Candy canes, peppermint bark, and minty mochas are quintessential signs of the holiday season. But how did peppermint, a spring and summer herb, become so strongly associated with winter? While pumpkins and apples have clear autumnal connections, peppermint’s winter reign is a more intriguing mystery.
The peppermint phenomenon likely began with candy canes, which have a history spanning several centuries. According to Carly Schildhaus, director of communications at the National Confectioners Association, “Candy canes are among the most popular treats for the winter holiday season, and 75% of Americans prefer a classic peppermint candy cane over any other type.” Historians trace the candy cane’s origins to 17th-century Europe, possibly originating as “white sugar sticks” commissioned by a Cologne cathedral choirmaster to quiet children during Christmas services. The shepherd’s crook shape added symbolic meaning, linking the treat to the nativity story. By the early 20th century, candy canes arrived in America, with the iconic red and white stripes possibly originating with a confectioner in Albany, Georgia. Today, even the preferred method of consumption is a subject of debate, with 54% of people reportedly starting with the straight end, according to Schildhaus.
However, peppermint’s holiday association extends beyond candy canes. Its long history of medicinal use stems from menthol’s cooling properties, which offer relief from digestive issues and respiratory congestion—ailments often exacerbated during colder months. This “cooling effect” is key to its appeal. Rasheed Perry, a scientist at NYU’s Food and Nutrition Studies department, explains that menthol “tricks the body into thinking that it’s experiencing something cool when the temperature has not changed.”
The paradox of craving a cooling sensation in winter is intriguing. While autumn’s chill inspires cravings for warm spices, winter seems to ignite a desire for the coolness of menthol. Helene Hopfer, an associate professor of food science at Pennsylvania State University, suggests this might stem from our association of cold with winter and the holidays: “When it’s winter, it’s cold. So it could be that it’s something you can enjoy the coldness of without actually being outside in the cold.”
Regardless of its precise origins, the winter-peppermint connection is firmly established. Hopfer notes the strong emotional component: “It’s all related to how, around the holidays, we enjoy these particular holiday-specific foods with people that are close to us, and they are typically consumed in a time when we might not be so stressed out…This leads to an association that our brains make by eating certain foods. That, ‘Oh, I feel relaxed, I feel happy, I feel joyful.’” Therefore, peppermint’s continued prominence in the holiday season seems assured.