Yodie and Grison spent all spring debating between the beach and the mountains for their summer vacation. Since our two marmots couldn't agree on a choice, they decided to change their plans and set off in search of their favorite plants. Their first stop was in the Ile-de-France region, where a famous mint grows.
After a missed detour via Mantes-la-Jolie (the GPS's fault), our two Marmots have finally arrived at their destination. And it's in Essonne, more precisely in Milly-la-Forêt, that they've chosen to begin their summer journey. Why here? Quite simply because mint has been thriving there since the beginning of the 20th century!
In the minds of our two marmots, the Ile-de-France region and iconic plants didn't necessarily mix well. But since they set foot in Milly-la-Forêt and delved into the history of this minty town, Yodie and Grison have changed their minds. In this little corner of Essonne, peppermint has been growing for a long time!
It all started with Armand Darbonne, a local market gardener, who had the bright idea of planting an English variety of mint nearby, the famous Mitcham mint. A cross between spearmint and black mint, this plant immediately thrived in its native land! It became a local star...
The mint from Milly-la-Forêt smelled so good that it began to be talked about everywhere! It began to inspire cooks, confectioners (even in the North, in Cambrai!), herbalists and even doctors fascinated by its reputation as a plant with digestive properties.
Result: in 1950, there were 150 mint producers in Milly and the surrounding area. To dig deeper, our two Marmots visited Millymenthe, a herbalist's shop founded in 1934 and still operating today. They chatted for hours about mint with Victoria before heading to our producer's nearby.
The world has changed but mint has remained!
In Milly, there's only one producer left who still lovingly grows mint. It's here that our two Marmots select some of the organic mint used in their recipes. Before arriving in your mugs, the peppermint grows in Milly, respecting strict and precise specifications.
Watering, cutting dates, drying: everything is recorded down to the smallest detail!
And what about the aromatic power of this unique mint... our 2 Marmots still have its flavor on the tip of their tongues and its powerful scent at the corner of their noses. With it, there's no need to add synthetic flavors or essential oil to herbal teas to enjoy a minty flavor that's as authentic as it is full-bodied!
Once in the burrow, the peppermint from the Paris region will be used to make herbal teas and mint teas .
Before heading home, our two Marmots took a detour to the National Plant Conservatory in Milly-la-Forêt. This is between us, but they really had a hard time holding back from tasting everything. Among the 500 species of plants on display, they really didn't know where to start. They're already planning to come back next summer to take part in the "gourmet stroll." In any case, more than 100 years after the first mint plant was planted in the Ile-de-France region, the two Marmots are proud to be carrying on the tradition, right down to their cups.
The marmots' wanderings:
- In Provence
- In Corsica
- In Morocco
Mint herbal teas
