CREME DE MENTHE, a peppermint liqueur, usually of a beautiful dark green colour. By a series of distillations the es sence of the mint, the scent of it, is separated from oils and im purities. That essence is used in the making of creme de menthe. In former days the French manufacturers came regularly to Eng land to buy their supplies of mint, plantations of which flourished at Mitcham, in Surrey. They regarded it as the finest mint pro curable. Some makers use plain natural spirit in the making of the liqueur ; but the best manufacturers use good Cognac brandy. The best of these liqueurs are exported from France with an age cer tificate of not less than five years. The colouring should be, and in the best makes always is, pure vegetable matter. (J. V. M.)