☕🌿 National Hot Cocoa Day! Grow Your Own Mint for the Perfect Winter Mug

Nothing says “December comfort” quite like a warm mug of hot cocoa.

But you know what makes it even better?

Adding fresh, homegrown mint from your own container garden.

Mint and chocolate were absolutely meant to be together, especially on a cold winter day. So in honor of National Hot Cocoa Day, let’s talk about how to grow your own mint indoors, harvest it all winter long, and elevate your cocoa to fancy-café levels.

🌱 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛

Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors in December because:

✔ It thrives in lower winter light

✔ Loves cooler temperatures

✔ Bounces back fast after harvesting

✔ Makes your house smell amazing

✔ Works in both soil and water (yep, you can root it in a jar!)

If you’ve struggled with basil or rosemary indoors, mint is your redemption arc.

🪴 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚

🍫 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭

The BEST choice tastes exactly like a minty chocolate bar.

Perfect for cocoa, brownies, cookies, and holiday treats.

🌿 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭

Classic, strong, refreshing flavor that’s perfect for December vibes.

🌱 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭

Sweeter and milder — great for those who like a softer flavor.

𝐏𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐢𝐩:

Growing more than one variety?

Make a “Mint Trio” planter and taste-test them!

🌤️ 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 (𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐲!)

Mint is surprisingly forgiving:

𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬:

* 3–5 hours of indirect sunlight OR

* A small LED grow light for 6–8 hours

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬:

* Kitchen windowsill

* Bright bathroom

* Anywhere near a north or east-facing window

Mint tolerates lower light better than most herbs — a December champion!

💧 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞

Mint likes 𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐲 soil.

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧:

* The top 1 inch feels dry

* Leaves begin to droop slightly

* The pot feels light

If using a grow light or the heater runs nonstop, you may water more often.

Mint also loves humidity, so it pairs well with other herbs in group pots.

🪴 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

If you can’t find starter plants, you can still start mint today.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰:

1. Buy a fresh bundle of mint.

2. Strip lower leaves.

3. Place stems in a jar of water.

4. Change water every 2–3 days.

5. Roots appear in 5–7 days.

6. Transplant into soil once roots are 1–2 inches long.

Boom! Instant indoor garden.

✂️ 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫

Take only the top 2–3 inches of growth.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬:

✔ keeps the plant bushy

✔ prevents legginess

✔ encourages new shoots

✔ maintains great flavor

Avoid stripping all the leaves at once. Mint appreciates small, frequent harvests.

☕ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚

Fresh mint can turn a simple mug of cocoa into a holiday treat.

🍃 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭-𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚 (𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲)

1. Warm milk on the stove.

2. Add 2–3 sprigs of fresh mint.

3. Let steep for 5–7 minutes.

4. Remove mint and whisk in cocoa mix.

Smooth, fragrant, amazing.

🍫 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦

1. Whip cream + powdered sugar + chopped chocolate mint leaves.

2. Add on top.

3. Prepare for gasps of delight.

🎄 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡

1. Add a sprig of fresh mint to the mug.

2. Instant festive flair!

🎁 𝐏𝐆𝐒 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚: 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 “𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚” 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐫

This makes an adorable holiday gift for family, friends and co-workers

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:

* A small potted mint plant

* A packet of hot cocoa mix

* A ribbon

* A handwritten tag:

“For cozy winter nights, fresh mint for your cocoa 🌿☕”

Are you celebrating National Hot Cocoa Day?

What kind of mint are you growing?

Share your mug photos, your mint harvest, or your favorite cocoa recipe!

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