There’s a reason people fight for the last bite of mint chocolate ice cream or the last stick of peppermint chewing gum: mint is a crowd-pleaser. There’s nothing like a burst of fresh mint to energize your palate, cool off your taste buds, and add a little zing to the party. Here are four local favorite refreshingly minty cocktails.
· Get your mint fix with the Cucumber Mint Cooler at Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill features Smirnoff Citrus Vodka, muddled cucumber and fresh mint, simple syrup and ginger ale and costs $8. They also have a tasty Wild Berry Mojito which is a blend of Bacardi Silver rum, triple sec, wild berry puree, mint, lime, simple syrup, soda, & Sprite and costs $7.50.
· The Strawberry Shamrock at Kelly’s At SouthBridge features Cruzan Strawberry Ginger, Effen Cucumber, sweet and sour, fresh mint and club soda. It’s super refreshing and perfect for summer! It costs $10 regularly and only $6 during happy hour which is every day from 3-7pm, all day on Sundays.
· The Pineapple Blossom Margarita at Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill features el Jimador Reposado Tequila, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Herradura Agave Nectar, lime juice, fresh pineapple and mint. This sweet, delicious drink costs $8.50 regularly and $7.50 during happy hour.
· Try the Strawberry-Lemon Mojito at Uptown Alley for your daily dose of mint! This Mojito features Bacardi Superior Rum muddled with lemon, sugar, mint leaves and strawberries mixed with soda water and costs $6.99.
Mint leaves, most commonly used for breath-freshening and food and drink flavoring, actually have a number of health benefits unbeknownst to most. Mint is a plant that has been utilized in a variety of cultures such as India, the Middle East and Europe for numerous health reasons.
As delicious as mint tastes in our favorite foods and drinks, it’s even better for soothing the stomach. Eating mint cools the digestive track, making it more fluent, while also relieving abdominal pain. Even simply smelling a fresh mint aroma is a powerful medicine in treating nausea, seasickness, and motion sickness (great for summer vacations and travel).
