In defence of the Peppermint Pattie - News + Articles

Jun 18, 2026

And while we’re at it, a little respect for choc-mint ice cream.

This week in the delicious. office, as per usual, conversation drifted towards snacks. On this occasion, it was the age-old, relationship-testing debate: is the Tim Tam or the Mint Slice the ultimate biscuit?

While the answer to that question is painfully obvious (Mint Slice, duh), a surprising new topic entered the chat: how we all really felt about the Peppermint Pattie.

Office opinions were swift and brutal. They ranged from a bewildered, “What is a Peppermint Pattie?” (blasphemy) to a highly dramatic, “The Peppermint Pattie is an affront to both chocolate and mint. Neither ingredient consented to this union. Justice for peppermint. Justice for cocoa” (this is a direct quote, mind you).

But call me crazy – I think this minty little underdog is being unfairly targeted. It deserves its time in the sun just like the Mars Bar, the KitKat or those Summer Rolls you used to trick yourself into thinking were healthy but are actually just pure sugar wrapped in coconut.

The Peppermint Pattie is fresh, sweet and a little zingy, and is essentially just an extra-minty Mint Slice without all that biscuit getting in the way.

Now, I should probably issue a disclaimer here: I have a proven track record of rooting for the more maligned confectionery choice. I think black jelly beans are a misunderstood delicacy, my favourite Easter eggs have always been the 85% dark chocolate ones, and I actually quite enjoy a musk stick. I essentially have the palate of an old man.

But my questionable preferences don’t take away from the Pattie’s status as a Solid Choice when perusing the chocolate aisle at Woolies.

Sure, if you get hung up on the idea that it tastes like toothpaste covered in compound chocolate, you’ll probably have a bad time. But you have to change the narrative! Think of all the delightful choc-mint memories you can conjure instead. Sneaking After Dinner Mints off the table at your parents’ fancy dinner parties! Those peppermint creams your mum used to make for the school fete! Minties on endless family road trips!

What is even more concerning than the peppermint hate, however, is that in Australia, Nestlé’s minty offering is actually just called a ‘Mint Pattie’. Sans ‘pepper’.

Perhaps us thinking they’re called ‘Peppermint Pattie’ is some sort of sugary Mandela effect, much like when we all collectively hallucinated that Iced VoVos had marshmallow on them. Or perhaps it’s an undercover psychological operation by Big Confectionery to screw with us. Regardless, it makes me feel like we’ve been lied to for a very long time, so I will be referring to them by their nostalgically correct name of Peppermint Pattie forevermore.

Case closed. Now pass the choc-mint ice cream.