Ricola Lemon Mint Throat Drops

Almost a week ago I developed a sudden cough, and three days later I felt absolutely terrible.  Since we have a vacation coming up, I decided I better get to the Dr. and see if I needed some antibiotics.  I sure did!  I was diagnosed with dual ear infections, a sinus infection, and the early stages of bronchitis. 

My doctor put me on antibiotics and a prescription strength cough syrup with codeine, and told me to buy Mucinex and cough suppressants.  After a few days on the antibiotics I started to feel much better, but the cough is hanging on.  Not only is this cough a nagging irritation, but when I'm done with my coughing fit my throat is sore and my head aches. 

I have used Ricola brand herb throat drops for many years, and when my store had them on sale for 10/$10 a while ago I stocked up.  Boy am I glad I did, I am going through them like candy.  Most of us have heard those famous Ricola commercials, with someone shouting Riii-cola from a mountain top. 

The name Ricola is indeed unusual, so I went looking for the meaning of the word (Ricola is made in Switzerland), and their website explains that the name is derived by combining the name of the owner family, "Richterich", and the name of the town in Switzerland where Ricola products were invented and are still produced today, "Laufen".  They took the first two letters of RIchterich COmpany LAufen to come up with the name*.  (*Info taken from the Ricola site).

The bag I am working my way through right now is Ricola Natural Lemon Mint Herb Throat Drops.  Let me tell you right up front, these are not cough drops, and I have never found an effective lozenge on the market that actually quells a cough.  With that in mind, I have been mainly sucking on the Ricola Lemon Mint drops to sooth a sore throat, and help relieve that tickle in my chest that causes the cough.

The drops come in a paper bag, mine contains 30 drops, but the bag boasts that it contains a bonus of 25% more product.  The bag pictires both a wrapped and unwrapped throat drop, as well as a picture of a fresh mint plant. 

Size wise, they are comparable to most throat drops/cough drops, measuring 1" in length and 5/8" wide, and are a smooth oval shape.  They are a light yellow color with an "R" engraved in the top middle.  I love the wrappers of these drops, as they look like a lightly waxed paper, and the throat drops don't stick to them even if they get left in a purse or coat pocket for an extended length of time.

The back of the bag states that the Ricola Natural Lemon Mint Throat Drops combine refreshing, natural Lemon Mint with a hint of menthol and Ricola's delicious mixture of Swiss alpine herbs.

Ricola's website has even more information about each of their products, and says this about the Lemon Mint: Ricola Lemon Mint gets its uniquely mellow taste from the herb lemon balm. Light and refreshing, Ricola Lemon Mint is ideal for year-round use, offering relief from cold and flu symptoms as well as dry, scratchy throats and seasonal allergies.

Active ingredients in the throat drops are 1.5 mg of menthol, which is listed on the bag as an oral pain reliever.  Other ingredients are very natural and ones that I am very impressed with.  They include: citric acid, extract of lemon balm and Ricola's herb mixture (elder, horehound, hyssop, lemon balm, linden flowers, mallow, peppermint, sage, thyme, wild thyme), beta carotene for natural color, natural flavors of lemon and peppermint oils, starch syrup and sugar.

I have used about 1/4 of this bag so far, and I have mixed feelings about this flavor.  Usually lemon helps stop that urge to cough, and I have even had good luck with those lemon drop candies.  However, this Ricola Lemon Mint Throat Drop really doesn't do much to prevent the tickle in my throat and chest.  I also don't taste hardly any menthol, and I don't notice any throat pain relief.  The oval shape of the throat drop feels good in the mouth and does not have any sharp (or square) edges. 

The bag says these are naturally soothing and refreshing,and while I do agree that they can be soothing, and sucking on them helps keep my throat moist, they are not what I would consider refreshing.  In fact, when I finish one I always have an odd taste in my mouth and feel like brushing my teeth.  I don't have this problem with the other flavors of Ricola Throat Drops that I have consumed in the past week.

To summarize, I love the ingredients, and find them soothing to a drythroat, but I am disappointed in their effectiveness to relieve any throat pain, and the flavor, although quite lemony, isn't my favorite of the Ricola products.  Can't beat the value for a buck though, so I will continue to purchase their other flavors.  Ricola makes these flavors:  Cherry Honey, Honey Herb, Honey Lemon with Echinacea, Natural Herb Cough Drops, Sugar Free Cherry, Sugar Free Menthol, Sugar Free Lemon Mint, Sugar Free Green Tea with Echinacea, and Sugar Free Mountain Herb Cough Suppressant.

Ricola products have been around for more than 75 years, and my store always has a separate mid aisle display of all their flavors, and indeed they do seem to be a good seller.  It's just that I like some flavors better than others, and the Lemon Mint is not one of my favorites.  I rate this one 3 out of 5 stars.