Mint chocolate
Encyclopedia
Mint chocolate, also known as chocolate mint, is a popular variety of flavored chocolate. It is created when mint
flavoring, such as peppermint
, spearmint
, or crème de menthe
, is added to plain chocolate
. Chocolate mint also refers to an herb, specifically a hybrid mint plant, that tastes and especially smells like a combination of mint and chocolate. The National Confectioners Association has declared February 19 the Chocolate Mint Day.
; due to this, mint chocolate has no one specific flavor and so, each chocolate-plus-flavor combination can be unique.
, mints, cookies, ice cream
(see Mint Chocolate Chip
), the beverage hot chocolate
, and others. In addition it is marketed (non-edible) as a beauty/bath product.
Mint chocolate can be marketed under many different names and descriptions, some of which can be technically misleading. For example, Haviland Thin Mints
and Hershey's
York Peppermint Pattie
s are actually mint patties—peppermint
-flavored centres dipped in a chocolate coating. While the resulting flavor combination is that of mint and chocolate, none of these products actually contains mint chocolate.
Mentha
Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...
flavoring, such as peppermint
Peppermint
Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...
, spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata syn. M. cordifolia is a species of mint native to much of Europe and southwest Asia, though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils...
, or crème de menthe
Crème de menthe
Crème de menthe is a sweet, mint-flavored alcoholic beverage. Its flavor is primarily derived from Corsican mint. It is available commercially in a colorless and a green version...
, is added to plain chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
. Chocolate mint also refers to an herb, specifically a hybrid mint plant, that tastes and especially smells like a combination of mint and chocolate. The National Confectioners Association has declared February 19 the Chocolate Mint Day.
The flavor
The chocolate component can be milk chocolate, regular dark chocolate, or white chocolateWhite chocolate
White chocolate is a confectionery derivative of chocolate. It commonly consists of cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and salt, and is characterized by a pale yellow or ivory appearance...
; due to this, mint chocolate has no one specific flavor and so, each chocolate-plus-flavor combination can be unique.
The smell
Depending widely on the ingredients and the process used, mint chocolate can give off a very distinctive mint fragrance.Uses
Mint chocolate can be found in a wide variety of edible products, such as candyCandy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
, mints, cookies, ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
(see Mint Chocolate Chip
Mint Chocolate Chip
Mint Chocolate Chip is an ice cream flavor composed of mint ice cream and small chocolate chips. In some cases the liqueur crème de menthe is used to provide the mint flavor, but in most cases peppermint or spearmint flavoring is used...
), the beverage hot chocolate
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is a heated beverage typically consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar...
, and others. In addition it is marketed (non-edible) as a beauty/bath product.
Mint chocolate can be marketed under many different names and descriptions, some of which can be technically misleading. For example, Haviland Thin Mints
Haviland Thin Mints
Haviland Thin Mints are a chocolate-covered mint candy produced by the Haviland division of Necco. The candy is a mint filling covered in dark chocolate, similar to the York Peppermint Pattie but smaller and thinner....
and Hershey's
Hershey's
Hershey's may refer to:* Hershey's, a nickname for The Hershey Company* Hershey's Ice Cream produced by Hershey Creamery Company* Hershey's Chocolate World, a theme-park/visitor-center facility...
York Peppermint Pattie
York Peppermint Pattie
York Peppermint Pattie is a dark chocolate enrobed peppermint confection produced by The Hershey Company, under license from Cadbury plc ....
s are actually mint patties—peppermint
Peppermint
Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...
-flavored centres dipped in a chocolate coating. While the resulting flavor combination is that of mint and chocolate, none of these products actually contains mint chocolate.
Mint chocolate
- Lindt Mint Intense
- Andes Chocolate MintAndes Chocolate MintAndes Candies produced by Tootsie Roll Industries, are small rectangular candies consisting of one mint-green layer sandwiched in between two chocolate-brown layers. The candies are usually wrapped in green foil imprinted with the company's logo, the word Andes written amidst a drawing of...
s - Hershey'sHershey'sHershey's may refer to:* Hershey's, a nickname for The Hershey Company* Hershey's Ice Cream produced by Hershey Creamery Company* Hershey's Chocolate World, a theme-park/visitor-center facility...
Chocolate Mint Collection - Limited Edition MiniaturesHershey's MiniaturesHershey’s Miniatures are packaged assortments of miniature-sized candy bars sold by The Hershey Company.-Description:Hershey’s Miniatures were originally packaged as an assortment in 1939, and featured the most popular Hershey chocolate bars of that time. The product currently contains traditional... - Laura SecordLaura Secord ChocolatesLaura Secord is a Canadian chocolatier and ice cream company which was founded in 1913 by Frank P. O'Connor. It was named after the Canadian War of 1812 heroine Laura Secord. As of 2010, it has 125 retail outlets across the country....
French Mint - Marshall FieldMarshall FieldMarshall Field was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores.-Life and career:...
's Frango Mints - Velamints
- Aero PeppermintAero (chocolate)Aero is a milk chocolate bar filled with bubbles of air, made by Nestlé and primarily sold in the United Kingdom , the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Middle East and Canada.-History:...
- Hanover's Michigan Mints
Mint patties with chocolate
- Haviland Thin MintsHaviland Thin MintsHaviland Thin Mints are a chocolate-covered mint candy produced by the Haviland division of Necco. The candy is a mint filling covered in dark chocolate, similar to the York Peppermint Pattie but smaller and thinner....
- Hershey'sHershey'sHershey's may refer to:* Hershey's, a nickname for The Hershey Company* Hershey's Ice Cream produced by Hershey Creamery Company* Hershey's Chocolate World, a theme-park/visitor-center facility...
York Peppermint PattieYork Peppermint PattieYork Peppermint Pattie is a dark chocolate enrobed peppermint confection produced by The Hershey Company, under license from Cadbury plc ....
s - Junior MintsJunior MintsJunior Mints are a candy consisting of small rounds of mint filling inside a dark chocolate coating. Currently produced by Tootsie Roll Industries, the product is packaged in varying amounts from the fun-size box to the much larger 12.0 oz. box....
- Pearson'sPearson's Candy CompanyPearson's Candy Company is a chocolate and confectionery manufacturer headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded as a confectionery distribution firm in 1909, the company began to manufacture its own products in 1912...
Chocolate Mint Patties - After Eights
- Fry's Peppermint CreamFry's Chocolate CreamFry's Cream is a chocolate bar made by Cadbury's, and formerly by J. S. Fry & Sons. It consists of a fondant centre enrobed in dark chocolate and is available in a plain version, and also peppermint or orange fondant...