Creme de Menthe is a sweet mint liqueur that gives drinks a refreshing taste! Here’s more about it and how to use it.
It is sweet, fresh with mint and light green in color: it is mint cream! This liqueur sneaks into this creamy retro grasshopper cocktail with a fresh mint flavor. But what else can you do with it? Is it worth grabbing a bottle? Do that have be green? Here you can learn more about when to use it and what are the most popular cocktails of this tasty liquor.
What is Creme de Menthe?
mint cream is an emerald green liqueur with a sweet mint flavor. There is also a “white mint cream” that is colorless but tastes the same. Crème de menthe was invented in France in 1885 by a man named Emile Giffard, a pharmacist who was studying mint for its digestive properties. It is most commonly used in the Grasshopper cocktail, a creamy after-dinner drink invented in New Orleans in 1918 and becoming ubiquitous in the United States in the 1950s. The white variant plays in the classic Stinger cocktail.
Does Crème de Menthe contain dairy products? Despite what you may think, there is no dairy products at all. The French word “crème” means it is a cream liqueur, a liqueur with a high sugar content. All the creams in the liqueur family are dairy-free: for example, crème de cacao (chocolate), crème de cassis (blackcurrant) and crème de mure (blackberry).
How does crème de menthe taste?
Crème de Menthe has a very sweet taste with a refreshing peppermint finish. It’s similar to peppermint schnapps, but schnapps is more medicinal with a strong spicy finish.
What ABV is Creme de Menthe? It has 18% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it has a relatively low alcohol content, similar to most soft drinks. Compare it to 40-45% ABV for hard spirits like whisky, rum, vodka and gin.
Is there a replacement? Peppermint schnapps works in a pinch, but is stronger and spicier. Also beware: it is sold in three different ABV levels: 15% ABV (30 proof), 30% ABV (60 proof) and 50% ABV (100 proof). 100 proof is much stronger
Why we love it
Creme de menthe has a refreshing minty flavor that’s hugely satisfying, especially in the retro green grasshopper. You can also add it to hot chocolate or coffee for a hint of mint. But other than that and the stinger, there aren’t many popular cocktails that contain this liquor. (You may have to invent one!) Remember: green creme de menthe changes the color of drinks, so be careful what you add it to.
How much does it cost?
Compared to other liquors, Crème de Menthe is cheap. A 750ml bottle costs about $15. You can find it as cheap as $10, but we recommend going for a mid-range brand. Try the Drillaud brand.
Popular crème de menthe drinks
The crème de menthe can be drunk neat digestive After a meal. It is also found in some popular crème de menthe cocktails:
It’s bright green, rich and creamy, and it’s deliciously minty chocolate. Yes, it’s everyone’s favourite: the Grasshopper drink! Turns out, this classic cocktail has more history than you might think: it predates Prohibition. This drink was invented in New Orleans in 1918 by the owner of the bar Tujague’s.
Ingredients: Mint Cream, Cocoa Cream, Cream
Get the recipe
Here’s a two-ingredient crème de menthe cocktail that tastes better than the sum of its parts: the Stinger! This ingenious combination of cognac and white crème de menthe is a classic cocktail with centuries of history. But mysteriously, it peaked in the 1970s. Today it’s one of the lesser-known classics, but we think it needs a revival. Take a sip and it’s flavored with cognac but with a surprisingly minty freshness on the finish.
Ingredients: White mint cream, cognac
Get the recipe
Here’s a warm and cozy mug you won’t be able to stop sipping on: the Peppermint Patty! This hot chocolate isn’t enriched with one though from them Liqueurs that add both mint and chocolate flavors to the rich body of this drink. It’s excellent with homemade hot chocolate, but you can also make it with a store-bought hot chocolate mix. The amount of cozy flavor is here unreal.
Ingredients: Hot chocolate, cocoa cream, white mint cream
Get the recipe
The description
Everyone loves grasshopper drink! The classic after-dinner cocktail is Electric Green with a creamy mint-chocolate flavor.
- 1½ ounce* Cocoa cream
- 1½ ounce mint cream
- 2 ounces whipped cream**
- For the filling: chocolate shavings (optional)
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until cool.
- Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings if you like.
Remarks
*1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
**To make a frozen grasshopper: substitute 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream for the heavy cream and place in a blender. For 4 servings, use ¾ cup crème de cacao and crème de menthe and 8 scoops of ice cream.
- Category: drink
- Method: Shocked
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegetarian
Keywords: mint cream
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