Heyhey, it’s #TicTacTuesday! The 98th variety added to the Tic Tac collection at VOCOMOTION Studios: Breeze – Lemon Balm. These just came in from the UK and are the first extension to the Breeze line in a little while. There’s a lot going on in this little pack…
The first thing we have to discuss is this flavor, lemon balm. It’s pretty unusual here in the States. I’d hazard a guess that most people wouldn’t even know what it is. Lemon balm is an herb in the mint family. It has a lemony flavor but isn’t a citrus fruit. That totally comes across in the candies as there is no citric acid, so you don’t get that sour note. Just lemony goodness. There’s also a minty coolness that comes from the sweeteners used (they all are known to have a cooling effect as they melt).
Let’s talk a bit about these sweeteners: xylitol, sorbitol, and stevia. I’m happy they went with natural sweeteners over the artificial Sucralose, Ace K, and Nutrasweet. The back of the pack calls out the fact that it contains “Stevia Extract,” although stevia does only account for the least amount of the three sweeteners used. There is also a note that consuming too much of this product could cause a laxative effect (from the sweeteners). If you’re up for something interesting, Google “sugar free gummy bears effect” and you can read what happens when you eat too much sugar free candy.
I’m not sure what’s going on with the “Crystallized Herbs” listed on the pack. That’s a new one to me. The ingredients lists: herb extracts, lemon balm extract, and lemon essential oil. Interesting that they had to jazz up the mellow lemon balm flavor by adding lemon oil. I’m curious what “herb extracts” are used but apparently they crystallized them. All in all, a really refreshing and pleasant flavor (or flavour if you’re outside of the US). I wish the Breeze line would come to the US.
RATING: 4/5