Alcoholic beverage, creme de menthe, 72 proof

Creme de menthe is a bright, minty liqueur best known for classic after-dinner cocktails like the grasshopper and the stinger, where its intense sweetness and cooling mint flavor stand in for dessert. It also shows up poured over vanilla ice cream, stirred into hot cocoa, or used in small amounts to flavor chocolate desserts, since a little goes a long way. Green versions are common for visual effect in cocktails, while clear versions are often used when the drink or dish should not take on a green tint.

Because of its alcohol content, an opened bottle keeps indefinitely at room temperature, though many people store it in the freezer since the alcohol keeps it from fully solidifying, making for a colder, syrupier pour. At 371 calories per 100 g, a standard 1 fl oz (34 g) serving comes to about 126 calories, virtually all of it from sugar (41.6 g per 100 g) and alcohol rather than any other nutrient. It is best treated as an occasional after-dinner pour in small measured amounts rather than a mixer used freely, since 72 proof also means it is quite strong for its size, more like a splash than a full glass to sip after dinner.