Chocolate

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Chocolate to a garden.

Cool, peppermint-bright fragrance rises the moment you brush the foliage—Chocolate Peppermint combines a dark, chocolatey cast to its leaves with a crisp, invigorating mint flavor.

The plants form dense, upright clumps with tender, velvety leaves that hold their aromatic punch for fresh bouquets and bold flavoring in teas, syrups, and desserts. Grow it for a long season of fragrant harvests beginning around 60 days, and enjoy its refreshing character in every cup and spoonful.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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Chocolate Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	May 4th	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This mint reads like dessert first—there’s a cocoa-like cast in the leaf—then the peppermint takes over with a clean, fast cooling finish. Use it like a flavor perfume: steep or infuse briefly so it stays crisp instead of turning medicinal.

Best Uses

infuse syrups for mocha-mint sodas or cocktail mixers
steep for tea and hot cocoa upgrades (to perfume, not overwhelm)
fold into custards, crème anglaise, and ice cream base for a cool aftertaste
chop and scatter over dark chocolate desserts for a fragrant lift

Flavor Profile

dark chocolate-chaff aroma crisp peppermint snap tender, velvety leaf with a cooling finish sweet-tinted menthol brightness

Kitchen Pairings

dark chocolate vanilla espresso whipped cream honey bourbon

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Mentha × piperita 'Chocolate' (chocolate mint), and how can I manage it?

Chocolate mint often develops powdery mildew (white, dusty growth) in humid conditions and poor airflow. Remove and discard the worst leaves, thin plants to improve air movement, and water at the soil level rather than overhead. If it keeps recurring, switch to a preventive approach using neem or a labeled sulfur-based fungicide per the product directions, and avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.

How often should I water chocolate mint during its main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I keep?

During active growth, keep the soil evenly moist—aim for the top 1 inch to stay slightly damp, not soggy. In full sun, this usually means watering about 1–2 times per week, increasing to more frequent watering during hot spells. Mint in Lamiaceae tolerates moisture, but constantly waterlogged soil can trigger root stress, so ensure reliable drainage in the bed or pot.

How can I tell when chocolate mint is ready to harvest?

Chocolate mint is typically ready to harvest around 60 days after planting when stems have multiple well-formed leaf pairs and the plant is bushy. Harvest by snipping leafy shoots about 1/3 to 1/2 down the stem to encourage regrowth, ideally in the morning for best leaf quality. For peak flavor, harvest before the plant flowers, when leaves are most tender and aromatic.