"mentos" news and stories

The Mentos and Diet Coke guys are back -- in 3D! Almost four years to the day after Stephen Voltz and Fritz Grobe posted the (literally) explosive video featuring the Vegas-worthy fountains that they created from nothing more than Mentos dropped into two-liter bottles of Diet Coke, the pair has returned with a striking new gambit.

Their latest feat? A rocket car powered by (you guessed it) Mentos and Coke Zero. If, in an age of evermore rapid technological advancement, four years seems like a long time to wait for the next generation of candy-and-soda fueled propulsion, it's not like Voltz and Grobe have been holed up in their lab in Buckfield, Maine the whole time. What started out as a backyard gag of the "dude, do you know what happens when you mix Mentos and Coke" variety turned into one of the most viral videos of all time and quickly launched the duo into the stratosphere of internet-born celebrity, with appearances everywhere from Letterman to Ellen, corporate-speaking gigs, performances with the Blue Man Group, and videos for Barenaked Ladies and Weezer.

The video after the jump.

Have you heard about that science experiment where you drop a Mentos in a bottle of Diet Coke? The soda is supposed to explode into a fountain of cola.

This experiment was taken to greater heights this week in Leuvan, Belgium. 1,500 students simultaneously created the fountains in an attempt to break the previous record for the event. I have no idea what the previous record was, but I hope these kids broke it. With the mess they made, they deserve it.

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What's an old-school mint have to do make itself stand out from the ever-growing ranks of breath-freshening products crowding convenience store shelves? Well, it could engage in a wacky marketing campaign, or it could do something to help out its customers. Mentos seems to have done both by hiring Trevor the intern. Like most summer interns, his job is to help out everyone everywhere with everything, no matter how trivial.

Trevor, a 19-year-old student at the University of Cincinnati, started his Mentos gig this week and is ensconced in parent company Perfetti Van Melle USA's Erlanger, Ky., headquarters. Looking through his schedule for yesterday, there are a few things that fall squarely into the trivial category: "MOONWALK PLZ," "read me a fariytale," and "crank call my sister." The most serious task on the list, "write a resignation letter." Which brings to mind the obvious question is Mentos serious?

Trevor's bio mentions that he's from Owensboro, Ky., "the BBQ capital of the world." While I wouldn't go that far, it is most certainly the capital of mutton and lamb barbecue. Since that's the case, I thought I'd have him overnight me some 'cue. I couldn't get the forms on the "Give me work" page to cooperate, so I left my man Trevor a voicemail last night. Let's see if he comes through.

Update: Well, despite my East Coast elitist skepticism it turns out that Trevor is in fact a real person. And why not, I'm quite sure there have been stranger internships. He left me a voicemail this morning saying "I don't make nearly enough money to be sending things out." What an earnest young man, he actually thought I wanted him to spend his own cash to send me some Owensboro 'cue. He did, however, tell me that his favorites are Moonlight and Old Hickory. Shortly after I got the message, I called him back and told him that I wanted Mentos to foot the bill as a way to promote their product and the fine smoked mutton and lamb of Owensboro. I also mentioned that I've eaten 'cue in the Carolinas, Kansas City and Tennessee and participated in numerous barbecue competitions. Trevor told me that he'd look it into with the higher-ups at Mentos. Who knows, maybe they can send me succulent mutton in time for July 4.

At this point, we all know what happens when you combine Mentos and Diet Coke, but what about combinations of other sodas with other candies? Will they produce similar, or perhaps even more spectacular, results? Thanks to a video linked to by Brian, from Candy Addict, we now know the answer to this subset of life's little mysteries. These film makers bravely tested the following combinations in the name of science: candy corn and root beet, Sweetarts and Sprite and Toucan Toes and milk. Check out the video above to see their results.

I think we'll all sleep a little better tonight, although not quite as good as I'll sleep once I learn where I can get some of those Toucan Toes....

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Mentos may once have been known as "the freshmaker," but we now know them best for the reaction that occurs when they are submerged in Coke. To cash in on their newfound glory, Mentos has created the Mentos Geyser contest, where entrants will compete to see whose homemade geyser reigns supreme. The videos must be no longer than 2 minutes and have to feature a regular Mentos (not sugar free) being dropped into "a plastic bottle of a carbonated beverage of any brand." There is a video tool kit available to contestants, which contains the Mentos logo, jingle and other graphics that might be useful. Entries must be submitted to YouTube by September 30th, 2006.

Prizes include up to 1000 iTunes downloads, a year's supply of Mentos (320 rolls) and various Mentos merchandise. Not to mention that everyone will have the chance to watch people making soda fountains of their own.

May the best geyser win!

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