After Eight
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After Eight is a confectionery product created in 1962 by Rowntree & Company Limited. It is now produced by Nestlé, following their 1988 acquisition of the United Kingdom-based company. They are described as "mint enrobed in dark chocolate" and are intended, as the name suggests, to be used as after-dinner mints. They can be commonly found in British households during the Christmas period. The chocolates have been made in the factory in Castleford, West Yorkshire since 1970, whereas the truffles are made in York. After Eights are now sold across Europe and North America and one billion After Eight mints are made annually.
The After Eight family of products includes:
- Thin Mints: the original After Eight product, these comprise square dark chocolate enclosing mint fondant.
- Delights: round sweets of dark chocolate with a mint fondant filling.
- Straws: long, thin sticks of soft dark chocolate with a mint fondant filling.
- Biscuits: the newest addition to the After Eight family, these combine dark chocolate with mint in a biscuit.
- Chocolate Santa Claus: during the Christmas season, Nestlé Germany features a 125g Santa Claus made out of white or dark mint chocolate.
- Chocolate Truffles
- Dark Chocolate Irish Creams
- Ice Cream Dessert
- Lemon Sorbet
- McDonalds has introduced an After Eight McFlurry.
- The taste of an After Eight is also mocked in a shooter with the same name. It consists of 1/2 oz Tia Maria coffee liquer, 1/2 oz creme de menthe, and 1/2 oz Baileys Irish Cream. The three types of alcohol are layered together in a sherry glass. If poured carefully in the order listed above, the alcohol will not mix.
- A favourite icebreaker at parties is the "After eight game" where diners place a thin mint on their foreheads and attempt to get it into their mouths using only their facial muscles.
