Mint Gone Wild: Cocoa Coconut Mint Smoothie

Cocoa-Coconut-Mint Smoothie An Unrefined Vegan

The tiny mint plant was so cute, so cheerfully green and enchanting-smelling that I had to get it.  It was barely 3″ high and had such delicate and tender little leaves!  But a shadow hung over my new purchase.  I knew that mint had a bad reputation for taking over the real estate, spreading like a weed, and generally being a bad neighbor.  I shrugged my doubts aside and started digging a small hole in one of my perennial beds.  How could such a wee plant cause any trouble?  In fact, as I lowered it into its new home, it seemed to be looking up at me, nothing but innocence radiating from it, and promising it would behave.  But in my head I could distinctly hear my mother’s voice, “Never plant mint in your garden.

Mom was right.  By the end of the season, that tiny mint plant had taken over a third of my perennial bed with no intentions of curbing its voracious appetite for dirt, water, and sunshine.  Mint was even popping up amongst the Bermuda grass outside of the tile bed.  I yanked at it, I cut it to pieces; I cursed its very existence and yet it kept coming back, happier than ever.  What finally killed my mint was a very long, hot, and dry summer.  It put up one hell of a fight, but mint had met its match.  And I learned my lesson.  Now I only plant mint in containers.

Having knocked mint down, I’m going to build it back up again.  There’s really nothing like fresh (don’t even bother with dried mint).  Mint adds brightness to salads (both the fruit and greens kind), authenticity to Asian dishes, something different to energy bars (like my Raw Double Chocolate Mint Bars), makes wonderful tea, and contributes its cool freshness to green smoothies.  It’s a perfect match with chocolate.  And coconut.

 I used these The Republic of Tea Coconut-Cocoa herbal tea bags.

Tea and ice cubes

Sugar-free Cocoa Coconut Mint Smoothie
Serves 4
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427 calories
29 g
0 g
36 g
5 g
26 g
302 g
31 g
16 g
0 g
7 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
302g
Servings
4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 427
Calories from Fat 300
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 36g
55%
Saturated Fat 26g
131%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 31mg
1%
Total Carbohydrates 29g
10%
Dietary Fiber 13g
50%
Sugars 16g
Protein 5g
Vitamin A
11%
Vitamin C
12%
Calcium
6%
Iron
18%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup water
  2. 6 ounces unsweetened coconut yogurt
  3. 1 avocado, pitted and peeled
  4. 1/2 cup dates, soaked and drained
  5. 2 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
  6. 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (plus additional for garnish, if desired)
  7. 2 coconut-chocolate tea bags
  8. ~2 cups water (to make approximately 16 tea ice cubes)
  9. cacao nibs, for garnish
  10. 1 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Place two tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water and steep overnight in the refrigerator. Remove the teabags and pour the tea into an ice cube tray. Freeze for several hours.
  2. In a blender, combine the water, yogurt, avocado, dates, cacao powder, mint, and tea ice cubes and process until smooth and thick. Pour into glasses and top with additional mint leaves, coconut flakes and cacao nibs.
beta
calories
427
fat
36g
protein
5g
carbs
29g
more
an unrefined vegan http://www.anunrefinedvegan.com/

Ingredients

Two smoothies

32 thoughts on “Mint Gone Wild: Cocoa Coconut Mint Smoothie

    1. An Unrefined Vegan

      Recently while on a walk in a rural area, I noticed that both sides of the road were thick with mint. It was really beautiful! I took a big armload home with me – too good to resist. So, the call of mint is still there, I just realize that if one gives it an inch it will take 5 miles!

      Reply
  1. Richa

    oooh that looks gorgeous. i hear you about mint. once it starts growing, it just grows and grows. i am missing it though since we moved and i havent planted anything yet. i will put some in a raised bed far from everything.

    Reply
  2. tearoomdelights

    Avocado in a coconut chocolate mint smoothie? You amaze me. It sounds, and looks, divine and I agree with you that fresh mint can’t be beaten.

    Reply
  3. Brittany

    We have a mint plant out front and it has grown quite a bit, but thankfully hasn’t taken over! I haven’t used it before, and it’s been out there forever!! I think I know what I want to use it for now! Nothing like using your OWN garden goods to make something delicious like this smoothie.

    Reply
  4. the vegan kitchen of dr caligari

    Avocado, coconut and mint. This smoothie sonds delicious! I’ve got a can of coconut milk and I’ll try it replacing the yogurt with it. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  5. Choc Chip Uru

    Mint is the best I love it in all my drinks – this combo with chocolate makes this recipe pretty irresistible 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
  6. rebeccajanearmstrong

    here here! i always have my suspicious green eyes on my little mint whenever i get to planting. Sadly, mint was one of the seeds i failed to acquire this year- my granny however is testimony to your post- half of her garden, without fail, every year, is covered in the beautiful stuff! i shall have to pay her a visit (and then make this beautiful smoothie) Thanks xx

    Reply
  7. Pixie

    I was just thinking this morning as I made smoothies for the family that I should plant some mint! I had no idea it was such a little invader. Good to know. Hmmmm….There is a bed of ivy where we rent that also takes over the world. I wonder if mint could drive IT out? I would love a bed full of mint instead of the ivy.

    Reply
  8. Sophie33

    Oooh yes, please! I could eat 2 of these tasty smoothies!! Yummy!!! What a great idea to make tea, coconut chocolate, frozen cubes & to add them to this vegan deliciousness! A beautiful presentation too! Yummmmmm! 🙂 I can’t wait to make this!

    Reply
  9. Angela @ Canned Time

    I have a nice full potted Mint plant inside and it still goes crazy. I munch on it when I walk by but don’t have a plentiful use for it …until now. This is a wonderful mix of flavors (as usual from you) and I’ll give it a try soon. I was thinking about drying some of mine in the dehydrator but it just seems to defeat the purpose of growing fresh somehow. Wish I could grow my own chocolate like that 😉

    Reply
  10. Gabby @ the veggie nook

    I have been feeling the mint lately too. And really, what does it pair better with than chocolate??

    That tea flavour sounds so good!

    Reply
  11. Herbivore Triathlete

    This sounds delightful! I’ve always been afraid to buy mint due to hearing how much it takes over. Great idea to plant in a container though, fresh mint year round!

    Reply
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