Why were mentos invented?

The invention of Mentos is credited to a Dutch company called Van Melle. According to the company's website, Mentos were first introduced in the Netherlands in 1948. The candy was named after the inventor's son, Menso, who was born that same year.

The original Mentos were fruit-flavored and came in a variety of shapes. In the early 1960s, Mentos were introduced to the United States. They were initially sold as a breath mint but were later marketed as a candy.

Mentos have become popular around the world. They are now sold in over 100 countries and come in a variety of flavors, including mint, fruit, and cola.