How to Eat a Tic Tac

Think eating Tic Tacs is easy? Think again. It seems many people eat Tic Tacs wrong. In fact, there are Internet memes devoted to that theory. Here’s how to eat the small oval breath mints the “right way.”

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Removing a Single Tic Tac

  1. Image titled Eat a Tic Tac Step 1
    1
    Remove a single Tic Tac from the plastic box at one time. The correct way to eat Tic Tacs is to dispense with the small breath mints one-by-one.
    • The wrong way to eat Tic Tacs is to try to shake a bunch of them in your hand at once. Often, the latter method results in the small mints landing on the floor. You never know how many you will get.
    • It turns out that Tic Tacs come with a compartment design that allows you to rather precisely remove them one by one. Who knew?
  2. Image titled Eat a Tic Tac Step 2
    2
    Turn the Tic Tac case upside down. Many people make the mistake of shaking the Tic Tac box right side up and then trying to shake them into their hand. Instead, turn the plastic case upside down to start the process.
    • Don't worry if you've been using the shake-it-into-the-hand method for years.[1] This method has earned the scorn of Internet meme writers, who acknowledge that lots of us have been doing it that way for a very long time. So you're not alone. “I’ve been eating Tic Tacs wrong FOR YEARS,” reads one.[2]
    • The ability to extract a single Tic Tac from the container is attributed to the oval-shaped compartment that is located under a Tic Tac container flap. Open it up and check it out before you proceed.[3]

Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Removing a Tic Tac

  1. Image titled Eat a Tic Tac Step 3
    1
    Shake the Tic Tacs so they fall to the bottom of the compartment. Once you’ve turned the box upside down, perform this maneuver. This will leave a space at the top of the upside down box.[4]
    • Now, grab the compartment lip and then pull the box back.
    • No one knows for sure if the makers designed the box this way for this reason, however, the crater inside of the lip works to push out a single Tic Tac.[5] [6]
    • Flip open the lid slowly. There should be a Tic Tac on it. The single Tic Tac should be sitting in the oval-shaped contained on the Tic Tac lid.[7]
  2. Image titled Eat a Tic Tac Step 4
    2
    Leave the Tic Tac on your tongue. Don't think you need to chew Tic Tacs. They are breath mints, not candy (although some people regard them as such).
    • Thus, you should let the Tic Tac linger on your tongue a bit because this should freshen your breath.
    • Let the Tic Tac dissolve in your mouth.

Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Learning All About Tic Tacs

  1. Image titled Eat a Tic Tac Step 5
    1
    Learn interesting facts about Tic Tacs. There are a lot of other things you might not know about Tic Tacs. For example, they each contain under two calories.[8]
    • They are available for purchase in 100 countries, and they were invented in 1969 by an Italian company. In the beginning, though, they were called “refreshing mints.” Tic Tac recently enlarged the size of its box.
    • They used to come in grape flavor, but they don’t anymore. In some countries, people can only buy white Tic Tacs. On the other hand, the only place you can get cardamom Tic Tacs is in India. Tic Tacs come in many flavors, including orange, mint, and cherry.

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can I recycle the Tic Tac package?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. It's made of polypropylene, a flexible plastic that is recyclable.
  • Question
    How many tic tacs can I consume daily?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Usually as many as you want, just don't eat more than two boxes. It won't make you sick, but that's unhealthy!
  • Question
    If I swallow tic tac, what will happen?
    WarriorCat20
    WarriorCat20
    Community Answer
    Nothing. You are completely safe if one gets swallowed.
  • Question
    How many Tic Tacs should I take to freshen my breath?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Just one or two should generally be enough.
  • Question
    Are you supposed to swallow Tic Tacs?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, they are breath mints, and won't do you any good if you swallow them.
  • Question
    My tic tacs are all over the floor now after I turned it upside down and opened the little flap. What did I do wrong?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You may have opened the flap too quickly. If the upside-down method doesn't work for you, you can always go back to opening it right-side-up and shaking one out into your palm.
  • Question
    Could I crush up the Tic Tacs and snort them?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No. Snorting substances is harmful for your lungs and sinuses.
  • Question
    Where can I find Spearmint Tic Tacs?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You're out of luck, if you live in the United States. The company that makes Tic Tacs says it recently discontinued the following flavors: Spearmint, Cinnamon, and Melon Mango. They are no longer available in the U.S.
  • Question
    Why does my packet not have an oval in the flap?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It was most likely a manufacturing mistake or, maybe, if it is a limited edition flavor it could have been 'specially designed'.
  • Question
    What do I do if I choke on a tic tac?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You shouldn't because of how small they are, but if you do, call 911 or give yourself the Heimlich. If it's just stuck in your throat, drinking water might even help.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.wikihow.com/Eat-a-Tic-Tac
  2. ↑ http://9gag.com/gag/5186493
  3. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/eating-tic-tacs-wrong-container-compartment-single-mint_n_1834193.html
  4. ↑ http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/youve-been-eating-tic-tacs-wrong-for-years#.ndkz2lPxn
  5. ↑ http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/10-foods-most-people-eat-the-wrong-way
  6. ↑ http://www.foodbeast.com/news/so-apparently-weve-been-using-tic-tac-containers-all-wrong/
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17eFD4v-UE
  8. ↑ http://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/things-you-didnt-know-about-tic-tacs

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 95,103 times.
141 votes - 68%
Co-authors: 19
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 95,103
Categories: Eating Techniques
Article SummaryX

Although you can eat Tic Tacs any way you want, the proper way might surprise you. Tic Tacs were designed to be removed from the box and eaten one at a time. Start by turning the case upside-down and shaking it so the Tic Tacs fall to the bottom. Then, hold the box by its lid and open it backward. There should be one tic tac in the small tray in the lid. Although many people chew Tic Tacs, the best way to eat them is to leave one on your tongue so it slowly dissolves and leaves your breath minty fresh. To learn some fun facts about Tic Tacs, read on!

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