Purplish-dark green leaves, this plant grows along the ground and spreads rapidly. Chocolate mint tastes like a "Thin mint" cookie or a chocolate peppermint patty.
Mints are the easiest group of herbs to grow and most people wonder if they will ever stop growing as they can be very invasive. (This means that they spread out underground by their roots and can pop up anywhere in your garden.) Mints prefer a shady area with only a few hours of morning sun but they will grow in full sun if watered well. Under a dripping hose faucet is the best place to grow mint.
To harvest Mint, trim the branches anywhere and cut off up to third, chop the leaves or use them whole. You can also use the whole leaves crushed to steep into teas. Mints can be dried but are best used fresh.
To use mint in cooking, chop the leaves finely and use it in salad dressings or with lamb. Many middle eastern chopped salads call for mint as well as several Thai recipes. Chocolate mint can be added to coffee, teas, chopped fruit, in custards or in ice cream.
