With a bright green color and sweet, ultra-minty taste, crème de menthe is a one-of-a-kind liqueur that adds its signature hue and flavor to a variety of cocktails and beverages. While it has somewhat of a reputation for being cloying or off-putting, it can be a delicious component in many recipes when used sparingly and intelligently. It can also feel retro, yet modern and timely, all at once.
According to The Bar Cabinet, crème de menthe means “mint cream” in French, and the liqueur is typically combined with other ingredients rather than consumed alone as a digestif. Its made by steeping fresh or dried mint leaves in neutral-tasting alcohol, which is then filtered, sweetened with sugar, and aged briefly before its bottled, Liquor explains. Its popularity as a cocktail ingredient was somewhat of an accident, as French pharmacist Emile Giffard invented it in 1885 while researching mints health and digestive properties. From there, it became an ingredient in classic cocktails both sweet and clean.
Crème de menthe is an ingredient in several cocktails, such as the Grasshopper and the Stinger. It is also served as a digestif and used in cooking as a flavoring (see Mint chocolate). It is also a primary component of the popular South African shooter known as the Springbokkie.
What is crème de menthe?
According to The Spruce Eats, crème de menthe, unlike other crème liqueurs, is not actually creamy or even made with cream. Instead, the term “crème” indicates the high amount of sugar used in the recipe, which thickens the texture. The main ingredients in the liqueur are simply mint — usually, as an extract, dried peppermint, or fresh Corsican mint — with sugar and grain alcohol (via The Bar Cabinet). Crème de menthe is naturally clear and is sometimes bottled that way, but there are also green versions, which are colored naturally with the macerated mint leaves or added colorings, writes Liquor.
The Bar Cabinet notes that if youre looking for a refreshing, clean mint flavor (such as that in a mojito), you should steer clear from crème de menthe. However, the liqueur, which has an alcohol content of about 25% ABV, is a great choice for a sweeter drink. “A well-made crème de menthe brings a wonderfully distinct cool, herbal flavor to the table that you can use in a lot of fun ways,” bartender Deke Dunne told Liquor. He added that plenty of interesting, high-quality brands of crème de menthe are available on the market, and bartenders and consumers should give them a try before dismissing the ingredient as “toxic.”
How is crème de menthe used?
If youre uncertain about crème de menthe, you can start with an affordable bottle (The Spruce Eats says many can be found for around $10) from just about any liquor store and, if you like it, work your way up to a more expensive, smaller batch variety. Its rare to drink or “shoot” the liqueur on its own, says The Bar Cabinet, but it can star in myriad cocktails and last open and outside of the refrigerator for up to five years. Typically, crème de menthe is used in dessert drinks, such as the grasshopper, an early 1900s martini with cream, white crème de cacao, and a chocolate rim. The peppermint patty is made similarly, but with the addition of peppermint schnapps for a wintry twist.
Other crème de menthe drinks are not creamy and instead lean on the liqueurs green color and herbal flavors, such as the Emerald Isle cocktail with gin and bitters. And these days, many mixologists agree that crème de menthe can be much more than an out-of-style ingredient for vintage cocktails, reports Food & Wine. In recent years, there has been a “revival” of respect for the liqueur, with forward-thinking bartenders adding it to specialty cocktails that mix old with new. If youre curious to try a minty drink at home, you can easily make from-scratch crème de menthe with a recipe by Serious Eats.
What is Crème de menthe? Explain Crème de menthe, Define Crème de menthe, Meaning of Crème de menthe
FAQ
What kind of alcohol is creme de menthe?
How do you use creme de menthe?
Is peppermint schnapps the same as crème de mint?
Do you need to refrigerate creme de menthe?
What is crème de menthe used for?
Originally used as a post-dinner libation, crème de menthe has become commonly paired with heavy cream and crème de cacao to make light-green Grasshoppers or is mixed with Cognac to make Stingers. And yes, while the liqueur is known for its noticeable green splash, the concoction can deliver much more than a sugary, bright color to your drinks.
What are the benefits of mint?
Mint is an excellent source of micronutrients like ascorbic acid, potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron. It is believed to have medicinal properties to treat several ailments like Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Mint is a natural coolant to the body that reduces the symptoms of irritable bowl syndrome and aids in relieving symptoms of constipation. Besides, it is a potent detoxifier and acts as natural mouth freshener.
What can you make with creme de menthe?
A grasshopper is the most classic cocktail you can make with creme de menthe. It’s also very simple, containing creme de menthe, white creme de cacao, heavy cream and ice. For a drink with a chocolate-mint flavor and a creamy texture, this cocktail will make you wonder why creme de menthe wasn’t in your liquor cabinet until now.
How does crème de menthe get its minty flavor?
Crème de menthe gets its minty flavor from grain alcohol that has been infused with mint or peppermint after it has steeped for several days, explains The Bar Cabinet. Sugar is added, and many brands age the liqueur before bottling it for purchase.