The Holiday Season Brings Peppermint Back To The Table

The Fall Flavor Fight Is Over… Bring On the Peppermint

I’ve talked plenty about the classic fall flavor debate — pumpkin vs. apple. But now that December has rolled in, those flavors get pushed aside fast. The holiday season basically walks in, flips the table, and says, “Make way… peppermint is here.”

My Black Coffee Era (Holiday Edition)

One thing about me: I love a good flavored black coffee. No cream. No sugar. I want to actually taste the coffee grounds.

My parents are the classic Folgers-black-coffee people, and hey — if that’s you, that means you’re disciplined, simple, and probably more put together than I am.

Me? I like to switch things up. Vanilla-tinted black coffee, pumpkin-spice-tinted black coffee — you name it, I’ve tried it.

And on my latest Target run? I grabbed peppermint-flavored coffee. Because nothing says “December” like peppermint invading every aisle of every store.

My Love–Hate Relationship With Peppermint

Here’s the thing: I like peppermint… I just don’t love peppermint.

You will not catch me ordering a peppermint mocha latte at Starbucks — that’s where I draw the line. But a candy cane? Sure. A simple peppermint-tinted black coffee? I’m in. A York Peppermint Patty? Absolutely never turning one of those down.

But the truth is… peppermint always reminds me a little too much of toothpaste and mouthwash. Once that connection forms, it’s hard to unthink it.

Peppermint Season in the Midwest: The Classics

Even if I’m not peppermint-obsessed, the Midwest knows how to roll out some iconic peppermint treats every December. If peppermint *is* your thing, here are some regional staples you’ll probably see pop up:

Midwest Peppermint Must-Haves

• Culver’s Peppermint Shake & Concrete Mixer — a yearly fan favorite
• White Castle’s Peppermint Shake — surprisingly festive for a burger place
• Krispy Kreme Peppermint Bark Doughnut — rich, sweet, and coated in crushed peppermint
• Andes Mint Cookies — a holiday cookie swap staple
• Homemade Peppermint Bark — every Midwest family has “their” version
• Brach’s Candy Canes** — the brand that somehow ends up in every office and every house
• Chick-fil-A Peppermint Chip Milkshake — people wait all year for this one

If peppermint is your thing, you’re basically living your best life right now. As for me, I’ll keep sipping my peppermint-tinted black coffee and pretending it’s not giving me toothpaste flashbacks.

Let me know — are you Team Peppermint, or is December still pumpkin-spice season for you?

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