Officially recognized by the US National Confectioners Association as the "perfect balance of sweet and refreshing," the flavors of chocolate and mint are celebrated annually with this food holiday.

Their fusion is expressed in many forms, from ice cream and candy bars to chips and truffles.

The combination of chocolate and mint dates back hundreds of years. The ancient Aztecs and Mayans mixed herbs and spices with chocolate to balance its bitterness. Europeans explorers and settlers adopted this practice in the 16th century, adding mint to hot chocolate drinks.

Mint was valued by the ancient Greeks and Romans for its digestion-aiding and breath-freshening properties. Mint-flavored chocolates emerged in the late 19th century with the mass production of solid chocolate.