Chocolate Mint · Herbalism with Lori

Chocolate Mint

Real name: Mentha × piperita ‘Chocolate’

Which sounds fancy and important, and then you smell it and go, “Oh… yeah, I get it.”

First of all, no, it does not taste like a chocolate bar. I don’t know who started that rumor, but they hurt a lot of people. What it does smell like is mint with a soft cocoa note. Cozy. Comforting. Like mint that gives hugs.

This is the mint you use when regular peppermint feels like it’s yelling at you.

Chocolate mint is gentle. It’s the “let’s calm down” mint. The “maybe we don’t need to panic” mint. The mint you reach for when your stomach is doing that slow, dramatic flop after you ate something you absolutely knew better than to eat.

I love it as a tea. You toss some leaves in hot water, walk away for a few minutes, come back feeling like a responsible adult who makes choices. It helps with digestion, bloating, stress, and that weird tight feeling you get when the day has been too much but you’re pretending you’re fine.

It’s also great just to smell. Crush a leaf between your fingers, breathe it in, and suddenly the world feels slightly less stupid.

You can throw it into iced tea, fruit, desserts, or water if you’re feeling fancy. It plays well with chocolate, berries, and anything that needs a fresh little lift without being slapped in the face by mint.

Now, a warning because this plant is sweet but unhinged.

Chocolate mint will take over your yard if you let it. It spreads like gossip. Always plant it in a pot unless you want to spend the rest of your life pulling mint and apologizing to your neighbors. I found that out myself..lol

Also, if mint normally messes with your acid reflux, listen to your body. Herbs are helpers, not bullies.

In short:

Chocolate mint is calm.

Chocolate mint is comforting.

Chocolate mint minds its business.

And honestly, we could all learn something from that.

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