mint2 (m¹nt) n. 1. A member of the mint family. 2.a. Any of various plants of the genus Mentha, characteristically having aromatic foliage and nearly regular flowers. Some plants are cultivated for their aromatic oil and used for flavoring. b. The fresh, dried foliage of some of these plants. 3. Any of various similar or related plants, such as the stone mint. 4. A candy flavored with mint. --mint" adj.
As I eat my mint Lifesavers, I can say that mint is one of the most familiar herb flavors in the world.. There is mint in beverages, main dishes, candies, desserts, fruit and vegetable dishes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and even children's medicine.
Mostly members of the Labiatae family, mints are vigorous, low-growing herbs with square stems, and opposite leaves. Mature height can vary from one inch to three feet The essential oil with the refreshing minty flavor comes from glands on the leaves.
Good for You
Most all mints contain these nutrients: Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin),carotenes, calcium, iron and phosphorus.
A Brief History of Mint
Mint has been used for flavor and medicine at least as far back as the Greeks and was thought of as a sign of hospitality. The Greeks thought mint could clear the voice and cure a case of hiccups, and also served it after a meal as a digestive aid. Chinese and Ayurvedic doctors also used it for a digestive aid, as well as a treatment for colds, coughs and fevers. Spearmint, the most common member of the mint group, was carried by the Romans across Europe. Spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal were carried by the European colonists of the seventeenth and eighteenth century to many locations, including North America, where it naturalized. Thomas Jefferson grew lemon balm at his home at Monticello, as well as other mints, for medicinal and culinary uses.
Types
The two types of mint most common in gardens are Mentha piperata or peppermint, "peppery mint," and Mentha spicata, or spearmint, "spiky mint."
Mints have vigorous growth habits (with underground stems carrying start-ups of the plant in all directions) and aromatic leaves that bear a volatile oil (containing menthol). Most have small whorls of tiny flowers blooming in summer. All plants in this botanical family have squared off stems with leaves arranged in pairs opposite each other.
There are about twenty species of mint growing world-wide with many, many more transitional forms, hybrids, and regional variations. Some of the favorites are:
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Laurel Morris's Herb Gardening topic, please visit the Discussions page.