Uncle Joes Mint Balls 120g tin

Product Information

Antony says it's a 'basic' production method that has remained since 1898 (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News) The comic magazine Viz made a strip called 'Uncle Joe's Mint Balls' which was about Joseph Stalin, who was sometimes called 'Uncle Joe' by Western media, and his quest to show off his untarnished testicles to the world's press (such testicles would be known as 'mint balls' in the vernacular of Northern England, where the comic is printed.) The sweets are loved all over the world, but only 12 people make them (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)

To work at the factory, workers had to pass two quite niche criteria – they had to be Methodist and know someone who already worked at the factory to ensure a ‘friendly and happy’ atmosphere.We have products that cover Gluten-Free, Vegan, Sugar Free and Traditional. All aimed at impulse buying, gift and seasonal markets. We extended our sugar free collection with a range of Mint with a Hint. This range of sweets was created by accident earlier this year after a member of staff making a batch of sugar-free mint balls at the Toffee Works, added liquorice extract by mistake. Colleagues tasted the end result and we liked them so much that we put them into production and started working on other flavours. I think one of the proudest moments for me was going into Bloomingdale's in New York and seeing our Uncle Joe's Mint Balls on the shelves there, then Ant and I went to San Francisco and they were in the airport shop there. It's a major buzz really - a little Wigan delicacy in famous places." Uncle Joes (William Santus Co Ltd) is a traditional British sweet retailer selling old-fashioned, traditional sweets, retro sweets and candy gifts. With a fantastic range of old-school, retro sweets that taste delicious.

Today, the business is in the hands of brothers John and Antony Winnard. Their great-great-uncle focused sweet sales on Wigan, Bolton and St Helens - but now Uncle Joe's is a global brand. Sadly, not all those small businesses have survived the coronavirus pandemic, and Santus admits turnover is still not as high as three years ago. And, as with so many other small firms, the company is currently facing rising costs - yet it still uses the same ingredients and works with the same company for its iconic red tins, fiercely refusing to compromise on quality in a way bigger firms might be tempted to. Enjoy yourself as you take a trip down memory lane, you’ll even be able to listen to comedian Mike Harding sing the song he wrote for us as a fan of Uncle Joes Mint Balls. Buying Our SweetsBrown cane sugar is boiled in copper pans up to the perfect temperature - hot enough to caramelise it for a distinctive flavour, but not too hot that it burns. Once at that point, it is poured onto a table for cooling before peppermint oil is added, causing a rush of minty steam to soar into the air and clear any nostril in the room.