Entry #3: Mint

 A Refreshing Experience

Any time after eating a large meal, I reach for a box lying near me. In it, there are distinctly wrapped squares surrounded by a thin layer of plastic. I can hear them shake around when opening the box. I reach for a piece, thinking about the purpose behind grabbing this cool, refreshing after-meal delight. 

[Source: eberhard grossgasteig]

It takes a few tries to unwrap the plastic. I hear a crinkle or two, followed by a tear. This means it is almost open.  After wrestling with the wrapper for a few seconds, I manage to slip out a dissolvable block of freshness. I can almost feel it before it reaches my mouth. This is nothing new for me, but my mouth is so dry after eating - I can't help it. So, I quickly drop the white, textured square on my tongue. Instantly, there is a burn. This feeling isn't new, but I'm caught off guard every time. Like dropping ice on a slice of stale bread, there's an instant reaction likened to instant melting of the object and hydration of the bland. The dry and boring is met with its polar opposite. It feels like ice, as if a cool breeze passed by my lips. Such a short and simple part of my day feels so intense; it’s a truly unique experience every day. Had I done this less often, today would’ve felt more impactful. Regardless, nothing prepares me for the feeling I get from this. Then, I get a blast of cold air shooting through my sinuses, as if everything in my nose cleans and freshens itself.

 

The aftertaste is fruity. Just a touch of citrus to go with the cold, acting like a balancing force.

 

[Source: Olena Bohovyk]

 

Before I know it, the feeling dissipates. The meltable melts, the cold air turns warm again, and I’m back to doing my school work or getting ready to take a sip of water to finish off the dry mouth feeling. One last blast of coolness is felt with a gulp or two of a glass of water, and the blandness comes back. Just like drinking a sugary refreshment, the novelty wears itself off when the sweetness is over with the last sip. Another day passes, and the aftertaste melts away as quick as the ice-cold jolt of life that I dissolved in my mouth.