Black Bullets: The History of the North East's Favourite Mint

Ask anyone who grew up in the North East about Black Bullets and you will usually get a smile, then a story: a grandad who always had a paper bag of them in his coat pocket, a dad who came home from the yard smelling of peppermint, a corner shop jar that never seemed to run empty. For more than a century, Jesmona Black Bullets have been part of everyday life in this corner of England.

What are Black Bullets?

Black Bullets are round, glossy, almost-black boiled sweets with a strong, herbal peppermint flavour. They are hard, so they last a long time, and the peppermint builds the longer you keep one in your mouth. The Jesmona recipe uses just three ingredients: sugar, glucose and peppermint oil.

In the North East, "black bullet" became the everyday name for this kind of dark mint ball, and Jesmona is the name most people remember on the jar and the tin.

Where did Jesmona come from?

Jesmona was first made in the North East of England in 1906. The name is believed to come from Jesmond, an area of Newcastle upon Tyne. Over the decades the striped black and white tins became as recognisable as the sweets inside them, and in 2006 the brand marked its centenary with new 250g tins.

A working sweet: pits, ports and pockets

Long before they were a nostalgic treat, Black Bullets were a working sweet. They were carried down the region's coal pits and through its shipyards, tucked into jacket pockets and snap tins.

It is easy to see why. A hard mint lasts a long time, needs no wrapper and doesn't melt in a warm pocket. Smoking was forbidden underground, so many miners relied on something to keep their mouths busy and fresh through a long shift, and a strong peppermint was just the job. In the shipyards, the cold sea air off the Tyne and the Wear made a warming mint very welcome.

Jesmona Black Bullets isn't just a sweet, it's an institution and a cultural badge of honour.John Gray, Co-founder, Mr Swainstons

Why they became hard to find

As the pits and many of the yards closed, and as corner shops gave way to supermarkets, traditional boiled sweets slowly disappeared from the shelves. In recent years, Black Bullets have become harder and harder to track down, and we lost count of the customers who came into our shop asking if we had any.

Jesmona comes home to South Shields

In 2026, Mr Swainstons signed a three-year exclusive licence for Jesmona, giving us full UK rights to distribute, market and develop the brand. It is a proper full-circle moment for a South Shields sweet shop.

The recipe stays exactly as it is, with the same three ingredients and the same herbal peppermint flavour, and the heritage striped tins are staying too. Over the next three years we will also develop new traditional sweets under the Jesmona name, and we are opening wholesale to shops across the country. You can read the full announcement on our Jesmona page.

How to enjoy a Black Bullet

• Suck, don't crunch. The flavour builds slowly, and they are hard enough to test any tooth.
• Keep a few in your pocket. They were made for long walks, cold football terraces and car journeys.
• Share them. Offering someone a Black Bullet is a very North East thing to do.

Where to buy Jesmona Black Bullets

You can buy Jesmona Black Bullets by the bag or in the classic striped tin, here online or in our shop at 128–130 Fowler Street, South Shields. We deliver across the UK with tracked Royal Mail, and delivery is free on orders over £30.

Run a shop? We would love to hear from you. Register your interest in stocking Jesmona.

Black Bullet questions

What flavour are Black Bullets?

Strong peppermint. They have a slightly herbal, warming taste that is stronger than an everyday mint.

Are Black Bullets the same as mint humbugs?

No. Humbugs are striped and usually softer in flavour. Black Bullets are a solid, dark, round mint ball with a much stronger peppermint kick.

What are Black Bullets made of?

Jesmona Black Bullets contain sugar, glucose and peppermint oil. Check the product page for full allergen information.