# Improving mojitos **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-mojitos/565737 "2010-12-29T19:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-mojitos/565737/1 "2010-12-29T19:31:47Z")
I love to make mojitos from scratch: simple syrup, rum, mint, lime, club soda. I usually twist or muddle the mint, but I always feel a little disappointed with the lack of mint flavor in my drinks. What are your tricks for better mint flavor? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-mojitos/565737/2 "2010-12-29T19:34:11Z")
Don’t use simple syrup. Use superfine sugar. Add it to the mint before you muddle, and use a twisting motion to reduce the mint to a paste. The sugar crystals will rip the cell walls of the mint, releasing its essence into your drink. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-mojitos/565737/3 "2010-12-29T21:14:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Don’t use simple syrup. Use superfine sugar. Add it to the mint before you muddle, and use a twisting motion to reduce the mint to a paste. The sugar crystals will rip the cell walls of the mint, releasing its essence into your drink. Okay, I like where this is going, but how do you keep the paste of the mint from floating around in the drink and getting stuck in everybody’s teeth? That last time I made them and tried to increase the mint flavor, I really smashed and tore up the leaves and all it did was get in people’s teeth…do you strain it? Was I doing something wrong? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-mojitos/565737/4 "2010-12-29T21:17:01Z")
I’d strain it. If you’re going to the trouble of making simple syrup, you can cook some mint leaves while you’re making that to make a minty-sweet syrup. Strain that, too. I guess you could line the rim with crushed candycanes if you \*really \*want to amp the mintiness to 11. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-mojitos/565737/5 "2010-12-29T21:23:09Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > If you’re going to the trouble of making simple syrup, you can cook some mint leaves while you’re making that to make a minty-sweet syrup. Strain that, too. Yup. I cook the mint leaves in the simple syrup to make mint syrup. Nom. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-mojitos/565737/6 "2010-12-29T21:41:07Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Yup. I cook the mint leaves in the simple syrup to make mint syrup. Nom. I do this as well. It seems the heat draws out some extra mint flavor. And I’ve had some damn good mojitos at South Beach in Miami. [Yuca Restaurant](http://www.yuca.com), I’m looking at _you._