Is the Mint in Candy From the Mint Plant?

Types of Mint

• Mint plants vary considerably in size, shape and taste. The most popular varieties for candy are spearmint and peppermint. Experiment with other types of mint, such as ginger, pineapple and chocolate mint in your candy-making. Large-leaved Kentucky mint makes a good candidate for dipping in egg white and sugar for decorating baked goods; small-leaved Corsican mint flavors sweet after-dinner liqueurs.

Making Infusions

• To use fresh mint leaves to flavor candy, make an infusion. Steep mint leaves in milk or cream. Heat the liquid to not-quite boiling. Remove the liquid from the heat. Add the leaves and allow the mixture to sit for several minutes. Strain the leaves. Proceed to use the milk or cream in your recipe. Infuse sugar syrup by placing mint leaves in a mix of sugar and water and heating it until the sugar dissolves completely. Strain the leaves before using the syrup.

Growing Mint Plants

• Mint plants can rapidly take over a garden, crowding out other plants and becoming difficult to control. Plant them in containers to enjoy them in your candy-making while limiting their negative impact. Mint prefers a full-sun to partial-shade location in moist, well-drained soil. Buy seedlings in early spring or grow them yourself from seeds in late winter. Do not fertilize mint, as fertilizing will lessen the intensity of its fragrant oils. Pick mint early in the morning for use in candy making.

Artificial Flavors

• Some mint candies are not made from mint plants, but from artificial flavoring that is supposed to taste like mint. This flavoring can taste different from real mint, but may be adequate for your needs. Some high-quality extracts are made with real mint oils. These can be expensive, but are a handy addition to a confectioner's kitchen, and are a good substitute when you don't have the time or ingredients to make an infusion.