Mint is an herb that is super easy to grow. In fact, it is so prolific that it can become invasive. The plant spreads by rhizomes under the ground and seems to thrive in all types of soil. It is perennial which means that it survives the winter and comes back year after year. The best plan of action is to either use mint as a pleasing ground cover in a hard bordered area where it can’t spread over your entire yard, or to grow it in boxes such as my spearmint box above. There are many types of mint with differing uses, but I am only going to highlight the 3 types that I grow in my yard.
- Apple mint gets its name because it has a slight odor of Granny Smith apples when you rub its leaves and release the oils. It has oval leaves, and its leaves and stems are covered with fine hairs. Its main uses are medicinal. This mint is used in herbal teas as it helps with stomach ailments. It works as an antiseptic for bites and burns as the oils have cooling properties just like aloe.
2. Spearmint has many culinary uses. Its leaves are small, pointed, and light green in color. Its flavor is milder than its sister plant, peppermint. Peppermint has 40% menthol in its leaves as compared to .05% for Spearmint. Spearmint’s subtle mint flavor makes it a great flavoring for savory dishes such as tabbouleh, summer rolls, or sauces. It is the main mint used for many mixed drinks such as mojitos and mint juleps. Mojitos are the perfect cooling drink for a hot summer afternoon. (Stay tuned for my blueberry mojito recipe in next week’s post!) Gently crushing or muddling the leaves releases the oils from the leaves to impart its unique flavor. Spearmint is the mint that you usually find in grocery stores.
3. Peppermint has a much stronger mint flavor and aroma than spearmint when the leaves are crushed. Its stems are a dark purplish color and its leaves a dark green hue. This mint is best suited for flavoring teas and desserts because of its intense sweet flavor. It can be used as a substitute for spearmint but in smaller quantities.