Man finds 27-year-old pack of Polos while cleaning out grandfather's house
A grandson was stunned after finding a 27-year-old packet of Polos while cleaning out their late grandfather's house.
John Junior, 35, found the mints in July - while clearing their grandfather Jack's house after he passed away aged 96 in July 2022.
The sweets had a best before date of November 1, 1997, but still have their distinctive aroma of peppermint and foil, John said.
They were likely purchased from John's grandfather's local Co-Op in Altrincham, Manchester.
John plans to either auction the Polos or be sponsored to eat them, and says the money will go to the fund for victims of the recent Southport attack or for bleed kits.
John, a mental health campaigner, from Knutsford, Cheshire, said: "It was amazing to find them.
"The look and smell of them made me cry - they took me instantly back to sitting in my grandad's van with him.
"They're a piece of my childhood.
"It's crazy.
"When I found them it was pure nostalgia, I remembered the packaging and everything.
"They are fully wrapped up in perfect condition - like the day they were bought."
John found the Polos in their grandad's bedroom, in a box with Jack's military medals.
Jack - who worked as a plumber - used to take John out a few times a week in his van, and the pair always ate Polo mints while on the road.
Polos are still John's favourite sweets and they eat them up to three times a week, they said.
Polos were first sold in 1948 - costing 6p.
"Now they are around 85p a packet."
John researched online and claims the Polos - which are sugar-free - could fetch up to £36k at auction.
They'll either sell them to a collector or raise money being sponsored to eat them, they claim.
John said: "I think they are rare.
"He [Jack] always kept things in pristine condition - everything he had was all in order.
"I'm very protective of them and keep them in a safe."
John Junior, 35, found the mints in July - while clearing their grandfather Jack's house after he passed away aged 96 in July 2022.
The sweets had a best before date of November 1, 1997, but still have their distinctive aroma of peppermint and foil, John said.
They were likely purchased from John's grandfather's local Co-Op in Altrincham, Manchester.
John plans to either auction the Polos or be sponsored to eat them, and says the money will go to the fund for victims of the recent Southport attack or for bleed kits.
John, a mental health campaigner, from Knutsford, Cheshire, said: "It was amazing to find them.
"The look and smell of them made me cry - they took me instantly back to sitting in my grandad's van with him.
"They're a piece of my childhood.
"It's crazy.
"When I found them it was pure nostalgia, I remembered the packaging and everything.
"They are fully wrapped up in perfect condition - like the day they were bought."
John found the Polos in their grandad's bedroom, in a box with Jack's military medals.
Jack - who worked as a plumber - used to take John out a few times a week in his van, and the pair always ate Polo mints while on the road.
Polos are still John's favourite sweets and they eat them up to three times a week, they said.
Polos were first sold in 1948 - costing 6p.
"Now they are around 85p a packet."
John researched online and claims the Polos - which are sugar-free - could fetch up to £36k at auction.
They'll either sell them to a collector or raise money being sponsored to eat them, they claim.
John said: "I think they are rare.
"He [Jack] always kept things in pristine condition - everything he had was all in order.
"I'm very protective of them and keep them in a safe."
Transcript
00:00Oh they smell so minty and fresh