Sometimes you need something that is sweet or filling — or both — whether you are traveling, at work, or at home. A delicious shake can help to satisfy that craving and hold off your appetite until mealtime — or it could also be a dessert which tops off the meal.
Tasting the Mint Chocolate Shake From Arby’s — and The Verdict Is…
As I have never eaten anything from Arby’s in my entire life prior to trying their crispy fish sandwich — primarily because they are best known for their roast beef sandwiches; and I never particularly cared for roast beef — I never knew that they offered a chocolate mint shake annually prior to Saint Patrick’s Day…
…so as today is Wednesday, March 17, 2021 and therefore Saint Patrick’s Day, I thought I would try the small chocolate mint shake, which is only available for a limited time.
With my wallet lighter by $2.59 plus tax, I sampled the frozen concoction, which was topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and crushed Andes mint candy pieces, which are comprised of chocolate and mint.
Despite my first taste was that of chemicals — almost of medicinal note — and not more reminiscent of fresh mint and rich chocolate, the flavor of the shake was still reasonably good. I did eventually finish the shake.
Nutritional Information
I did not know exactly which list of ingredients matched the mint chocolate shake which I tried; so I included both lists here.
Mint Chocolate Shake-Snack: Vanilla Shake Mix (whole milk, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, nonfat milk, grade A sweet whey, cream, natural vanilla flavor, mono and diglycerides, cellulose gum, guar gum, carrageenan, dipotassium phosphate, sodium citrate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, annatto, caramel color), Mint Chocolate Shake Syrup (high fructose corn syrup, water, corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate [preservatives], polysorbate 80, vanilla extract, Yellow 5, Blue 1).
CONTAINS: MILK.
Mint Chocolate Shake-Small/Medium/Large: Vanilla Shake Mix (whole milk, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, nonfat milk, grade A sweet whey, cream, natural vanilla flavor, mono and diglycerides, cellulose gum, guar gum, carrageenan, dipotassium phosphate, sodium citrate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, annatto, caramel color), Mint Chocolate Shake Syrup (high fructose corn syrup, water, corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate [preservatives], polysorbate 80, vanilla extract, Yellow 5, Blue 1), Andes Mints (sugar, palm kernel and palm oil, cocoa [processed with alkali], nonfat milk, lactose, milk protein concentrate, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural and artificial flavors, peppermint oil, colors added [Yellow 5, Blue 1]), Ghirardelli Chocolate Drizzle (sugar, water, fructose, cocoa, natural flavor, unsweetened chocolate, potassium sorbate [preservative], salt, soy lecithin [emulsifier]), Whipped Topping (grade A cream, sucrose, corn syrup, nonfat milk solids, monoglycerides, natural and artificial flavors, salt, nitrous oxide gas). Contains Sulphites.
CONTAINS: SOY, MILK.
Manufactured on shared equipment that processes Tree Nuts.
| Nutritional Information | Arby’s Mint Chocolate Shake — Small | McDonald’s Shamrock Shake — Small |
| Serving Weight | 429 grams or 15.1325 ounces | 12 ounces |
| Calories | 660 | 460 |
| Calories from Fat | 200 | 120 |
| Fat — Total | 22 grams | 12 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 16 grams | 8 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 grams | 0.5 grams |
| Cholesterol | 55 milligrams | 50 milligrams |
| Sodium | 320 milligrams | 150 milligrams |
| Total Carbohydrates | 102 grams | 76 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 gram | 0 grams |
| Sugars | 93 grams | 58 grams |
| Proteins | 14 grams | 10 grams |
Summary
For a grand total of $2.75 — which includes sales tax — I did overall like the chocolate mint shake from Arby’s. However, I have no desire to order it again, as I would rather have a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s instead — maybe with the crushed chocolate mint pieces; but I can add those myself — if I cannot have a real homemade mint shake or chocolate mint shake, of course.
Both shakes are available for a limited time and are expected to be available for the remainder of the month of March 2021 — but they could suddenly be unavailable at any time.
Past articles at The Gate which pertain to the Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s — which have been inexplicably popular over the years — include:
- Shamrock Shakes Have Returned For 2021
- Tasting the New Oreo Shamrock McFlurry: 50 Years of Shamrock Shakes — and The Verdict Is…
- Shamrock Shakes Will Return for 50th Anniversary in 2020 — Plus…
- Shamrock Shakes Have Returned For 2019
- Shamrock Shakes Return in 2018 — But…
- Shamrock Shakes Return in 2017 — and With Four New Varieties
All photographs ©2021 by Brian Cohen.
