluten-free food product. Andes mints is a fine option for individuals who are gluten sensitive, have an allergy or celiac disease. Even though they are gluten-free there are healthier alternatives to Andes such as the ones mentioned above that contain less or no sugar at all as well as less saturated fat. Check out other gluten-free chocolate alternatives here Ghirardelli gluten-free chocolate and Lindt Lindor gluten-free chocolate You can satisfy your sweet tooth while feeling good about these wholesome ingredients.
Gluten-free options are always a better option, but it is important to double-check for ingredients that aren’t highly processed and high in sugar. It is possible to both satisfy your chocolate cravings and consume fairly healthful ingredients like dark chocolate, feeling good about what you’re putting into your body.
Related Questions
Are Andes mints made with milk or dark chocolate?
Andes mints are made with milk chocolate as milk and milk protein are added to cocoa to produce the chocolate candy.
Are Andes mints peanut and nut-free?
Yes, Andes mints are both free from peanuts and nuts.