How to Grow, Harvest, and Use Chocolate Mint

Easy to grow and propagate, chocolate mint is a fragrant plant that can add extra layers of flavor to drinks like tea and mojitos, sweet desserts, and even salads and savory dishes. Learn how to grow this fragrant plant in this guide.

Mentha × piperita f. citrata ‘Chocolate’

Chocolate mint (Mentha x piperita 'Chocolate') is a delightful mint variety that has a distinct chocolate flavor and aroma. Growing, harvesting, and using chocolate mint is relatively easy, and it can be a wonderful addition to your garden and culinary endeavors. Here's a guide to help you with each step:

How do you propagate chocolate mint?

1. Select Healthy Plants: Choose a healthy chocolate mint plant with vigorous growth. This can be done in spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing.
2. Take Cuttings:
   • Use clean, sharp scissors or gardening shears to take cuttings from the top growth of the mint plant. Cuttings should be around 8 cm (3 inches) in length and ideally have several sets of leaves.
3. Remove Lower Leaves:
   • Remove the lower leaves from the cuttings, leaving only a few leaves at the top. This helps to reduce water loss and encourages root development.
4. Place in Water:
   • Place the cuttings in a glass of water, ensuring that the submerged nodes (where leaves were removed) are submerged. Change the water regularly to keep it fresh.
5. Root Development:
   • Roots should start to develop within a couple of weeks. You can check for root development by gently tugging on the cutting; if you feel resistance, roots have likely formed.

How to Grow Chocolate Mint

1. Planting:
   • Choose a location with well-drained soil and partial to full sunlight.
   • Chocolate mint is a sterile hybrid and cannot be propagated by seed.
   • It's easier to start with young plants or young cuttings.
   • Plant the mint in a container or in the ground, leaving enough space between plants, as mint can spread rapidly.
2. Watering:
   • Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
   • Mint plants prefer regular watering, especially during dry spells.
3. Fertilizing:
   • Mint doesn't require a lot of fertilizer. You can use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer once or twice during the growing season.
4. Pruning:
   • Regular pruning helps control the plant's growth and encourages bushiness.
   • Pinch off the tips of the stems to promote branching.
5. Container Growing:
   • Consider growing it in a container if you're concerned about mint spreading.
   • Use well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes.

Where to Buy

Since you can’t propagate hybrid cultivars via seed, if your gardener friends don’t have one for you to take cuttings from, keep an eye out at your local nursery for a potted plant instead.

How to Harvest Chocolate Mint

1. Timing:
   • Harvest chocolate mint leaves once the plant is well-established, usually in the spring or early summer.
   • The flavor is most intense just before the plant flowers.
2. Harvesting Method:
   • Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears.
   • Cut the stems just above a set of leaves, encouraging the plant to branch out and become bushier.
3. Frequency:
   • You can harvest chocolate mint regularly throughout the growing season.
   • Avoid taking more than one-third of the plant at a time to ensure healthy growth.

Ways to use Chocolate Mint

1. Culinary Uses:
   • Chocolate mint can be used in a variety of culinary dishes and beverages.
   • Add fresh leaves to salads, desserts, or as a drink garnish.
   • Infuse the leaves in hot water for a refreshing tea.
2. Drying and Preserving:
   • Dry chocolate mint leaves by hanging them in a dark, well-ventilated area.
   • Once dry, store the leaves in airtight containers away from light and moisture.
   • You can also freeze chocolate mint leaves in ice cube trays with water for later use.
3. Flavoring:
   • Chocolate mint can infuse flavor into syrups, sauces, and desserts.
   • Make chocolate mint extract by steeping leaves in vodka for a few weeks and then straining.
4. Aromatherapy:
   • Crushed chocolate mint leaves can release aromatic oils, providing a natural and pleasant scent.

What Does Chocolate Mint Smell Like?

Chocolate mint (Mentha x piperita 'Chocolate') has a distinctive scent that combines the classic minty aroma with hints of chocolate. The fragrance is a pleasant blend of peppermint or spearmint with a subtle underlying chocolate undertone. The chocolate scent is not overpowering but adds a sweet and rich note to the typical mint aroma.