19th February: Chocolate Mint Day

Recognized by the US National Confectioners Association, Chocolate Mint Day is observed annually across the nation on February 19th. This holiday has been set aside for all the chocolate mint lovers to eat their favorite treats all day long. The Aztecs and Mayans are given much credit for their ways with chocolate. And while the chocolate was brought back to Europeans, they were not fond of the dark, bitter bean, so they used more for medicinal purposes. As it was mostly consumed as a hot beverage, Europeans mixed mint, cinnamon, and other spices to make it more palatable. Over time, they added sugar, and the combination of chocolate and mint became fashionable. Fast forward to the mid-1800s when inventions and improvements in processes made it possible for confectioners to begin mass-producing chocolates. Even then, small candy shops served a local public. Advertisements for mint chocolates, or chocolate mints, did not start showing up in newspapers until the turn of the century.