The “Mint Dream” from Russell Stover comes in a pretty, shiny foil wrapper bearing the description “fluffy mint cream covered in milk chocolate“. Unfortunately, the package may be the best thing about this particular candy.
To be fair, there’s nothing to complain about in the candy’s appearance, either. It’s an attractive, smooth chocolate round approximately two inches in diameter and a bit over one inch tall. A pleasant aroma of chocolate is preceptible, but there’s not much (aside from the wrapper) to hint at mint, which is interesting, as most minty candies tend to announce their flavor with a strong scent of mint.
On to the tasting!
The chocolate coating (of a thickness sufficient to make it a noticeable flavor and not a mere protective covering for the filling) is nice enough– but the filling is odd. At first glance, it’s attractive– a creamy white (as depicted on the wrapper) with a whipped, frothy texture. A small nibble tastes almost more buttery than minty– not what you expect from something named “Mint Dream”. A larger bite (with a higher filling-to-chocolate ratio), however, reveals a slightly more bracing mintiness. It’s a “dark” mint flavor, though, if that makes any sense, not pleasantly sharp as you find in many mint candies (such as the York Peppermint Pattie).
Here’s a curious observation of the Mint Dream: The “fluffy” filling melts a little and turns a bit slick after contact with… er, mouth moisture, which creates a somewhat less appealing look in the candy, once you’ve begun to eat it. (The word “slimy” comes to mind.) On the plus side, this also means that it melts in your mouth. (I understand that a good number of people find this a selling point in foods of all kinds.)
The Mint Dream is a bit of an odd size. Rather like a Cadbury Creme Egg, it feels bigger and richer than your average fun-size candy bar, but it’s somewhat messy to save some for later. (In all honesty, if I liked this candy better, I wouldn’t even have considered saving some for later. The fact that the idea even came into my head is a sign of how little I liked it.)
Overall, this candy is nothing to write home about. It isn’t exactly awful, but I didn’t really enjoy eating it– and that’s the whole point of candy.
Note: I have read that some people prefer to eat this candy cold, and I imagine that would increase its appeal. Still, for my money, the simple York Peppermint Pattie or Junior Mint wins the day. It all comes down to texture. If you like ultra-soft, fluffy fillings, chocolate, and mint, try the Mint Dream, by all means.
Brand: Russell Stover
Weight: 1.13oz
Price: Less than $1
Yum: Pretty package. Pleasant chocolate. Unique, extremely fluffy filling (if that’s your thing).
Yuck: Price per ounce is high. Flavor and texture not my favorite.
| Packaging: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Aroma: |  (3.0 / 5) |
| Texture: |  (2.0 / 5) |
| Appearance: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Flavor: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Value: | (2.0 / 5) |
| Overall: | (3.0 / 5) |
Mint Dream is the best candy ever created in the history of the world. I could eat a case of them in one sitting. Peppermint Patties and Junior Mints don’t even come close to the greatest of a Mint Dream. It’s almost laughable that you even compared them to each other. I’ve loved eating Mint Dreams for nearly 25 years and will be buried with them when I die.
I absolutely agree!!! Best mint and chocolate candy ever!! It definitely is dreamy and so much better than Peppermint Patties or Junior Mints – they taste cheap compared to the Mint Dream. This tastes rich and heavenly. I, too have enjoyed these since I was a child, so for more than 40 years I’ve been buying them. They have disappeared, however, in Maine so I now purchase them on-line from Russell Stover. I agree that I have bought some where the mint filling wasn’t as fluffy and had some crystallization. I’ll still keep buying them, though, hoping Russell Stover will return to the original recipe.
I LOVE this candy!! The only bad part for me is that where I live I can find them only at a few Hallmark stores which are a few miles away. They are the very best. I never thought to eat a part of one of this candy and save some for later… never. I agree that who likes a strong minty flavor ….will not find that in this candy. But I like a mild minty flavor so…I am very happy with the whole taste… The chocolate cover is great also. i just hope they were easier to find at the local stores.
Michael.
I completely disagree with your critique. We all have different taste buds, and you are going by yours. I am saddened that the Giant no longer carries them, so I went to the Russell Stover website to purchase them. I understand Wegman’s also carries them. The Mint Dream is dreamy!
It is obvious to me that Michael has faulty tastebuds. I have loved them for way more than 25 years (oh dear…) and concur with mintyfresh in all things, including the funereal requirement. Am please to note that they now appear to come with a dark chocolate coating too which, as everyone knows, makes them a health food. Goody.
Disappointed! I am very fond of many Russell Stovers products but this one is a let-down. The filling has a buttery flavor with only a hint of of mint which is nothing like the far-better Junior Mints or York Peppermint Patties.
Michael’s and Julie’s reviews are way off the mark. ‘Junior Mints’ and ‘Peppermint Patties’ are utterly disgusting, cheap, low quality candies compared to the venerable, awesome ‘Mint Dream’! It’s like comparing a Chevy Cavalier to a BMW! I’ve been eating these things for 25 years or so, and I feel that RS’s ‘Mint Dream’ is one of the best tasting candies EVER! There is most definitely a decent hint of mint present, and that’s the idea. You don’t want it to overwhelm. The milk chocolate shell is a perfect ‘foil’ for the whipped, creamy center, and the whole thing just melts in your mouth. It is a ‘mouth-gasm’ of milk chocolate, mint flavor, and a hint of vanilla flavor. I will also be consuming ‘Mint Dreams’ until the day I say bye-bye!
Comparing Mint Dream to Junior Mints speaks for itself. This reviewer has zero taste.
I adore mint dreams…they have been my special treat for many years….I just wished they were as big and tall as they used to be……I just purchased a carton of them on-line…..Soooo Good!
Here is a “review” I just sent to Russell Stover about the decrease in quality of Mint Dreams since I first fell in love with them way back in 80s or 90s:
“I have been a fan of Dream Mints for 20 years or more, and the “experimentation” you have been doing with this confection has not gone unnoticed. As far as I am concerned, it is clear you are looking for the perfect way to decrease quality to increase profit: First, the size got smaller, then the filling had crystallization, the filling lost the crystallization, but was never the same marshmallow smooth that it was originally.
Then a dark chocolate version was created – ONE good thing. Even though the quality has been decreasing over the years, I have continued to buy Dream Mints solely on the illusion that there have been hints of the original quality, but I have finally reached the end of the “dream.”
I just visited the newly reopened outlet at Wildwood, FL, and bought 2 boxes of Dream Mints – one for me and one for my sister. I am now thoroughly disappointed and disgusted – once again the size has decreased and AGAIN the filling has crystallization in it. Worse, I now realize the silky smooth filling is gone forever. I am not stupid – just slow.” I have now finally realized that the quality of Dream Mints will never be restored. 🙁
Part 2. Based on the some of the comments above, I will concede that possibly Russell Stover has been trying to make Dream Mints appealing to a broader group of people who did not like the silky smooth and creamy, as opposed to fluffy, filling that I loved but was often messy. For me, the mess was so worth it, and I truly miss it.
Similar to Coke Classic, I wish Russell Stover would realize it’s mistake and restore the original classic and have a fluffy version if so many people prefer that.
I just purchased some Mint Dreams at an outlet in Missouri. They are no longer available anywhere in california that I can find and was told by the clerk there that they might only be available online and in the RS stores. I found it to be smaller, but the same silky, minty, whipped goodness as I have been eating for years. I also bought Pecan Rolls – still fabulous, and a new (to me) one: Pecan Pie bars. OMG. Overall, I think that for the $$, RS gets a horribly bad wrap. They might not be the ultimate gourmet chocolate, but many of their offerings are top notch and unique to boot. I hope that the sale to Lindt doesn’t ruin things.
Dear Candy Critique, that’s exactly why I love mint dreams- they have a hint of mint and not the overpowering mint flavor of things like York Peppermint patties. Oh and of course the yummy chocolate!