The History of Tic Tacs

Tic Tacs were invented in 1969 in Italy, but the story starts a little further back than that. Ferrero, the Italian candy company that is famous for making treats like Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, was started by Pietro Ferrero in 1946. He started the company as an experimental food lab in the hopes of supporting his wife’s pastry shop. Roughly 20 years later, Ferrero's son Michele took over what had become a thriving business. Under his leadership, Tic Tacs were born. At first, they were initially billed simply as “refreshing mints.” The name Tic Tac came later and was inspired by the sound the little packaging boxes made when they were opened or closed. Today, there are multiple Tic Tac flavors available, including Wintergreen, Freshmint, Orange, and more. The little treats have garnered a massive fanbase over the years and are now sold all over the world, including at American retailers both large and small.