The description says that these throat candies (cough drops?) contain 18 herbs, so I expected these drops to be somewhat strong, but they were sweet tasting and very Mild on the 18 herbs for a sore throat soother. Which made it difficult for me to think of them as a cough drop/throat soother and I had to try to remember not eat them like a candy. I don't know if they helped my sore throat as I was too distracted by them tasting like candy to notice.