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Mint: The Ultimate Guide




This is a rewrite of my original post on mint.  I have added a bunch of new information, as well as adding some graphics and more photos.  It is now very long and extensive and covers just about everything you ever wanted to know about this wonderful, and tasty(!), plant.  Now it really is "The Ultimate Guide to Mint."
Mint

 This time around for the herb journal I will be looking at Mint.  It is another of my favorite herbs and has a variety of uses for cooking, medicine and baking.


Mint is a plant from the Labiatae family.  It has wide-spreading underground and over-ground stolons, which if allowed to grow unchecked can turn it into an invasive weed.  Mint will attain a height, depending on the cultivar, of 1 inch to 3 feet.  The smaller species make a very good ground cover and can be used in place of a lawn where conditions permit.  In large, natural areas, where hardy ground cover is needed, let any of the tougher mints, such as peppermint take over.  Just mow it off as it comes into flower and you will have a lush and lovely thick carpet that smells wonderful.

Mint Top Close Up

 Mint has erect, square branching stems.  The leaves are arranged in pairs and are oblong to lanceolate in shape.  They are occasionally downy, with a serrated margin.  Leaf colors, depending on the cultivar, can range from dark green and gray-green to purple, blue and sometimes, pale yellow.  The leaves are oval, pointed, and toothed.  They are aromatic and deeply wrinkled due to deep veins on them.  


Mint Leaf Close Up

 Mint flowers are white to purple and produced in false whorls called verticillasters.  These appear on terminal spikes and have 4 stamens and a 5-toothed tubular calyx.  Each flower produces four smooth ovoid nutlets or seeds.  These are dark brown and small.
Mint Flowers Close Up

 In Greek mythology, Minthe was a nymph with whom Pluto fell in love.  His wife, Persephone, was very upset by this and turned Minthe into a lowly plant.  Pluto couldn't undo the spell, but he was able to soften it a little so that the more she was tread upon, the sweeter would be her smell.  We take the name "mint" from the name of this nymph. 
Mint plays a prominent part in another Greek myth.  Two strangers walking through Asia Minor were snubbed by the residents of the villages they passed through.  They were offered neither food nor drink by the villagers.  Eventually the two strangers came to the home of an elderly couple, Philemon and Baucis, who prepared a meal for them.  Before they served the meal, they rubbed down their table with mint leaves to clean and freshen it. The two strangers turned out to be Zeus and Hermes in disguise.  Because of their hospitality, the elderly couple was richly rewarded and their humble home was turned into a temple.  It is for this reason that mint is a traditional symbol of hospitality.
Mint in a Pot

 The Pharisees in ancient times collected tithes of mint, dill and cumin as these were considered to be very valuable for their flavoring.  Ancient Hebrews laid mint on synagogue floors and Italians laid it on their church floors centuries later.  Bunches of mint are still hung in houses in hot countries to freshen the air and add a feeling of coolness.
Growing Mint Plants

 Most mints are native to Europe and Asia, but some types are indigenous to South Africa, the Americas, and Australia.  Today, mints grow just about everywhere and have become naturalized throughout North America from southern Canada to Mexico.  Mint is a common flavoring in Greek, Arabic, North African, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines.


Due to their rampant growth habit, hybridization of mints is quite easy, and actually occurs naturally.  So, it is difficult to get a "pure" hybrid of mint.  Even the mints we so commonly identify (Peppermint and Spearmint) are actually due to ancient efforts at hybridization. Because of this, it is often difficult to tell exact which cultivar you have.
Red Damselfly on Mint

Mints grow in a wide range of growing conditions and can be grown in full sun or partial shade.  They like moist spots, but will grow in more arid regions, as well.  Mint grows all year round, making an excellent plant for an indoor herb garden.  It thrives in a partly shady spot with plenty of moisture.  You should allow 1 or 1 1/2 feet between plants.  Don't dress your soil with manure or too much organic material as this will encourage rust.
Mint in the Ground in a Pot--Fill around pot and bury it so it is not visible

Mint Runners

If mints are planted in the garden, you need to place some sort of barrier around the plant so that it doesn't escape and go wild.  To control them, plant the mints in deep bottomless containers sunk in the ground.  Their roots don't go very deep and they prefer to send their shoots running just below the surface or on top of the ground, so this method is usually effective.  As long as your barrier is 10 inches deep, it should keep the roots from spreading. I plant all my mint in pots or bury pots containing the mint plants to prevent them from leaving the spot where they were planted.  You can cut the bottoms off plastic pots, or break the bottoms off clay pots.  One year I did not do this and spent the next several years digging mint runners out of the entire raised bed where it had gone crazy.  
Mint Sprouts

 Some mints can be propagated by seed, but growth from seed can be difficult as the seeds are highly variable--you may not end up with what you thought you were planting.  Other types of mint, such as peppermint, are sterile hybrids that don't produce seed.  These can only be propagated from plant cuttings or by planting the runners dug up from healthy mints. I have a large old pot of mint that I regularly take pieces from and plant in other areas of my garden.  I have dug out large chunks and within a week or two, the original plant naturally fills in the area where the pieces I removed were growing.  So the pot is always full!
My Big Mint Plant

Mints can also be easily propagated by taking a cutting and putting it in a small vase of water.  Within a couple of weeks, the cutting will send out roots into the water.  It will be ready for replanting in a couple of months.  I have propagated several types of herbs this way and always have good luck.  Due to their speedy growth habits, mints provide some of the quickest gratification for hydroponically growing plants.  Sometimes roots will form in a matter of days, depending on the species.
Mint Roots

 Frequent cutting of mint, or mowing it, if it is used in a lawn setting, keeps the plants looking their prettiest.  Every time you cut mint, it encourages it to branch out at the cuts, so you will get lusher, healthier plants.  You can divide established plants in the fall.  Division is a good way to keep these plants in check, as after a few years they can become woody and weedy if not pruned back often. 
Mint Gone Wild!



Harvesting of mint leaves can be done at any time.  Simply snip off the tips of the plant, leaving a couple of inches of the stem.  Fresh leaves should be used immediately or stored for up to a few days in a plastic bag.  They can also be frozen in ice cube trays for later use. The young, tender leaves and stems have better flavor than the older ones.  Dried leaves retain their flavor well.
Hanging Mint for Drying--Really not the best spot for drying (in front of open window).  You will get the best results if your drying room is very dry, still and dark.

To dry mint leaves, bind together bunches of the mint and hang to dry in a dry, dark place.  It will dry completely in about three weeks.  Then remove the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container for use during the next year.  Be sure to label and date the container.  The leaves should maintain their optimum quality for about a year.




The leaf, fresh or dried, is the culinary and medicinal source of mint.  Menthol, found only in Japanese mint and peppermint leaves, is the primary flavoring and medicinal agent produced by the plant.  It gives mint its distinctive flavor and aroma.  The compound responsible for the flavoring and aroma of spearmint is  L-carvone.  It produces some of the characteristics of menthol, but on a lesser scale.  This makes spearmint better for culinary and craft usage, but peppermint contains the most active medicinal properties of the herb.
Green Dried Mint

 There are many health benefits associated with mint.  Probably the most common use for it is in aiding digestion.  Mint stimulates the flow of bile to the stomach, which promotes digestion.  Mint has antispasmodic properties that are especially calming to stomach muscles.  So it relieves upset stomachs and possibly menstrual cramps. 
Watermelon Feta Mint Appetizers

If you feel sick to your stomach, drinking a cup of mint tea can give you relief.  The menthol oil derived from mint is also great for the nausea or motion sickness that can occur when traveling long distances by plane or boat.  The aroma of mint stimulates the salivary glands in our mouths, as well as the glands that secrete digestive enzymes, thereby facilitating digestion.  This is why mint is so often used in appetizers or as a palate cleanser.  It is eaten before the main course so the food will digest comfortably.  Additionally, the market is full of products like toothpaste, chewing gum, breath fresheners, candy and inhalers which have mint as their base element.  However, the medicinal implications of mint are much more far reaching than just as a flavoring agent.
Peppermint Candies

 Mint is useful in the treatment of headaches and migraines.  A balm with a mint base, or basic mint oil, can be rubbed on the forehead and outside of the nose for quick relief of these.  Mint is a naturally soothing substance, so it can alleviate the inflammation and temperature rise that is often associated with headaches and migraines.  
Mint Oil

 Mint cools and soothes the throat, nose, lungs and bronchial tubes, so it is great for coughs and colds.  It relieves the irritation that causes chronic coughing and the problems arising from asthma and the common cold, too.  Mint is an excellent relaxant for the respiratory system and relieves congestion, which aids in asthma treatment.  Inhalers that have mint as their fundamental component tend to be more effective than those based on aerosols.  They are much more eco-friendly, as well.  However, using too much mint can irritate the nose and throat, so use with caution.  
Inhaler

Although mint oil can relieve the nipple cracking and pain associated with breast-feeding, mint should not be used by pregnant women.  Pennyroyal oil is especially dangerous in pregnancy as it has been used as an abortifacent in the past.  Pennyroyal is a species of mint having excellent insect control properties.
Pennyroyal

Mint is a natural stimulant and has excellent rejuvenative properties.  If you are feeling sluggish, anxious, depressed, or simply exhausted, the smell of it alone can be enough to charge your batteries and get your brain functioning at a high level again.  It can be ingested, applied topically in a salve form, or inhaled as a vapor to give you a much-needed boost.  A popular way to get good results is to place a few drops of mint essential oil or menthol oil on your pillow at night and let it work on your body or mind while you sleep.
Mint and Coconut Body Scrub

Mint juice is an excellent skin cleanser.  It soothes skin, helps to cure infections and itchiness, and can reduce pimples.  It will even reduce the symptoms of acne.  Its anti-pruritic properties can be used for treating insect bites.  The cooling sensation will relieve you of the irritating sensation to scratch, while the anti-inflammatory nature of the herb will reduce the swelling caused by the bite.  Mint oil is a powerful insect repellent, too, as the strong aroma is unappealing to most bugs.
Mosquito

A recent study explored the effects that mint has on alertness, mental retention and cognitive function.  The study found that people who frequently use chewing gum, whose major active ingredient is mint, had higher levels of retention and mental alertness than those who did not.  Apparently my daughter's assertion that she needs to chew gum continuously during school because it keeps her awake and focused is accurate and has a basis is scientific fact!

Chewing Gum

Other studies have shown that the stimulating properties of mint can help with weight loss. As mentioned earlier, mint stimulates the digestive enzymes in our bodies.  These regulate the absorption of nutrients from food.  These enzymes are also responsible for the consumption of fat and turning it into energy that is usable by the body.  By adding mint to your diet, you are increasing the amount of fat that is being consumed and put to use, rather than allowing your body to store it as fat reserves and contributing to weight gain.
Scale--LOL!!!

 Some research has been done into the effects of mint on female sterility and male potency. The abortive properties of pennyroyal oil are well-documented, but it has been noted that prolonged use of ordinary mint may actually reduce a woman's ability to conceive by interfering with the production of ova.  This is due to the germicidal and insecticidal properties of mint.  Other research has claimed that men who smoke menthol cigarettes are more likely to suffer from impotency than those who smoke normal cigarettes.  It is not known if this is due to the tobacco itself used in production of these cigarettes, or the mentholation of that tobacco.  Another group of researchers suggest that mint may actually be used to treat sterility in females.  Further research into these claims is obviously quite necessary.
Mints

The improvement of oral health is a well-known benefit of mint.  Because it has germicidal qualities and quickly freshens breath, mint adds to oral health by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth inside the mouth and by cleaning the tongue and the teeth.  Traditionally, mint was rubbed directly on the teeth and gums to refresh the mouth and eliminate dangerous bacteria.  In modern times, it is why mint is one of the most common elements of the majority of toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other dental hygiene products.  The easiest way to get these benefits is to simply chew on a few mint leaves fresh from your garden.
Loose Mint Leaves

Seasonal allergies and hay fever affect millions of people each year.  Extracts from mint leaves have been shown to inhibit the release of certain chemicals that aggravate the severe nasal symptoms that are associated with hay fever and seasonal allergies.  
Fresh mint with Mortar and Pestle

Certain enzymes found in mint may also help prevent or treat some forms of cancer.  This claim is presently under research.
Cancer Ribbons

Despite the fact that mint has significant cooling and soothing effects for the most part, if consumed during a fever, mint will cause sweating and actually break the fever and speed recovery.  Other uses for mint include the healing and soothing of burns and as a treatment for rheumatism.  


There are several magical uses for mint.  Its magical powers include money, lust, healing, travel, exorcism, and protection.  If you rub the leaves against your forehead, it will banish your headache.  Wearing mint at your wrist ensures that you will not be sick and will have good health.  Stuffing a green-colored poppet with mint and healing oils alleviates stomach problems.  It is also used in travel spells and to promote lust.  
Supplies for Magic

The bright green leaves and crisp scent of mint make it a natural to use in money spells to increase wealth and prosperity.  To increase your wealth with mint, place a few leaves in your wallet or purse.  You can also rub mint leaves where your money is kept to achieve the same effects.  Mint can be used to rid a place of evil by sprinkling water infused with the herb, marjoram, and rosemary over the area.  Fresh mint laid on your altar will call good spirits and aid you in magic.  You can keep mint in your home for protection from evil spirits.


As mentioned earlier, mint is a symbol of hospitality.  In the Victorian language of flowers, mint has a number of meanings.  In Victorian times, and earlier, people would construct little bouquets of flowers, called tussie-mussies.  In constructing these bouquets, the maker would select specific plants and flowers to convey certain messages to the bouquet's intended recipient.  Mint's principal meanings include grief, homeliness, homely virtue, wisdom, remembrance, and eternal refreshment.  These meanings are some of the reasons for some of the uses for mint in the past.  
Tweedia, Geranium, and Mint Wedding Bouquet
This bouquet would represent cordial feelings (Geranium) and wisdom and eternal refreshment (Mint),
along with providing "something blue" for the bride to carry.

Mint can also be used to say, "Find someone of your own age, background, and status to marry."  Another meaning is "Don't make such a to-do about small things."  Pennyroyal is a type of mint that means "flee away!" or escape.  Pennyroyal is, incidentally, the best form of mint to use as "flea-away", or bug repellent, too.  Peppermint means cordiality and wisdom, while Spearmint means warmth of sentiment and friendliness.  Catnip is another form of mint and carries the meaning of intoxication with love, probably because of the way cats react to it.


The best known use for mint is in the culinary arts.  It is used in the flavoring of many sweets as it blends particularly well with sugar and the flavors of chocolate, vanilla, milk and cream. Think Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies!!! It can also be used with meats, poultry, and vegetable dishes, although a little goes a long way.  Mint is a common ingredient in several alcoholic drinks, too, such as the mojito, mint julep, and as the primary constituent in the liqueur creme de menthe. 


Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies

 Peppermint straight from the garden tends to be too strong for cooking.  If you want to cook with peppermint, harvest only the youngest leaves, as older ones tend to be bitter. Spearmint and curly mint are better for cooking.  They are milder than peppermint as they do not produce menthol.  These mints enhance the flavor of meat and fish.  They are especially good with veal, eggplant, white beans, black beans, lentils, cracked wheat salads, fruit salads, fruit beverages, and creamy vegetable soups.  Corsican mint is a very low-growing tiny variety that is great for cooking.  Some say this is the "true-blue" mint flavor. Like peppermint, Corsican mint has high levels of volatile oils.  Several mint recipes can be found on this blog on the RECIPES page.
Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies

Be sure to leave your comments below or send me an email at angelasblogemail@gmail.com .  Let me know what you love about mint and how you use it in your home!  I can't wait to hear from you!

Peace and Love Always,











Too Much Cat Mint

Sources:
Bremness, Leslie. RD Home Handbook: Herbs. Pleasantville: Reader's Digest Association, 1990. Print.

Brown, Deni. The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995. Print.

Clevely, Andi, and Katherine Richmond. The Complete Book of Herbs. New York: Smithmark, 1994. Print.

Cunnningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1992. Print.

Gips, Kathleen. Flora's Dictionary: The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers . Chagrin Falls: TM Publications, 1995. Print.

Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs . Emmaus: Rodale, 1987. Print.

Kruger, Anna. An Illustrated Guide to Herbs. Stamford: Longmeadow, 1993. Print.

Shaudys, Phyllis. The Pleasure of Herbs. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1986. Print.

Shaudys, Phyllis V. Herbal Treasures. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1990. Print.

Ware, Megan. "Mint: Health Benefits, Uses and Risks." Medical News Today. Ed. Helen Webberly. Medical News Today, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.


Photo Credits:
Mint Background--Harvesting and Drying Mint:   Photo credit: sarahbest via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Mint in Rectangular Pot:  Photo credit: Fluffymuppet via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Hanging Mint to Dry:  Photo credit: wayneandwax via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Green Dried Mint:  Photo credit: realblades via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA


Mint Julep and Hat:   Photo credit: cizauskas via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Mint in a Bottle:   Photo credit: melderomero.com via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Thin Mints Boxes 2:  Photo credit: MikeOliveri via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Mint:   Photo credit: everydaygrowingcultures via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Mint for Description Graphic 2   Photo credit: matsuyuki via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

Mint top Close up:  Photo credit: stevendepolo via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Mint Leaf Close Up 2:   Photo credit: Matty Ring via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Mint Flowers Close up:  Photo credit: miknx via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC

Mint in a Pot:  Photo credit: John and Anni via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Growing Mint Plants:   Photo credit: jenn2d2 via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Red Damselfly on Mint:   Photo credit: Sprogz via Visual hunt / CC BY

Mint in Ground in a Pot:  Photo Credit:  http://wildgreen.weebly.com/blog/overwintering-mint-in-a-container

Mint Runners:  Photo credit: sarae via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-ND

Mint Sprouts:   Photo credit: yoppy via Visualhunt / CC BY

My Big Mint Plant:  Photo Credit:  Angela Fox-Thompson


Mint Gone Wild:   Photo credit: swanksalot via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Hanging Mint to Dry:  Photo credit: wayneandwax via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Mint Green Paper:  Photo credit: pareeerica via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC

Green Dried Mint:  Photo credit: realblades via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Watermelon Feta Mint Appetizers:  Photo Credit: http://feastingnotfasting.com/watermelon-feta-mint-skewers-balsamic-glaze/

Peppermint Candies:  Photo credit: sea turtle via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Mint Oil:  Photo credit: Nohchi Oda via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND




Mosquito:   Photo credit: Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Chewing Gum:  Photo credit: canonsnapper via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Scale:   Photo credit: jeff_golden via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA

Mints:  Photo credit: renaissancechambara via VisualHunt / CC BY

Loose Mint Leaves:  Photo credit: SummerTomato via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Fresh Mint with Mortar and Pestle:  Photo Credit: http://drlisawatson.com/doctors-know-little-about-herbs

Cancer Ribbons:  Photo Credit: http://suzou.net/


Cracked Mint Green Texture:  Photo credit: webtreats via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Mint on Black:   Photo credit: Nick Kenrick. via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA





Tweedia, Geranium and Mint Bouquet:  Photo Credit: http://www.brides.com/wedding-flowers/2000000002049093

Thin Mints:  Photo credit: Brian Legate via Visual hunt / CC BY-ND

Thin Mints Boxes:  Photo credit: MikeOliveri via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Too Much Cat Mint:  Photo credit: "T"eresa via Visual Hunt / CC BY

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