Halls Cough Drops: Candy or Medicine in Belize?

Mar 17, 2015|Ambergris Caye

Just the other day, I was buying cough drops for a friend with a…get this…a COUGH! Imagine that? In the US, Halls are usually displayed front and center at drug stores during the winter months when everyone is getting sick. And then during the rest of the year? They are hidden back by the pharmacy…unneeded…unwanted.

Not in Belize. At only $1bzd a pack, they are often displayed with the candy as opposed to medicines and in a HUGE range of flavors. As well as some of the craziest. At least in my book…

Chela y Limon. Beer and Lime. COUGH DROPS!

And multi-colors…like they are M&Ms…or Skittles…or…candy?

Halls are always front and center at local markets…and not just during cold season. All the time.

They are sold by the street vendors who display colorful, vast quantities of sugar to kids outside the primary schools during breaks.

Which one of these things doesn’t belong??

I did a quick poll…of my taxi driver that day that just happened to have Halls on his console. “They are good for my breath” and keep his mouth from drying out.

At Marina’s Store displayed with the Starburst and gum.

Okay…and a San Pedro High School girl told me that “everyone” eats them. “Like a pack a day.” Interesting. Is this a Belize thing? A Mexican thing (that’s where these imported COUGH DROPS come from…)? I need to do some research.

Here is what my internet research yielded:

This seems to be a Latin American thing. Brazil, for instance, sells flavors like Strawberry with Chocolate Filling (OH THE HORROR) and Peach with Vanilla Crystals.

Or creamy menthol Halls? Yack!

Double yack! Maracuja = passion fruit!

In the Phillippines, Halls are packed in children’s gift bags when they leave birthday parties (according to this blog.)

On the US Halls website, these lozenges are clearly a medicine. The section “Choose your Halls” asks if you “Do You Have a Sore Throat” and “I Have an Irritating Cough”.

But the Brazilians seem to lead the charge in labeling HALLS AS A CANDY.

Check out their facebook page “Halls Brasil” – over 6mm fans. You’ve GOT to love the Brazilians.