Minttu

thumb|right|Minttu peppermint liqueur. thumb|right|Minttu Black Mint salmiakki liqueur. Minttu (Finnish for "mint") is a Finnish brand of peppermint-flavoured liqueur produced by Hartwall. A characteristic ingredient of the liqueur is peppermint, to give a fresh taste and aroma.

==History== Minttu was originally developed by Chymos based on an idea from Finnish national alcohol retailer Alko. Alko had obtained a sample batch of American peppermint liqueur at a trade fair in Italy in 1986. The American developers had had an idea for a new, unique and exotic product, and wished to develop it in the Nordic countries, which were seen by them as a cold, far-away place. The Americans wanted the beverage to be clear in colour and have the word "schnapps" in its name. The alcohol content of the beverage had to be 100 proof, meaning 50 percent. Thus the new product would stand out among the peppermint liqueurs on the market. Alko was not interested, but it offered the production company Chymos the possibility to develop a beverage suited to the Finnish taste, while also meeting the American objectives.