Add a splash of chocolate coconut or almond milk to make an even more scrumptious treat. Let steep for about 5 minutes (or more if you like your tea stronger) and strain leaves out. Fill a mug almost halfway with ripped up chocolate mint leaves and pour boiling water over them. As easy as that! Put these baby mint plants in cute containers or recycled teacups for wonderful gifts.Ĭhocolate mint tea is one of my personal favorite uses for this delicious herb. These cuttings will develop roots and begin to grow. Snip pieces of the stem and simply stick the cuttings in a pot of soil. Plus, having a potted chocolate mint plant indoors makes it easy to harvest for your next culinary creation while increasing oxygen in the room and acting as a natural air freshener.Ĭhocolate mint truly is the gift that keeps on giving. There is nothing like a beautiful plant to add flair and excitement to any home decor. Other than that, you don’t have to go through much fuss to keep your chocolate mint happy and flourishing. Keep your plants watered and make sure that the soil stays fairly moist. However, if you wish to contain it, plant it in a raised bed or pot. It makes a beautiful ground cover and its fast-growing nature means that it is ideal to fill empty areas. Otherwise, it will grow and spread and take over any garden area. When you are planting your chocolate mint, be sure that you place it in a bed that is solely designated for your mint. Chocolate mint contains phytonutrients that pack an antioxidant punch. This can help you accomplish tasks and make it through that mid-afternoon slump without experiencing irritating mind fog.Ĭhew on some mint leaves after you eat to help cleanse your palate, freshen your breath, and even help with digestion.Īdding mint to your diet for cooling, seasoning and a boost of flavor can help reduce chronic inflammation and cellular damage caused by oxidative stress. Plus, it can even help prevent other diseases like heart disease and diabetes by reducing the levels of free radicals found in the body.Ĭhewing on mint or sipping on mint tea can help restore your focus and increase mental clarity. Next time you have an upset tummy, whip up a cup of chocolate mint tea.Ĭhocolate mint is loaded with vitamin A and can help fortify your immune system against germs and bacteria that may cause you to become sick. This could be due to the anti-spasmodic effects of methanol found in most mint varieties. Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.Mint is famous for its ability to soothe the stomach and reduce irritable bowel syndrome. When left unleashed it quickly overtakes other plants, and is best contained in pots or separate garden beds. The horizontal growth of its underground rhizomes lend it to aggressive spreading. Chocolate mint can thrive in a variety of different growing conditions provided it has moist soil and full to partial sun exposure. Adding more confusion to nomenclature, some botanists consider it a separate species, yet others classify it as a variety of M. Mentha citrata, the father species of Chocolate mint, is actually called bergamot mint or orange mint. Mint hybrids commonly occur throughout the Mentha genus and have origins in Europe, Africa and Asia. It was said that the nymph Menthe was so adored by Pluto that Proserpine became jealous and had her turned into the plant that we know as mint. The Greek philosopher and botanist, Theophrastus, named the Mentha genus from a story in Green Mythology. Chocolate mint leaves also make a beautiful garnish for beverages and desserts. Chop leaves and add to ice cubes or popsicles. Use in cocktails where traditional mint is called for to add a subtle cocoa aroma and flavor. Leaves can be used to add flavor to ice cream, mousse and custards. Its essential oils have been known to combat nausea, cramping and indigestion.Ĭhocolate mint is popular for use in a variety of dessert applications. Like other mint varieties, Chocolate mint is rich in vitamins A and C as well as trace amounts of manganese. They are commonly grown as a culinary herb or as ground cover. These piperita hybrids are crosses between Mentha aquatica (watermint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint). It is closely related to other aromatic mint varities known for mimicking unique flavors including, lime, orange, basil, and of course chocolate. When grown in sufficient sunlight, the lush green leaves even develop burgundy veins to match the chocolate-colored stems.Ĭhocolate mint is typically available in the summer months.Ĭhocolate mint is a subspecies of mint within the Lamiaceae or Labiatae family, and is botanically classified as Mentha x piperita f. Subtle notes of cocoa and vanilla mix with a traditional spicy mint finish. ▶Play Your browser does not support the audio element.Īs its name suggests, Chocolate mint is a variety of mint that has nuances of chocolate in both fragrance and flavor.
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