Chocolate has a long and rich history. The Mayans consumed it as a beverage (unsweetened) and called it "the drink of the gods." The Spanish discovered the drink in the 1500s, and soon it spread around the world. Once milk and sugar were added to the mix, it became increasingly popular.
Adding mint to chocolate didn't happen until sometime in the 19th century. Then, in 1940, York Peppermint Patties were introduced by the York Cone Company (now owned by Hershey), and the pairing of flavors became a sensation!
Created by the United States National Confectioners Association, this day gives chocolate mint lovers a proper excuse to enjoy their favorite treat all day long!
Here are five fun ways to help you celebrate National Chocolate Mint Day on February 19.
1. Start with a giggle.
This joke is mint to make you laugh out loud!
Q. How do scientists freshen their breath?
A. With experi-mints!
2. Support your local Girl Scout.
The Girl Scouts began selling Thin Mints in 1953, so this is the 70th anniversary of the classic cookie. Now is the perfect time to buy a box or two — or twelve! And while you're at it, you might as well add some Samoas, Tagalongs, and Trefoils to your order!
Interestingly, your Thin Mints will look and taste a little different from the ones ordered in parts of California, Texas, or New Mexico. The Girls Scouts use two separate bakers to produce their 200 million+ boxes of cookies each year, so the results are similar but not identical. Some of the cookies are even known by other names! Check out this Girl Scout Cookie map to see the differences.
Don't know a Girl Scout? Click this link to find Girl Scout cookies near you.
3. Grow your own mint.
Mint is an easy herb to grow indoors year-round as long as it has plenty of sunlight. Add the leaves to your hot cocoa in the winter or a glass of tea or lemonade in the summer. Some mints are known to relieve nausea and other stomach issues.
You can also use it for aromatherapy. Pinching a leaf between your thumb and forefinger will release the invigorating fragrance.
Watch this video for tips to grow your own:
4. Enjoy a frozen treat.
While we can't guarantee you'll find mint chocolate chip ice cream at every shop, it is the 10th most popular flavor of ice cream in the world, according to the International Dairy Food Association. Stop at your favorite ice cream shop to order a scoop!
Some of our local favorites include:
- Always Ice Cream - several locations (with different names) in our area. Click Scoop Shops for a listing of locations.
- Bruster's Real Ice Cream - 1409 Forest Dr., Forest Drive Corridor, Annapolis
- Cold Palace Ice Cream - 2002 Annapolis Mall, inside the Westfield Annapolis Mall
- Kilwins Chocolate and Ice Cream - 128 Main St., Downtown Annapolis
- SmallCakes Cupcakery and Creamery - 2641 Riva Rd., Suite F, Annapolis
- Storm Bros. Ice Cream Factory - 130 Dock St., Downtown Annapolis
- The Red Bean - 220 Main St., Downtown, Annapolis
- Cold Stone Creamery - 15 Lee Airpark Dr., Edgewater
- Pop Pops Creamery - 3074 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater
5. Bake some minty cookies.
Together as a family bake some yummy mint chocolate chip cookies. Try this recipe from Betty Crocker.
