# Is mint cold?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 5, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948 "2008-08-05T19:14:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lo-Slung\_Denim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@Lo-Slung\_Denim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lo-Slung_Denim)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948/1 "2008-08-05T19:14:30Z")

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I had a Trebor Extra Strong mint the other day, and I began to wonder what is it about mint that makes it taste ‘cold’?

Menthol cigarettes seem like smoking a cold cigarette.

Is it actually cold? Does it lower the temperature in your mouth? Or is it all an illusion? If so, what causes the illusion?

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948/2 "2008-08-05T19:35:03Z")

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Put so succinctly there was no point paraphrasing: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menthol#Biological\_properties](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menthol#Biological_properties)

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**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948/3 "2008-08-05T22:52:32Z")

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Hrm. Cecil covered this many a year back but damned if I can find it.

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**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948/4 "2008-08-05T23:13:28Z")

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[QUOTE=the Wiki entry on Menthol]  
Menthol’s ability to chemically trigger the cold-sensitive TRPM8 receptors in the skin is responsible for the well known cooling sensation that it provokes when inhaled, eaten, or applied to the skin. Menthol does not cause an actual drop in temperature.[1] In this sense it is similar to capsaicin, the chemical responsible for the spiciness of hot peppers (which stimulates heat sensors, also without causing an actual rise in temperature).  
[/QUOTE]

Well, now I absolutely must know what happens when you ingest both at the same time.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948/5 "2008-08-05T23:44:42Z")

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[QUOTE=Lightnin’]  
Well, now I absolutely must know what happens when you ingest both at the same time.  
[/QUOTE]

> [@Fry](#):
>
> It’s like there’s a party in my mouth and somebody threw up!

🙂

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**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948/6 "2008-08-06T02:27:29Z")

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Go buy a tin of Cinnamon Altiods mints and a tin of regular Peppermint Altoids. Take one of each candies and put them in your mouth where they are touching. It just tastes like sugar unless you leave them in one place too long.

Weird huh? :dubious:

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**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mint-cold/458948/7 "2008-08-06T03:19:05Z")

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Slight hijack;  
I worked in HVAC for a while as a young man, and summers here get quite hot. We would put a few drops of menthol on the intake louvers every few days. People in the building always felt cooler.