How Many Calories Are Tic Tacs

Tic Tacs are small, hard mints that are often marketed as a low-calorie breath freshener. They're known for their minimal size, sweet flavour, and seemingly innocent reputation when it comes to calories. However, while each mint contains only a small number of calories, it's easy to consume several in one sitting, especially since they're often eaten more like sweets than mints.

Calories Per Mint

A single Tic Tac weighs just under 0.5 grams and contains approximately 1.9 calories. The brand rounds this down on packaging and often promotes Tic Tacs as having “less than 2 calories per mint,” which is technically accurate but easy to misinterpret. Eating one or two isn’t likely to make a dent in your calorie count but having ten or more in one go can start to add up.

Calories Per Pack

A standard 18g Tic Tac pack contains around 36 to 38 mints, which equals roughly 70 to 80 calories in total. A 49g large pack, commonly sold at convenience stores, holds over 100 mints and delivers more than 190 calories if consumed in full. While the numbers are still relatively low compared to most sweets or chocolate bars, it’s a good example of how small things can add up especially if you snack on them mindlessly.

Nutritional Breakdown

Tic Tacs are made almost entirely of sugar (usually sucrose) and flavouring agents, with a small amount of anti-caking ingredients and food colouring. They contain virtually no fat, protein, or fibre, and all their calories come from simple carbohydrates, specifically refined sugar.

A single mint contains around 0.5 grams of sugar, meaning a full small pack contains approximately 18 grams of sugar, close to half the recommended daily limit for adults. Despite their small size, this makes them sugar-dense, even though they don’t taste overly sweet.

Do Tic Tacs Have a Glycaemic Impact?

Yes, Tic Tacs have a high glycaemic index, although the portion size usually keeps their glycaemic load low. That said, if you eat many at once, the sudden intake of sugar can cause a brief spike in blood glucose, especially if you're sensitive to sugar or managing insulin resistance. While they won’t affect blood sugar as drastically as a full sugary drink or large dessert, they’re not entirely neutral.

Are Tic Tacs Healthy?

Tic Tacs aren’t inherently harmful when eaten occasionally and in moderation. However, they offer no nutritional value, and the fact that they’re made entirely of sugar means they’re closer to miniature sweets than actual mints. Because they're easy to eat without thinking, it's common to underestimate how many you've had and how much sugar you’ve consumed as a result.

They can also stick to your teeth, contributing to tooth decay if eaten frequently and without proper oral hygiene.

Healthier Alternatives

If you're looking for a breath freshener without the sugar hit, consider sugar-free mints or gum made with xylitol or stevia. These options are often lower in calories and don’t carry the same risk of increasing blood sugar or damaging teeth.

You could also try natural breath fresheners like parsley, mint leaves, or fennel seeds, which contain phytonutrients and support digestion without added sugar or calories.

Summary

Each Tic Tac contains about 1.9 calories, with a small pack totalling 70 to 80 calories. While they’re low in calories per mint, their high sugar content and lack of nutritional value make them best enjoyed occasionally. They’re easy to overconsume, and when eaten in large amounts, can contribute to both excess sugar intake and tooth decay. If you use them often, sugar-free alternatives are worth considering for a lighter, healthier option.