Every year on September 15, cocktail lovers, dessert fans, and anyone who enjoys the refreshing flavor of mint have a reason to celebrate National Crème de Menthe Day.
Known for its unmistakable mint flavor and often brilliant green color, crème de menthe has been part of cocktail culture for generations. It can transform an ordinary drink into something cool and refreshing, add a burst of mint to desserts, or provide the finishing touch to an after-dinner treat.
Whether you prefer the famous Grasshopper cocktail, a creamy mint dessert, or simply enjoy discovering classic liqueurs, National Crème de Menthe Day is a great opportunity to explore this distinctive spirit.
What Is Crème de Menthe?
Crème de menthe is a sweet, mint-flavored liqueur traditionally made by flavoring alcohol with mint and adding sugar.
Despite the word “crème” in its name, crème de menthe doesn’t necessarily contain cream. In the world of liqueurs, “crème” generally refers to the drink’s high sugar content and rich, syrupy character.
Crème de menthe is commonly sold in two varieties:
Green crème de menthe has the bright emerald color most people associate with the liqueur.
White or clear crème de menthe delivers essentially the same mint-forward character without adding green color to a cocktail.
This difference becomes important when bartenders want the mint flavor without dramatically changing the appearance of a drink.
A Brief History of Crème de Menthe
Crème de menthe has roots stretching back to 19th-century France.
One commonly cited milestone in its history comes from 1885, when French pharmacist Émile Giffard developed a mint liqueur after experimenting with peppermint. His creation became associated with the beginnings of the Giffard liqueur company.
Over time, mint liqueurs became popular beyond France.
Bartenders discovered that the intense flavor of crème de menthe worked especially well when combined with chocolate, cream, brandy, and other rich ingredients.
That combination helped establish some of the classic cocktails that remain associated with crème de menthe today.
Why Is Crème de Menthe Green?
One of the first things people notice about crème de menthe is its incredible green appearance.
Interestingly, the green color isn’t necessary for producing the mint flavor.
Clear crème de menthe is also widely available.
The green coloring primarily gives cocktails and desserts a dramatic visual appearance. When green crème de menthe is mixed with cream or other ingredients, it can create everything from soft pastel-green drinks to intensely colored cocktails.
That visual appeal has helped make crème de menthe especially popular for celebrations such as St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas.
But on September 15, the mint liqueur gets a celebration all its own.
The Famous Grasshopper Cocktail
If there’s one cocktail most closely associated with crème de menthe, it’s probably the Grasshopper.
The classic drink typically combines:
- Green crème de menthe
- White crème de cacao
- Cream
The ingredients are shaken with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass.
The result is a creamy, mint-chocolate cocktail with a distinctive pale-green appearance.
It’s almost like drinking a mint-chocolate dessert.
The origins of the Grasshopper are generally associated with New Orleans, and the drink became particularly popular during the 20th century.
Its combination of chocolate and mint remains one of the most recognizable uses for crème de menthe.
The Stinger
Another classic crème de menthe cocktail takes a completely different approach.
The Stinger traditionally combines brandy with white crème de menthe.
Unlike the creamy Grasshopper, the Stinger is stronger and more spirit-forward. The brandy’s warmth is balanced by the cooling peppermint character of the liqueur.
The cocktail became especially popular as an after-dinner drink during the early and middle decades of the 20th century.
It’s also an excellent example of why clear crème de menthe can be useful. It provides plenty of mint flavor without turning the cocktail bright green.
Crème de Menthe and Chocolate
Few flavor combinations are as recognizable as mint and chocolate.
Crème de menthe naturally fits into this pairing.
The cooling sensation of mint contrasts beautifully with the richness of chocolate, which is why the liqueur appears in so many dessert-style cocktails.
Chocolate syrup, chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, ice cream, brownies, cakes, and chocolate mousse can all work with mint flavors.
For National Crème de Menthe Day, you could even create a simple adult dessert by adding a small amount of crème de menthe to vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
More Ways to Enjoy Crème de Menthe
Cocktails might receive most of the attention, but crème de menthe can be surprisingly versatile.
It can be incorporated into milkshakes, coffee drinks, hot chocolate, ice cream, cakes, dessert sauces, frosting, chocolate desserts, and other sweet creations.
A small amount can provide a surprisingly powerful mint flavor, so it usually doesn’t take much.
One particularly simple dessert idea is a crème de menthe sundae.
Add vanilla ice cream to a bowl, drizzle a small amount of crème de menthe over the top, and finish it with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
For adults who enjoy mint-chocolate flavors, it’s an easy way to turn ordinary ice cream into a celebration-worthy dessert.
Make a Mint-Chocolate Crème de Menthe Shake
National Crème de Menthe Day is also an excuse to create an indulgent adult milkshake.
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1 ounce green crème de menthe
- 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
- Splash of milk
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate syrup
- Chocolate shavings
Directions
Add the vanilla ice cream, crème de menthe, chocolate liqueur, and a small splash of milk to a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a chilled glass.
Top with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate shavings.
The result is somewhere between a cocktail and dessert—perfect for anyone who loves mint chocolate.
Crème de Menthe in Coffee and Hot Chocolate
Mint isn’t only refreshing in cold drinks.
It can also complement warm beverages beautifully.
A splash of crème de menthe can add a peppermint character to coffee or hot chocolate.
Try combining hot chocolate with a small amount of crème de menthe, then topping it with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
As September begins transitioning toward cooler fall evenings, it’s a fitting way to celebrate.
Green vs. White Crème de Menthe
If you’re shopping for crème de menthe, you may wonder which variety to choose.
It depends on what you’re making.
Choose green crème de menthe when you want the drink’s appearance to be part of the experience. It’s especially useful for Grasshoppers and festive green cocktails.
Choose white crème de menthe when you want mint flavor without changing the color of the other ingredients.
Having both available gives you more flexibility when experimenting with cocktails.
Fun Facts About Crème de Menthe
The word menthe is French for mint.
Despite its name, crème de menthe isn’t typically a cream-based liqueur.
Green and clear varieties can provide similar mint characteristics even though they look completely different.
Crème de menthe has traditionally been served as both a cocktail ingredient and an after-dinner drink.
Mint and chocolate remain among the most popular flavor combinations involving crème de menthe.
A little can go a long way because the mint flavor is usually quite pronounced.
How to Celebrate National Crème de Menthe Day
There are plenty of ways to celebrate September 15.
Make a classic Grasshopper and experience one of the most famous crème de menthe cocktails.
Try a Stinger if you’d rather have something stronger and less dessert-like.
Create a mint-chocolate dessert using crème de menthe.
Experiment with green and clear versions of the liqueur to see how they affect different cocktails.
You could even host a small mint-themed dessert and cocktail night featuring Grasshoppers, mint brownies, chocolate-mint ice cream, and other treats.
Just remember that crème de menthe is an alcoholic liqueur, so alcoholic drinks and desserts should be enjoyed responsibly by adults of legal drinking age.
A Celebration of a Classic Mint Liqueur
National Crème de Menthe Day may not be one of the biggest celebrations on the calendar, but that’s part of what makes these food and drink holidays fun.
They give us an opportunity to discover—or rediscover—ingredients that have been part of culinary and cocktail traditions for generations.
Crème de menthe has survived changing drinking trends because its flavor is unmistakable.
It’s sweet.
It’s refreshing.
It’s intensely minty.
And when you combine it with chocolate or cream, it can produce some wonderfully indulgent drinks and desserts.
So when September 15 arrives, raise a Grasshopper, experiment with a classic Stinger, make a mint-chocolate dessert, or discover your own favorite way to enjoy this iconic liqueur.
Happy National Crème de Menthe Day!
Are you celebrating National Crème de Menthe Day with a classic Grasshopper, a mint-chocolate dessert, or your own crème de menthe creation?
Leave a Reply