Crème de Menthe Day
Sep 15
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"The Perfect Travel Companion"
~ Kendal Mint Cake Slogan
Crème de menthe is the bright green mint liqueur which derives its flavor from Corsican mint. In literature, crème de menthe has a famous devotee in the character of Agatha Christie's fastidious Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot, who favours liqueurs in general, and crème de menthe in particular. The composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, although otherwise a teetotaler, found that a glass of crème de menthe steadied his nerves when playing his own technically demanding piano score in the twenty-fourth variation of his "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini." Because of this, he nicknamed this variation the "Crème de Menthe Variation." Used in cocktails and many desserts, mint pairs naturally with chocolate and appears in many regional favourite candy mintcakes such as: Kendal Mint Cake, Andes Mints, Junior Mints, York Peppermint Patties, and After Eight Mint Chocolate Thins. Mintcake candy was even taken up Everest in 1953 when Edmund Hilary ascended it, as well as by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his Antarctic expedition of 1914-17! Recipe included: Crème de menthe brownies! 🍃
Mintcake
Today is a day of recognition for crème de menthe (mint cream), the bright green mint liqueur which derives its flavor from Corsican mint or dried peppermint. Mint is a favorite flavour Iused in cocktails and many desserts and confections pairing mint and chocolate.
"Mintcake" can also refer to chocolate mints or peppermint bars of which there are many fans and favourite famous brands with regional associations:
Kendal Mint Cake
Andes Mints
Junior Mints
York Peppermint Patties
After Eight Mint Chocolate Thins
In literature, crème de menthe has a famous devotee in the character of Agatha Christie's fastidious Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot, who favours liqueurs in general, and crème de menthe in particular.
The composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, although otherwise a teetotaler, found that a glass of crème de menthe steadied his nerves when playing his own technically demanding piano score in the twenty-fourth variation of his "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini." Because of this, he nicknamed this variation the "Crème de Menthe Variation."
Click here to listen below to the "Crème de Menthe" Variation, Op. 43, No 24, from The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Although the 18th variation is most well known, you can listen to the crème de menthe variation at 7:50.
And for a recipe for Dark Chocolate Crème de Menthe Cupcakes with Buttercream Swirl, click the mint-laden cupcakes!
