Dutch Food Delights: Anta-Flu
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.
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.
Dear Heather, when it comes to Antaflu, I would like to remark one big thing: so much of that stuff is being eaten by the Dutch, that the paper wrappers are found everywhere, littering even to the most remote forest area's. Unfortunately the wrappers are not made out of paper but very tough plastic. What a shame. I pictured wrappers everywhere in nature. Too sad!
I have to agree with you Marco. Those little green wrappers are regularly found on the ground.
Hi! I just posted about this "phenomenon" on my FB. I've lived in the Netherlands for the last 10 years and I still find it odd when someone offers me a "snoepje" and they try to hand me a cough drop! I've tasted these and they taste just like the Vicks cough drops we have back home. When I was sick and looking for cough drops, I got very frustrated when I couldn't find them at the Albert Heijn and finally asked someone. To my pure disgust, I was directed to the candy isle, and there they were along with the other brands of cough drops! Now I find it humorous and everytime someone offers me one I turn them down telling them, "No thank you, but I hope you get better soon!" ha ha. The Anta-flu is for my palate in every way a medicine and something I would only consume when sick. And yes, watch out for the ones that can cut your tongue! :-)
[…] Anta-Flu […]
I purchased the green wrapper Anta Flu cough drops when in Amsterdam. They were the only thing that controlled my cough. How can i order them in the U.S. or arrange to purchase them from Amsterdam, or a supplier, without going back to Amsterdam. thanks in advance for your help. Shelley Levy
I recently got a throat ache and as I am pregnant I am not really allowed to take any medicine for this. Tried to fool it with ginger, lemon, lots of tea, but the only remedy for me was these little drops. I'm glad I remembered to have bought them when I was in Holland. So maybe they do have an effect, although, as you said Heather, they are just sweets. :)