Walk up to the edibles case at a Vermont shop and the choice can look purely like flavor: fruit gummies, chocolate squares, little tins of mints. But the format you pick changes more than taste. Because of how each one is made to be eaten — chewed and swallowed, or dissolved in your mouth — they tend to come on and wear off on different timelines. None of that is a promise about how you'll feel; effects vary a lot from person to person. But knowing the general pattern of each format makes it far easier to match one to the kind of evening you actually have planned. Here's how the big three compare.

What's the real difference between gummies, chocolates, and mints?

The dividing line isn't sweet-versus-minty — it's swallowed versus dissolved, because that changes the route the THC takes into your system:

• Swallowed edibles (gummies and chocolates). You chew and swallow them, so they travel through your digestive system before you feel much. That's why they're known for a slow, gradual onset and a longer, even ride.
• Dissolvable edibles (many mints, lozenges, and tablets). These are made to be held in your mouth and dissolve slowly. Some of the THC absorbs through the tissue under your tongue — the sublingual route — rather than waiting on digestion, which is why they're often reported to start sooner and fade sooner.

One important catch: not every mint is a dissolving mint. Plenty of "mints" are just small, mint-flavored bites meant to be chewed and swallowed, in which case they act like a tiny gummy. The label — and a budtender — will tell you which kind you're holding. If you're still deciding whether an edible is even your format over flower or a vape, our flower, vape, or edible walkthrough lays the three side by side.

Gummies: the slow, steady classic

Gummies are the most popular starting point for a reason. They're a chew-and-swallow edible, so they follow the familiar slow-build curve — commonly 30 minutes to 2 hours to come on — and tend to hold for a good stretch after that. The practical advantage is precision: gummies come in clearly labeled, individual servings, which makes them the easiest format to portion when you're still learning your amount.

That combination — long, even, and easy to measure — makes gummies the natural pick when you've got an open evening and no reason to rush. If a slow onset that settles in over a couple of hours sounds right, a gummy is hard to beat. For a deeper look at reading those serving labels and landing on your amount, see our beginner's guide to edible dosing in Vermont.

Mints and lozenges: quicker on, quicker off

Fast-dissolving mints and lozenges are the format to know about when the gummy timeline feels too long. Because you hold them in your mouth and part of the THC absorbs sublingually, people commonly report that they come on sooner than a swallowed edible and that the whole experience is shorter overall. They're also small, discreet, and pre-portioned, so there's no piece to break off and measure.

The shorter arc is the appeal: a mint can suit a defined window — an evening in where you'd rather not have the feeling linger into the next morning — better than a long-lasting gummy. Two things to keep in mind: let it actually dissolve rather than crunching and swallowing it (that's what gives it the head start), and double-check the label, since a "chewable" mint behaves like a standard swallowed edible instead.

Chocolates: the in-between treat

Chocolate lands in the middle. Mechanically it's a swallowed edible like a gummy, so expect the same gradual onset and long, even feel — but the experience of eating it is different. A cannabis chocolate is a dessert: you break it along the scored lines into labeled squares and enjoy it slowly. That ritual is the draw for a lot of people who find a chocolate square a nicer end to an evening than a fruit chew.

The one thing to watch with chocolate is exactly that easygoing, snackable quality — it's easy to nibble past a single serving without noticing. Read how the bar is divided before you start, set aside one square, and treat the rest like any labeled edible: patiently. A chocolate's timing is a gummy's timing, so give it the same two hours.

Which format fits my night — quiet evening or social one?

Once you know the pattern of each, matching one to your plans is simple. A few common scenarios:

• A long, open evening at home. A gummy or a chocolate suits an unhurried night with nowhere to be — the slow onset and longer, even ride fit the pace. Pair one with a movie using the timing tips in our edibles + movie night guide.
• A shorter, defined window. If you want the feeling to arrive sooner and not run late into the night, a fast-dissolving mint or lozenge is the one to reach for.
• A relaxed night in with friends. Mints are neat and easy to hand around, and everyone can go at their own pace with a small, pre-portioned bite. Keep it a private, at-home gathering — Vermont doesn't permit public consumption.
• Your very first edible. A gummy is the forgiving choice: clearly labeled servings make it the easiest to start low and measure exactly what you take.

There's no single "best" format — the right one is whichever timeline and ritual match the night you're picturing. And whichever you choose, the golden rule doesn't change.

What in-stock formats does Float On carry?

Float On's edibles shelf leans on Vermont makers and rotates with what's fresh, so the exact products change week to week. As a rule you'll find:

• Gummies and fruit chews — the widest selection, in a range of flavors, all in labeled single servings.
• Chocolates and confections — scored bars and dessert-style bites for a slower treat.
• Mints, lozenges, and tablets — small, discreet, single-serve options, including fast-dissolving ones.

Because stock moves, the best way to see what's actually on the shelf today is to check the live menu before you come in, or just tell a budtender the kind of night you have in mind and let them point you to a specific product. If you'd rather see it in person, our shop is in downtown Burlington on the Church Street Marketplace.

The one rule that matters more than format

Whichever format you land on, the oldest advice in cannabis still wins: start low and go slow. Take a single, clearly labeled serving and wait the full two hours before you'd even consider more — yes, even for a quick-onset mint, which can still keep building. The most common beginner mistake by a mile is deciding "this isn't working" at the 30-minute mark, taking more, and then having it all land at once.

What are the Vermont rules for buying and using edibles?

Edibles are squarely the kind of private, at-home product Vermont's adult-use market is built for. The basics:

• It's adult-use, 21+. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID whenever you shop — every visit.
• Private use, at home. Public consumption isn't permitted anywhere in Vermont, so edibles are for your own place.
• Keep them sealed and out of reach. Gummies, chocolates, and mints can all look like ordinary candy, so store them in their labeled packaging and well away from any kids or pets.
• The menu price is the final price. Vermont's cannabis tax is already built into what you see, so nothing is added at checkout. (Curious how that works? See our Vermont cannabis tax breakdown.)
• Servings are labeled for a reason — Vermont caps how much total THC an edible package can hold. We cover the specifics in our guide to Vermont's edible package limit.

That's the whole comparison. The short version: gummies and chocolates are the slow, long, even edibles for an open evening; fast-dissolving mints come on quicker and fade sooner for a defined window; and every one of them rewards a low, single serving and some patience. When you're ready, see what's in stock on the live menu or ask a budtender at the shop.