Chocolate mint

[Harry Cobean]

a couple of years ago,when i was on holiday with bolas & madge in miami we visited a herb & spice botanical garden that claimed(if i remember correctly) to have at least one variety of every known herb etc growing in it's grounds.i believe them,it was amazing!
one of the herbs we tasted was a choc chip mint.species not a hybrid,& it did taste just like an after dinner chocolate mint.
never seen it before or since until last week when i found it on the growing herbs section at tesco.bought a couple of pots.one for bolas's herb garden & one for my windowsill.
made a mojito on my return home to celebrate my find..the chocolate flavour was killer with the mint & lime!
never made anything else with this flavour mint(probably 'cos i'd "never seen it before or since"!),have any of you guy's?if so what?
harry

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Harry,

Mint herb comes in several varieties, one of them being CHOCOLATE MINT HERB and it is very common in Morocco. It is a native to the Mediterranean to my knowledge and possibly, Mexico as well, in which they employ it in MOLES, a spicy sauce which dates back to 1520 Mexican Convents where the Nuns utilised it in chicken stews with cacao, corn varieties, chili peppers, capisium varieties, potatoes, herbs and spices ... to serve the Spanish governing officials coming from Spain.

Interesting and pleased to hear that you all enjoyed Miami Beach.
I had lived there for 3 1/2 years 1986- 1990. The beaches were lovely. The hurricanes were not !

Margi.

 

[Harry Cobean]

Harry,

Mint herb comes in several varieties, one of them being CHOCOLATE MINT HERB and it is very common in Morocco. It is a native to the Mediterranean to my knowledge and possibly, Mexico as well, in which they employ it in MOLES, a spicy sauce which dates back to 1520 Mexican Convents where the Nuns utilised it in chicken stews with cacao, corn varieties, chili peppers, capisium varieties, potatoes, herbs and spices ... to serve the Spanish governing officials coming from Spain.

Interesting and pleased to hear that you all enjoyed Miami Beach.
I had lived there for 3 1/2 years 1986- 1990. The beaches were lovely. The hurricanes were not !

Margi.

thanks margi.loved miami.we were actually staying with friends who lived on the fringes of the everglades.never mind the hurricanes,watch out for the alligators.....this one got me in the nearby miccosukee indian reserve......
next time i'll leave the 'gator wrestling to them,but bolas did say"go on harry give it a go.....what've you got to lose"......a leg maybe?
harry

 

[Margi Cintrano]

@ Harry,

You two chaps, are a camp & a hoot !!!

Actually, have you ever eaten alligator or crocodile ?

Oh, yes, the Everglades area ... I had been many many years ago ...

Looks like you had a blast.

Kind regards and thanks for sharing.
Margi.

 

[Harry Cobean]

@ Harry,

You two chaps, are a camp & a hoot !!!

Actually, have you ever eaten alligator or crocodile ?

Oh, yes, the Everglades area ... I had been many many years ago ...

Looks like you had a blast.

Kind regards and thanks for sharing.
Margi.

lost "an arm & a leg too" but that was in the reserve casino!tried alligator twice,once when i bit the sob back & once in a restaurant....didn't enjoy either,not my cup of tea
right,i'm going to polish me wooden leg & go out for the day..........
harry

 

[Margi Cintrano]

I have to be honest, I do NOT care much for reptiles ( I had frog legs once and alligator once) and I agree with you, this animal family it not my cup of tea;

Nor would I ever eat a rodent family member ... Just a turn off for me ... I feel same about Kangeroo.

Insects are amongst another family of Fauna, I prefer to Abstain from !

I am quintessentially very open minded, however, there are just fauna groups that I prefer as choice, to refrain from.

Margi.

 

[Gravy Queen]

Harry, I am wildly excited about the chocolate mint find in Tesco, I must get some. I have no idea what I will do with it, I just want it. Mojito sounds a good place to start though.

Love Margi's description of you and Boney being a "camp and a hoot".

Definitely camp anyway.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Good Afternoon Gravy Queen,

I have used chocolate mint herb in the following:

1. A chocolate Mint Herbal Infusion
2. Hot Chocolate
3. Chocolate Mousse
4. Mojitos
5. Essential Oil for Candles ( lovely fragrant aromas )
6. chocolate cupcakes or cookies ( your Macarons ! with choc mint icing )

It hails from the Mediterranean, and I recall Morocco as an important producer.

Perhaps, a dish requiring a sweet & sour aspect, for example a Chicken Tagine !


Hope this has driven your passions to the kitchen ! ha ha
Thanks for compliment.
Margi.

Question, do you know Bolas and Harry ?

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Harry: Moroccan Chicken Kebabs

I have a recipe which employs chocolate mint herb from Morocco. It is in a marinade, for the chicken pieces which are chopped in kebab chunks in spices and the herb & liquid of choice, white wine or olive oil vinagirette ...

Sounds very enticing ... and flavorful.

www.norfolklavendarco.uk ( they have this herb )

www.foodnetwork.com ( this USA website has some recipes with this herb )

If I have a chance later on today, I shall post it for you or Monday. It is basically a marinade for the chicken pieces and skewer them. It contains numerous spices as well. Grill or oven bake ...

Kindest.
Margi.

 

[Steve Kroll]

A friend of mine, who now lives in Germany, makes a sweet-ish homemade wine infused with chocolate mint herb. The recipe she uses is similar to this one. It tastes almost exactly like a York Peppermint Patty.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Steve,

This is lovely ... Have to try it and thanks for posting the link.

Margi.

 

[Harry Cobean]

Harry, I am wildly excited about the chocolate mint find in Tesco, I must get some. I have no idea what I will do with it, I just want it. Mojito sounds a good place to start though.

Love Margi's description of you and Boney being a "camp and a hoot".

Definitely camp anyway.

ooooooooh get 'er & knock me over with a feather duster,always room for one more queen....beeatch!
chocolate mint? wildly excited? you really DO need to get out more queenie!!
not all of the stores stock it,my local tesco which is allegedly the largest in europe doesn't,but it does stock growing pea shoots a la mustard & cress.i got my chocco loco mint at the horwich(bolton)store.easy schlep for you from the 'pool if you can't get it locally.up the m61 towards preston,can't miss it,next to bolton wanderers stadium
harry

 

[Margi Cintrano]

GQ & Harry,

Unfortunately, there are no Tesco or King Arthur establishments, however, then again, we have stunner Central Neighborhood Markets, which are not supermarkets. They are a combination of a Farmer´s Market with Butchers, Fish & Poultry Mongers, and one can even buy dried legumes / beans from the oak barrel and pickles in their brine from oak barrels ... They too of course have a Tabernita, tiny bars where one can have a wine or beer & Tapa or café & croissant or toast or sandwich, and rest a minute while shopping and going over list. They are kiosks and stalls ... with the seasonal and fresh daily goods of the day ... Prices are comparative.

Margi.

 

[Harry Cobean]

I have a recipe which employs chocolate mint herb from Morocco. It is in a marinade, for the chicken pieces which are chopped in kebab chunks in spices and the herb & liquid of choice, white wine or olive oil vinagirette ...

Sounds very enticing ... and flavorful.

www.norfolklavendarco.uk ( they have this herb )

www.foodnetwork.com ( this USA website has some recipes with this herb )

If I have a chance later on today, I shall post it for you or Monday. It is basically a marinade for the chicken pieces and skewer them. It contains numerous spices as well. Grill or oven bake ...

Kindest.
Margi.

A friend of mine, who now lives in Germany, makes a sweet-ish homemade wine infused with chocolate mint herb. The recipe she uses is similar to this one. It tastes almost exactly like a York Peppermint Patty.

@ margi,look forward to that margi i love moroccan
@ steve looks good to me steve

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Moroccan Chocolate Mint Herb Marinated Chicken

Good Evening,

Here is the recipe that you have requested. Please feel free to adjust to your palate.

Moroccan Chocolate Mint Herb Marinated Chicken Kebabs ...

1 tblsp. Spanish Smoked Paprika ( sweet or piquant )
1 1/2 Teaspoons Cumin ground ( I grind from seeds )
1/2 teaspoon ground or fresh grated ginger
1/2 tsp. cinammon ground
Salt and Black Pepper to taste
3 chicken breasts skinless sliced into Kebab Chunks to be skewered
1/2 cup chocolate mint herb chopped finely
Cilantro Herb chopped finely ( a few sprinkles )
the juice of 1 Lime
1 tsp. Honey of choice with herbs
Evoo ( extra virgin olive oil - light variety )

1. preheat grill at bottom of oven or an outdoor grill
2. Blend all the spices and all the herbs in a blender until well combined
3. place the mixture in a large bowl
4. marinate the chicken breasts 1/2 hr. or so
5. shake off excess marinade and put on metal skewers
6. grill

Enjoy.

*** Note: one can adjust the marinade time as well ...

Kind regards. Ciao.
Margaux Cintrano.

 

[Bacardi1]

While I don't care for any of the mints in savory dishes, "Chocolate Mint" is one of my favorites. It's VERY easy to grow (as are all of the mints), but is best grown in containers or thoroughly confined because it is extremely invasive.

I have a large terra cotta pot of it on my deck that's been going strong for 2 years now. Delightful to brush against for the scent on a hot day, or to pluck a sprig to dunk into a cup of hot chocolate in the fall.

 

[Harry Cobean]

margi
definitely going to cook this,looks fab.only change i may make is to use skinless/boneless thigh meat rather than breast.
prefer the thigh in most dishes unless i'm cooking chicken schnitzel
thanks margi
harry

 

[Margi Cintrano]

@ Harry,

Sounds fabulous, and we can see you are a leg man ! Let us know how it turns out.
Bacardi 1 even grows his own choc. mint herb. Cool.

That is a great idea ... Unfortunately, I keep it light on indoor herb growing as we travel so much.

Have a lovely evening and enjoy the Legs !!

Ciao.
Margi.

 

[Harry Cobean]

@ Harry,

Sounds fabulous, and we can see you are a leg man ! Let us know how it turns out.
Bacardi 1 even grows his own choc. mint herb. Cool.

That is a great idea ... Unfortunately, I keep it light on indoor herb growing as we travel so much.

Have a lovely evening and enjoy the Legs !!

Ciao.
Margi.

that obvious eh?

 

[Bacardi1]

That is a great idea ... Unfortunately, I keep it light on indoor herb growing as we travel so much.

Actually, all of my herbs are grown outdoors - just in large pots on my deck.