# "Why does mint makes my mouth feel cold?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-mint-makes-my-mouth-feel-cold/132924>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 19, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-mint-makes-my-mouth-feel-cold/132924 "2002-10-19T01:28:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-mint-makes-my-mouth-feel-cold/132924/1 "2002-10-19T01:28:44Z")

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In quotation marks because Mrs. RickJay is the one asking it.

So, why? Why does the taste of mint make your mouth feel cold?

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**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-mint-makes-my-mouth-feel-cold/132924/2 "2002-10-19T01:54:43Z")

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Posted by \*\* Arnold Winkelried\*\* [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28798):

> [@](#):
>
> Food Product Design : Packing a Punch with Pungency, September 1998 – Applications  
> By: Kimberly J. Decker, Contributing Editor
> 
> ## quote:
> 
> Chilling out  
> Opposite capsaicin’s heat on the trigeminal spectrum lies the cooling sensation of peppermint, spearmint and wintergreen. This sensation occurs when compounds in these flavors interact with trigeminal cooling receptors in the nasal or oral tissues. Menthol (in its natural, l-isomer form), is responsible for most of mint’s cooling character. And though the crystalline form of some polyols, such as xylitol, create a slight cooling feeling from their endothermic breakdown, this differs from a menthol cooling sensation.
> 
> ## Menthol bears the distinction of being both volatile and oil-soluble, which allows it to enter the nasal passages with enough left in the solid or liquid phase to pass through the epithelium of the tongue and mouth. There it basically resets thermal receptors, sensitizing them to cooling. This cooling depends heavily on evaporation. “If you put some menthol in your mouth and close your mouth,” Bryant says, “there’s not too much of a thermal, cool sensation.” Just breathe in, however, and the evaporation helps intensify the effect.

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**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-mint-makes-my-mouth-feel-cold/132924/3 "2002-10-19T01:59:19Z")

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Because I’m so cool, baby. 🆒