Peppermint

About

Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint and watermint, that is considered to be the most important of all the mints, possessing a very pure mint aroma. The leaves of the plant are green and long, and often have a metallic sheen on their upper sides.

Peppermint is an important herb that is widely used to make teas, and added to salads, and sauces. It is often used as an edible garnish with ice cream and chocolate desserts.

Apart from its culinary uses, Peppermint is also used in pot-pourris, liqueurs, shampoos and lotions. The herb is also used medicinally in treating colds, colic, nerve pains and more.

Information

Other names: Mint

Translations: Piparmētras, Pipirmėtė, Mentă, Nana, Bạc hà cay, Miętowy, Pepermunt, पुदीना, Menta, Мята, Μέντα, نعناع, 박하, Máta peprná, Нана, Menta, 薄荷, Menta, Mäta pieporná, Menta piperita, נענע, Pepparmynta, Permen, ペパーミント, Menthe poivrée, Pfefferminze, Pebermynte, Peppermynte, Menta, М'ята, Piparminttu, Мента

Physical Description

The leaves of the plant are green and long, and often have a metallic sheen on their upper sides. All mints have square stems.

Colors: green

Tasting Notes

Flavors: mint

Mouthfeel: Cool

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december

Choosing: Select non-wilted bunches with healthy leaves and minimal brown edges.

Buying: You can buy fresh peppermint from local and supermarkets.

Procuring: Peppermint generally thrives in moist, shaded locations, and expands quickly by underground stolons. It is often grown in containers to restrict rapid spreading. It grows best with a good supply of water, and is often planted in areas with part-sun to shade.

Preparation and Use

The leaves and flowering tops are used, they are collected as soon as the flowers begin to open and then are carefully dried.

Peppermint has a high menthol content, and is often used as tea and for flavouring ice cream, confectionery, chewing gum, and toothpaste.

Cleaning: Clean fresh Peppermint just by using running water, beware of small insects hiding under leaves.

Conserving and Storing

Fresh mint can be used in many ways around the home. From cooking, as a decoration or even placed in your closet as an air freshener. But as most people know, herbs are best when they are freshest. And with prices at the market, it begs the question, "How does one keep mint fresh?" Here are a few ideas on how to store it to preserve freshness.

Snip the ends. Assuming you've already gotten your mint home from the store or picked it fresh from the garden, the simplest thing you can do to store and keep mint fresh is to snip the ends. Much like fresh flowers, snipping the end provides a fresh "wound" or "cut" to the plant stem which can more readily accept water. Place the mint in a small vase. It should keep several days this way.

Refrigerate it. If you need the mint to stay fresh slightly longer, another way to store the mint is to seal it in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. This should keep the mint fresh for ten to fourteen days.

Freeze the mint. If your time horizon is slightly longer, seal the mint in a zip lock storage container and place it in your freezer. Experts say this will keep your mint up to three months, although no more than 45 days is probably ideal.

Dry mint leaves. Mint leaves are dried like many other herbs. Wash the herbs in cold running water, making sure to leave the stems on. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. Then hang the mint upside down or place the mint in the sun. In a couple of days the mint should be dry and ready for storage. Place in a sealed container and store in your pantry.

Social/Political

Peppermint is a natural occurring hybrid of spearmint and water mint. The first recorded cultivation of peppermint was recorded in 1750 when a new hybrid was created and grown in London. The first commercial growing of peppermint in the United States began in 1790 in the state of Massachusetts. Peppermint has always been considered a medicinal cure for various ailments, mostly digestive; however there were many other uses prescribed for this special plant.

History: Ancient Egyptians used peppermint. In fact, dried peppermint leaves were discovered in pyramids that carbon dated to 1,000 BC.

The Romans grew mint and peppermint in their gardens for its medicinal purposes, especially as a digestive aid. They also used mint and peppermint as a ground cover, especially between stepping stone pathways. They enjoyed the pleasing aroma the plants produced that greeted guests as they entered a home or a courtyard.