Utilizing their agronomic expertise, the Essex team sought to identify additional regions suitable for mint cultivation and found an opportunity in Chile.  Possessing features comparable to US mint growing regions such as; weather, water availability, large land parcels, and mechanized farming techniques, Chile also has a first world mindset of business dealings and a free trade agreement with the US, giving it an edge over India. There was already a precedent of mint cultivation within a similar latitude in Argentina and Chilean farmers were looking to diversify from food crops.

Production in Chile began in 2000 coordinated by an intermediary company and supported by Essex who supplied US root stock, distillation equipment, and coordinated drum supplies and shipping logistics.  In 2004 Essex assumed responsibility for the project, hiring a farm manager to work directly with the growers.  Production increased, reaching 33 metric tons in 2019 and expansion into Spearmint oil – an incredible feat for growers new to a vegetatively propagated crop.  Essex has since worked hand in hand with the growers to align production with demand, ensuring the long term sustainability of the project.   

Chilean peppermint oil is powerfully fresh and mentholic, offering a distinct sensory and analytical profile along with being a valuable source of quality peppermint oil that can be utilized to mitigate US and Indian production and price variabilities. 

Essex was founded on innovation and we seek to continually improve the industry, the land, and the way we work and collaborate.  Talk to us about your mint production problems, we’d love to develop solutions with you.  

* tons of mint oil produced