What:
Anta-Flu – a small, hard sweet that is shaped similar to a cough drop.
Why:
Anta-Flu are supposed to be used to as a throat lozenge or to help soothe a cough. However, the sneeky name makes you think that they have health healing qualities. For ages I really did think they were called anti-flu.
Where:
This Dutch food can be found in supermarkets and other food shops, as well as in newsagents. They are sold in bags of various sizes.
When:
You can find anta-flu all year round and they do seem to be used all year round as I am always seeing their wrapping papers on the ground in public.
Varieties:
There appear to be three main types: green wrapper: eucalyptus, blue wrapper: menthol mint and orange wrapper: classic (which seems to mean aniseed flavour). The classic flavour also comes in a sugar-free variety.
How Much [Should I Eat]:
This is of course going to come down to a personal preference thing with regards to the flavours. For example, I quite like the eucalyptus flavour, don’t mind the mint one but you couldn’t pay me to eat the disgusting orange wrapper variety (I cringe just thinking about it).
Pas Op! (Watch Out!):
There are two main things to look out for when it comes to anta-flu. The first is that despite their name they seem to have not an ounce of healing power in them. Unless you consider glucose-syrup, sugar, natural flavourings and citric acid to be healing.
The second point is that every so often you will get one that has a big crack in it causing that unavoidable tongue slicing action that causes oh so much pain.
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I’ve never really understood why the Dutch like them so much and eat them even when they don’t have a cold or flu but they do.
Well they really are just sweets. There is nothing in the ingredients to suggest that they have any cold or flu-busting qualities. So, I guess from that aspect it kinda makes sense.