The tiny mint plant was so cute, so cheerfully green and enchanting-smelling that I had to get it. It was barely 3″ high and had such delicate and tender little leaves! But a shadow hung over my new purchase. I knew that mint had a bad reputation for taking over the real estate, spreading like a weed, and generally being a bad neighbor. I shrugged my doubts aside and started digging a small hole in one of my perennial beds. How could such a wee plant cause any trouble? In fact, as I lowered it into its new home, it seemed to be looking up at me, nothing but innocence radiating from it, and promising it would behave. But in my head I could distinctly hear my mother’s voice, “Never plant mint in your garden.”
Mom was right. By the end of the season, that tiny mint plant had taken over a third of my perennial bed with no intentions of curbing its voracious appetite for dirt, water, and sunshine. Mint was even popping up amongst the Bermuda grass outside of the tile bed. I yanked at it, I cut it to pieces; I cursed its very existence and yet it kept coming back, happier than ever. What finally killed my mint was a very long, hot, and dry summer. It put up one hell of a fight, but mint had met its match. And I learned my lesson. Now I only plant mint in containers.
Having knocked mint down, I’m going to build it back up again. There’s really nothing like fresh (don’t even bother with dried mint). Mint adds brightness to salads (both the fruit and greens kind), authenticity to Asian dishes, something different to energy bars (like my Raw Double Chocolate Mint Bars), makes wonderful tea, and contributes its cool freshness to green smoothies. It’s a perfect match with chocolate. And coconut.
I used these The Republic of Tea Coconut-Cocoa herbal tea bags.


- 1 cup water
- 6 ounces unsweetened coconut yogurt
- 1 avocado, pitted and peeled
- 1/2 cup dates, soaked and drained
- 2 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (plus additional for garnish, if desired)
- 2 coconut-chocolate tea bags
- ~2 cups water (to make approximately 16 tea ice cubes)
- cacao nibs, for garnish
- 1 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut, for garnish
- Place two tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water and steep overnight in the refrigerator. Remove the teabags and pour the tea into an ice cube tray. Freeze for several hours.
- In a blender, combine the water, yogurt, avocado, dates, cacao powder, mint, and tea ice cubes and process until smooth and thick. Pour into glasses and top with additional mint leaves, coconut flakes and cacao nibs.
I love fresh mint. If I had a yard or garden I think I would be happy to have it bear unlimited infinite mint!
Recently while on a walk in a rural area, I noticed that both sides of the road were thick with mint. It was really beautiful! I took a big armload home with me – too good to resist. So, the call of mint is still there, I just realize that if one gives it an inch it will take 5 miles!
BTW, I’ll order two mint smoothies please
🙂
oooh that looks gorgeous. i hear you about mint. once it starts growing, it just grows and grows. i am missing it though since we moved and i havent planted anything yet. i will put some in a raised bed far from everything.
It is worth the invasion 🙂 – such a treat to be able to harvest fresh herbs!
Avocado in a coconut chocolate mint smoothie? You amaze me. It sounds, and looks, divine and I agree with you that fresh mint can’t be beaten.
There’s a lot going on in there :-)! The creaminess is kind of the best part.
We have a mint plant out front and it has grown quite a bit, but thankfully hasn’t taken over! I haven’t used it before, and it’s been out there forever!! I think I know what I want to use it for now! Nothing like using your OWN garden goods to make something delicious like this smoothie.
It’s wonderful in all kinds of smoothies – love putting it in with my morning banana/orange/pineapple/peach concoction.
Avocado, coconut and mint. This smoothie sonds delicious! I’ve got a can of coconut milk and I’ll try it replacing the yogurt with it. Thank you for sharing
Coconut milk would be a very tasty replacement here – great idea!
Mint is the best I love it in all my drinks – this combo with chocolate makes this recipe pretty irresistible 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
here here! i always have my suspicious green eyes on my little mint whenever i get to planting. Sadly, mint was one of the seeds i failed to acquire this year- my granny however is testimony to your post- half of her garden, without fail, every year, is covered in the beautiful stuff! i shall have to pay her a visit (and then make this beautiful smoothie) Thanks xx
Definitely time to visit granny :-)! You can also take a clipping and let it root in water and plant it that way. It’s nearly impossible to kill the stuff!
I was just thinking this morning as I made smoothies for the family that I should plant some mint! I had no idea it was such a little invader. Good to know. Hmmmm….There is a bed of ivy where we rent that also takes over the world. I wonder if mint could drive IT out? I would love a bed full of mint instead of the ivy.
It really is pretty when it’s full and healthy – would be a nice replacement for ivy – especially since you can also eat it!
Oooh yes, please! I could eat 2 of these tasty smoothies!! Yummy!!! What a great idea to make tea, coconut chocolate, frozen cubes & to add them to this vegan deliciousness! A beautiful presentation too! Yummmmmm! 🙂 I can’t wait to make this!
Thanks, lady!
😉 x
I have a nice full potted Mint plant inside and it still goes crazy. I munch on it when I walk by but don’t have a plentiful use for it …until now. This is a wonderful mix of flavors (as usual from you) and I’ll give it a try soon. I was thinking about drying some of mine in the dehydrator but it just seems to defeat the purpose of growing fresh somehow. Wish I could grow my own chocolate like that 😉
I’ve only bought dried mint – – maybe it would have a lot more flavor making it “fresh” at home. Probably. But then, how would I use it??
I have been feeling the mint lately too. And really, what does it pair better with than chocolate??
That tea flavour sounds so good!
Gabby, I thought of you when I wrote this one :-).
Haha I have made the same mistake with mint. What a great recipe to use it up though!
I made these tasty treats & my husband Peter & I both loved them, Annie! Xxx
How awesome! I really appreciate your feedback, Sophie xoxo
Right back at you! Xxxxx
This sounds delightful! I’ve always been afraid to buy mint due to hearing how much it takes over. Great idea to plant in a container though, fresh mint year round!
Always love mint and chocolate!
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