An embedding of a metric graph $(G, d)$ on a closed hyperbolic surface is emph{essential}, if each complementary region has a negative Euler characteristic. We show, by construction, that given any metric graph, its metric can be rescaled so that it admits an essential and isometric embedding on a closed hyperbolic surface. The essential genus $g_e(G)$ of $(G, d)$ is the lowest genus of a surface on which such an embedding is possible. In the next result, we establish a formula to compute $g_e(G)$. Furthermore, we show that for every integer $ggeq g_e(G)$, $(G, d)$ admits such an embedding (possibly after a rescaling of $d$) on a surface of genus $g$. Next, we study minimal embeddings where each complementary region has Euler characteristic $-1$. The maximum essential genus $g_e^{max}(G)$ of $(G, d)$ is the largest genus of a surface on which the graph is minimally embedded. Finally, we describe a method explicitly for an essential embedding of $(G, d)$, where $g_e(G)$ and $g_e^{max}(G)$ are realized.
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