Love Story - Chocolate Mint Herbal Tea (Caffeine Free)

Mint is a flavor that never goes out of style. I love the versatility and natural sweetness of mint. It pairs nicely with fruits, spices and herbs.

It occurred to me that to date August mint teas were mostly fruity, so I wanted to create a new flavor experience. This time I wanted a mint tea with a rich, round flavor, something that would end a meal or a day on an elegant note. The result of this quest is Love Story.

Love Story is a naturally sweet, caffeine-free blend tea of rich warming chocolate and cooling peppermint in honeybush tea. It’s a classic flavor combination that I felt needed no special flavor twist.

Remember those restaurants that would give you dainty foil-wrapped chocolate mints after dinner? This memory was part of the inspiration for Love Story. Those unexpected chocolate mints made such a strong impression on me that I still find myself craving a chocolate mint flavor after a meal or at the end of the day. Love Story’s flavors are simple yet complex. The flavor shifts from cool to warm thanks to the rich chocolate and the strong cooling effect of peppermint.

I use peppermint instead of spearmint in tea blending because peppermint has an intense, earthy flavor. This intensity is a perfect complement to dark chocolate. The base I chose for Love Story is honeybush tea, which has a milder, more honey-like flavor that’s less earthy than its botanical cousin rooibos. Honeybush is sweeter and slightly nutty whereas rooibos can be more earthy or astringent tasting. Blending cacao and peppermint with honeybush results in a very clear, pure chocolate mint flavor without any the astringency, maltiness or earthiness you may find in other chocolate mint tea blends.

Love Story is more than a delightful flavor experience. It’s also a powerful blend of beneficial herbs and plants. Mint is a wonderful way to cleanse your palate, especially after a meal. Mint is also known for its ability to aid calm and digestion. In aromatherapy, peppermint is used to alleviate headaches and muscle tension. Cacao shell, chicory root and honeybush also have anti-inflammatory and digestive properties.

Love Story is naturally sweet and cooling. Adding milk enhances the chocolate flavor and tones down its minty side. I have yet to try this one iced but I’m sure it will be quite refreshing come summertime, perhaps like liquid mint chip ice cream, my favorite ice cream ever. Please try this blend with milk and any sweetener.

I'd love for you to try Love Story and share what you think.
— Gina Zupsich, head blender August Uncommon

Hot Brewing 10 oz

Heat 212°f/100°c water
Add 3.5g tea, about 2 teaspoons
Pour 10oz/300ml hot water
Infuse 4-5 mins. Longer is stronger.
Repeat Reinfuse 1-2 times

Iced Brewing 10 oz

Heat 212°f/100°c water
Add 3.5g tea, about 2 teaspoons
Pour ~3oz hot water to barely cover tea leaves
Infuse 4-5 mins. Longer is stronger.
Dilute with 7oz cold water
Serve Over ice

Pro tip: If you want more concentrated flavor, try doubling the tea leaves in this recipe.

Want to learn everything about brewing tea?
Check out our in-depth guide here.

4 cup deluxe sample: 14g / .5oz
15 cup bag: 50g / 1.8oz
28 cup tin: 100g / 3.5oz
70 cup bag: 250g / 8.8oz