Peppermint Thins

Peppermint Thins by Summerdown, wafer-thin peppermint discs

Peppermint Thins by Summerdown are wafer-thin discs of dark chocolate infused with peppermint oil from their own farm in Hampshire. The heirloom English variety, Black Mitcham, gives them a cool, well-rounded freshness that makes the tart cocoa feel bright and light.

Peppermint Thins are peppermint discs from the English mint farm Summerdown in Hampshire. Inside the 150-gram box are about twenty wafer-thin dark chocolate discs, flavored with distilled Black Mitcham peppermint oil from their own fields and a hint of natural vanilla.

A clean snap, then a spreading coolness

A single disc is barely thicker than a coin and breaks with a clean snap that can be heard across the table. It melts quickly on the tongue, and as the chocolate dissolves, the mint spreads throughout the entire mouth.

At first, the cocoa takes center stage, dark and tart with at least 55 percent cocoa solids, then the peppermint layers over it and lingers. Black Mitcham tastes rounded and almost sweet; its coolness lasts long after the disc has melted.

The vanilla note works in the background, softening the sharp edge of the dark chocolate. There is no dairy in the recipe; the discs are vegan yet still glide across the tongue with a creamy texture. Precisely because they are so thin, they feel light, clear, and refined.

The finishing touch after a good meal

In England, dark mint chocolate is as much a part of the end of a dinner as an espresso is in this country. The coolness freshens the palate and provides a clean conclusion to a rich meal without feeling heavy itself.

The discs are best served alongside a short espresso, whose roasted notes pick up and extend the mint. They also work well with a late-evening herbal tea when you want the day to wind down peacefully. Served on a small saucer, the dark discs look as though the evening had planned for them from the start.

A single disc is often enough, so one box will last for many evenings. Those looking for a soft center will find it in the Peppermint Creams with their fondant filling from the same producer.

An oil that barely has to travel after harvest

The peppermint oil for these thins grows in the fields of Summerdown and is distilled directly on the estate. Only a few hours pass between harvesting and distillation, and it is precisely this freshness that the oil later carries into the chocolate.

Most mint chocolates are made with purchased flavorings from the global market whose origins can no longer be traced. Here, every drop comes from a single estate in Hampshire, whose climate and soil give the mint its mild, rounded tone.

Distillation is performed with steam, which releases the essential oils from the freshly cut herb. A few drops of this concentrated oil are enough for an entire batch, yet it carries every single disc from the first to the last second.

The box for the espresso table

Stored in a cool, dry place, the box keeps for well over a year, waiting patiently for guests. It is the perfect gift for anyone who loves dark chocolate and has previously only known mint as a tea. You can find the entire farm range in the Summerdown selection.