Aussies erupt as Allen's brings back 'worst lolly ever created'

There are certain things that we Aussies miss on the daily. Dunkaroos, Mint Freddos and Toffee Apple Chews are just some of the items that make this list (along with certain Impulse scents and hyper-colour t-shirts).

And then, there are the things we would happily leave in the proverbial graveyard of our youth. Those little relics that we drove into obscurity thanks to our blatant lack of interest in or appreciation for them.

Exhibit A: Allen's Spearmint Leaves.

These confounding sweets were often left to languish on supermarket shelves, and for good reason. I mean, what were they even supposed to be? They weren't after-dinner mints, they weren't breath fresheners, and they were way too minty to snack on during a movie. Yep, in the storied history of pondering why things existed, Spearmint Leaves would be right up there.

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It's little wonder they were discontinued in 2015. And yet, like the guy you politely tried to ghost after two dates, they are making an unwelcome comeback - as announced earlier this week.

If Allen's (the company responsible for this mess) was hoping for fanfare around the return of these sugar-coated monstrosities, they would have been sorely disappointed. Instead, many Aussies have reacted to the news in much the same way you would expect them to receive wind that Albo was planning a nudie run on national telly.

Surprising reaction to return of Spearmint Leaves

In a popular Facebook group, one aggrieved person shared the news that "by far the worst lolly ever created" was set to invade our once-peaceful lives, and the response was...surprising.

"They are beautiful. So glad they’ve brought them back," someone wrote - surely in jest.

"Absolutely one of the best lollies from Allen's," another person added in what I assumed was a scathingly sarcastic retort.

"My favourite by far. Bring them on!" yet another group member wrote, presumably in on the joke.

My confidence that these folks were just taking the piss was soon shaken as I read through the thousands of comments on the original post.

One group member made me feel positive their childhood had been nothing short of Dickensian with their comment: "One of the best lollies!!!!!! They were the first to go if there was a lolly mix on the table. I used to buy packets of them and just eat and eat and eat them!!! So good!!!!"

"What? This is the king of lollies!" a lady wrote, as my heart began to sink that perhaps it was I who was wrong in my assessment of the minty abominations.

"My absolute favourite!!!" another said, while someone else wrote, "Omg this is amazing they were the best."

Dismayed, I read on as comment after comment rolled in with people expressing excitement at the return of the candy time forgot.

A ray of hope for Spearmint Leaves naysayers

Thankfully, among the sheer madness on display, there were several sane people who agreed that Spearmint Leaves are the literal worst.

"The disappointment when you'd open your little bag of mixed lollies and those horrible things would be in it," one person wrote - triggering my PTSD in the process. "Our local shop stopped letting us kids pick what we'd like in our sixpence worth and premixed them for us coz they reckoned we took too long deciding. We were not happy."

"Why on earth? I don't know a single person that enjoys these other than maybe decorating some other food that will taste badly after touching this," wrote another person to whom I immediately sent a friend request.

"I always thought it was strange to make a lolly that tasted like toothpaste. No, they weren't my favourite," added another.

"Yuk! I remember sneaking one from someone when I was a kid. Bad idea," recalled another (their mouth surely tasting mint and trauma as they typed).

"They were the yucky lollies! Eat them last!" someone else said, although we must question their rationale behind eating them at all.

And then, there was this comment from the person I can only assume is my soulmate who wrote: "Spearmint Leaves are the worst lollies to ever be made and no one can tell me otherwise."

Where can I buy Spearmint Leaves?

The news that the divisive confectionary would be making its (allegedly) long-awaited return was revealed earlier this week on Instagram account @thegrocerygeekau.

"They’re BACK!.... Allen's Spearmint Leaves are returning to shelves over the next few weeks - a real Aussie favourite🥳…," the post lied.

"A sugar-dusted lolly with a refreshing minty flavour - what's not to love?😋," it asked (surely rhetorically because, honey child, we do not have enough TIME to answer that).

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And, to add insult to injury, the caption concluded with the news that not only are Spearmint Leaves back, but they are now VEGAN.

So, yeah, if you're in the market for a "treat" that tastes like Colgate Minty Gel rolled in a bag of CSR, you can get your fix at most supermarkets and convenience stores for 5 smackers.

Don't say we didn't warn you!

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