Mint is quite the ingredient. It is bold, vibrant and can completely change the taste of anything it is added to. Mint is quite the powerhouse flavor and we just can’t get enough of it.
Adding fresh mint and mint extract to any drinks is a sure way to make it more exciting. So, are you a big fan of mint flavored drinks? If you aren’t already, we know you will be by the end of this article!
Peppermint vs Spearmint
There are lots of different varieties of mint but peppermint and spearmint are the most common. So what is the difference between the two? Each one has a slightly different taste. Here is a quick look at the differences:
- Peppermint- Peppermint has a very strong, pungent, spicy taste. It has about 40% menthol, a chemical that creates a cooling effect in your mouth. It is typically used to make candy canes, peppermint patties and other sweet candy treats.
- Spearmint- Spearmint has a delicate flavor and sweet taste. It does not have the same, strong cooling effect as peppermint but is much more mild, containing only .5% menthol. Spearmint is usually used in savory dishes, paired with pork or lamb.
Peppermint and spearmint are both sold in grocery stores. Both will likely be labeled as “mint” so it can be hard to tell which is which. Spearmint is more common so, if you see lighter green leaves and spear shaped leaves, you are probably looking at spearmint.
Most of our drink recipes will be delicious with either type of mint. Spearmint will work wonderfully while peppermint will really pack a flavor punch. If you are able to grow your own mint, we recommend giving chocolate mint a try.
It has a sweet, chocolate taste that goes so well with the strong taste of the mint.
Best Mint Drink Recipes
There are so many ways to add mint to drinks. You can muddle some fresh mint leaves with sugar or you can blend mint into a drink. You can add a few drops of mint extract or you can grab your favorite brand of mint syrup to mix in your drink recipes. No matter how you add mint to your drinks, it is sure to make an impact. Here are a few of our favorite mint drink recipes for you to try.
Watermelon Mint Mocktail
Watermelon and mint are a fantastic combo. The combination is brought to life in this delicious mint mocktail recipe. It is bright, fruity, sweet and vibrant- everything you could possibly want in a drink!
Making a watermelon mint mocktail is also quite easy to do. It all starts by making fresh watermelon juice. Watermelon and lime juice are blended then strained to make a smooth, sweet juice. Fresh mint leaves and a little sugar are muddled together in a glass, releasing all the mint oils that will give the drink its tasty flavor.
The watermelon juice is added to the glass along with a splash of seltzer to add some fizz and then the mocktail is ready to drink! We definitely recommend drinking this one right away while the juices are at their peak fresh taste.
Virgin Mint Julep
The mint julep is a classic mint drink. Our mint julep recipe is even better than the classic because it is completely alcohol free. Rather than having bitter bourbon in the glass, we use sweet apple juice, vanilla extract and rich maple syrup to make our drink. It is unbeatable!
Fresh mint is what really makes this drink extra special. Muddle the mint in a highball glass to break the leaves and get as much mint flavor as possible.
Then simply pour the rest of the ingredients in the glass and enjoy! A fancy mint mocktail is surprisingly easy to make.
Peppermint Hot Cocoa Recipe
Our homemade peppermint hot cocoa recipe is going to create the best peppermint hot cocoa you ever try. Why is it so much better than other peppermint hot chocolates? Because it is made with real, fresh mint and real, rich chocolate. No bland cocoa powder or processed syrups here! It is all real.
Our peppermint hot chocolate recipe begins by steeping fresh peppermint leaves in heavy cream and milk. Sugar and real chocolate chips are whisked into the hot, minty milk and then it is ready to enjoy! You can make a big batch of this peppermint hot cocoa or you can make a single mug.
Try swapping out the milk for coconut milk or almond milk for a slimmed down version. Just don’t skimp on the mint and chocolate!
Mint Tea Punch
Mint not only tastes amazing, but it has lots of healthy, beneficial properties. Mint is a natural antioxidant and has lots of vitamin A. It can help boost your immune system and keep you healthy.
The cooling sensation that mint has will also help soothe a sore throat and can even relieve indigestion. Many people drink mint when they are feeling sick as a natural way to get relief.
Our mint tea punch will give you all the health benefits of mint in a delicious and exciting way. Our mint tea punch recipe is made with fresh mint leaves, black tea, sugar and honey. We add orange juice and lemon juice to turn the mint tea recipe into a fruity punch.
Adding orange juice and lemon juice just adds to the healing powers of this drink, giving it more antioxidants and immunity boosting vitamin C. This mint drink recipe is an all around winner.
Moroccan Mint Melon Tea
This delicious mint tea recipe tastes like summer in a glass. The taste is so bright and bold and the color looks like a sunny summer day. There is nothing quite as tasty as homemade mint tea. The addition of melon adds even more interest and excitement.
The recipe begins by brewing green tea along with some fresh mint leaves. Honeydew melon is blended into a smooth puree then mixed into the mint green tea along with a little honey to sweeten the drink.
Let the mint melon tea cool and then serve it in a large pitcher with some ice. A pitcher of homemade mint tea with melon is the perfect addition to any summer brunch buffet. It may become your go-to summer drink.
Mint is a fantastic ingredient to liven up any drink. There is nothing quite like the bold taste of mint and we capture that incredible flavor in each one of these mint drink recipes.
There is a mint drink for every occasion, for the summer and winter. Choose a mint drink recipe that suits your season and don’t forget to try new varieties of mint- you never know what you will discover! Enjoy.
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