Do you know why Polo mints have a hole in the middle?
There’s a good reason Polo mints have a hole in the middle – but do YOU know what it is?
People are just discovering the reason why polos – also called ‘The mint with the hole’ – have their signature shape.
The peppermint flavored sweets were first manufactured in the UK in 1948, by a man named John Bargewell at the Rowntree’s Factory in York – and a range of mouth-watering flavors have followed since then.
The crunchy candies have stood the test of time and outlasted the competition – but why are these refreshing mints pierced in the middle?
According to Nestle, “the mint with the hole” was invented by confectioner George Harris, the man behind some of Rowntree’s biggest brands in the 1930s, including KitKat, Smarties, Aero, Black Magic and Dairy Box.
Before World War II, the legend went that George was inspired by the American brand Life Savers, an identical sweet brand that also featured a hole – originally made to resemble a life-saving floating device.
The peppermint flavored candies were first manufactured in the UK in 1948, by a man named John Bargewell at the Rowntree’s Factory in York
The Nestle website explained: ‘Before the war, George had been inspired by the American brand Life Savers (a coin with a hole designed to look like a life-saving rubber ring) and had decided to make something similar in the UK. ‘
“According to legend, he chose the name Polo because it was derived from Polar and he thought it implied the cool freshness of mint.”
Now that we know what inspired the Polo coin concept, how did the popular American treat take shape?
The American social forum Quora suggests that the unique shape was inspired by a safety measure to save the lives of young children.
People have debated the issue on discussion forum Quora, but some insist that the idea that the hole is made for security reasons is a myth
One user explained that Life Savers were created after an alarming number of child deaths in the US due to choking on candies. The candy manufacturer believed that if there was a hole in the candy, even if it got stuck in the throat, a child would still be able to breathe.
He wrote: ‘In the early 20th century in the United States, a number of infant deaths were reported in the press as a result of choking on candies. An enterprising candy manufacturer came up with the idea that if there is a hole in the candy, even if it gets stuck in the throat, a person can still breathe.’
The new candy was marketed as a ‘life saver’. The fact that the candy now resembled the flotation devices on ships enhanced the product’s image and appeal to the public. And the rest is history.’
However, one user hinted at a more economic rationale behind the hollow treat, calling the life-saving theory “bullshit.”
He wrote, “The hole increases the volume of the candies in the package and saves the company money on candy material. Kind of like putting glue and sand on one side of a matchbook, saving half of both sides.’
“It also speeds up the time it takes for it to melt in your mouth, so you’re likely to eat more of it in the same time frame.” This makes it more likely that you will buy more.
“The idea that the hole could save your life if it gets stuck in your throat is nonsense. First, the item isn’t big enough to get stuck and second, if it did, it would have to position itself properly for the hole to do that. Very, very unlikely.’