Chocolate mint, a close relative to ordinary peppermint, has a complicated lineage involving forms of peppermint. It is derived from a cross between Mentha aquatica (watermint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint), from which a particular form, citrata (orange mint) was selected for development.
You may start harvesting single leaves approximately 3 weeks after planting or harvest the whole pod starting from one month of growing – it is up to you. The flavor intensifies as the plant pod ages. If you prefer a milder mustard taste, harvest it soon.
You may harvest outer largest leaves first for continuous harvest, but it is not recommended to let the pod age more than 2 months. Until then it has the best taste and nutritional value.
