It was and is still used in cuisines. Peppermint contains a lot of nutrients and vitamins. There is a flavour difference between spearmin and peppermint as speamint tends to be slightly milder and sweeter whilst peppermint tends to have a more menthol flavour. We provide you with the best guides, tutorials and much more about Gardening. Spearmint contains about one percent menthol, which creates a delicate and subtly sweet flavor. In fact, there are hundreds of varieties of mint, with leaves ranging from round to long and pointed in shape, plain green or variegated in colour, with flowers that vary from white to cream, and pink through to purple and lilac. This spring I planted spearmint on my balcony. Mentha Species, Common Spearmint, Garden Mint, Lamb Mint, Mackerel Mint Mentha spicata. Below we are going to talk about the health benefits that they both have. [and] Morocco where mint is known as naa naa... and spearmint is used to make mint tea... the nation's most popular beverage.' 13 Best Japanese Gardening Tools For Your Garden (List & Review), How To Get Rid Of Termites in Garden Soil (Naturally & Chemically), How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors: Everything You Need To Know, Weeping Cherry Tree: Care, Watering, Types (2019 Guide), Cherry bush: Varieties, Prune, Watering and Interesting facts, Dwarf Weeping Cherry Tree Everything You Need To Know, The Best Fertilizer For Arborvitae Trees With Great Results, Rose Names And Rose Types – A Detailed Guide (2019), Kalanchoe Plant: Benefits, Planting Guide And More. Place the jar in the fridge and let it cool. When you ask for "Mint Tea" at most restaurants or cafes, you usually are served peppermint tea (dried tea bag) in a pot. It will help you from infections in your mouth and throat. The leaves grow from the stems. Wintergreen is not actually a member of the mint family, instead being from the family gaultheria. Peppermint contains 40% menthol while spearmint contains less than 1% menthol. Peppermint and spearmint are the most popular. Their stems are sturdy and square. Though peppermint and spearmint are both mint plants in the Mentha genus, peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is actually a hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica). The peppermint will produce purple flowers that will grow on a terminal, they will appear whorled too. Strain the syrup, add the lime and the rum and stir. And your mint should also be perfect for home-made mint tea. Both spearmint and peppermint produce oil. Additionally, you can maintain a healthy blood pressure, it helps you with digestion, and it helps you with the morning sickness when you are pregnant and it gives you a great breath. Spearmint vs Peppermint: Uses, Health Benefits And Recipes. For this, a different kind of mint is used – the so-called Mojito mint. This gives it the delicate, sweet and mild flavor that it has. Spearmint and peppermint are two types of herbs which belong to the mint family. Also called garden mint of English mint, this species now grows throughout the temperate regions of the world. Spearmint and peppermint can be used in different recipes too. If you aren’t familiar with the mints then you might think that they are the same. Scientifically known as Mentha spicata, spearmint is a member of the Mentha genus and is native to Europe and Asia, although it has been naturalized all over the world throughout the course of history. When you drink the water you will feel much better. Once you have everything inside add the Feta cheese and the spearmint and you are ready. Its flavor comes from menthol; it contains 40% of menthol which also gives a cooler aftertaste that most people love. It is a cross between watermint and spearmint, and is arguable the most commonly used mint. Nowadays there are 600 varieties that you can choose from. Nana mint is mainly used in Morocco, Turkey and Iran. View gallery. Some describe such taste as those of the sweet minty candy. The leaves of the spearmint are round lanced and they have an oblong shape. If you live in a cool climate, your mint is likely peppermint. Kentucky bourbon : Use a spoon to "muddle" the mint, sugar, and bourbon in the bottom of the glass so the mint leaves are lightly bruised to release their flavor. The spearmint will produce pink or blue flowers that will be in terminal clusters and the flowers will taper. Spearmint and peppermint are used for many of the same purposes, but they aren’t the same plant. Additionally, we find the spearmint flavor not only in chewing gums but also in toothpaste, candies and ice creams. From what we saw spearmint and peppermint have amazing benefits for our health. Mint comes from the Mentha genus. The climate in which the mint is growing can also help you identify it. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Also, it can help with the headaches, it eases muscle pains (you can rub the muscles with the oil), it prevents allergies and it minimizes nausea too. 19 more photos VIEW GALLERY. Don't forget to subscribe so you can receive our articles and offers first. Holiday season is approaching, and you know what that means: mint, mint, and more mint. This great difference in taste is due to the very low content of menthol (on this more later) compared to peppermint. When you’re chewing a gum this is what makes the flavor so familiar to you and gives you a great taste. Spearmint belongs to the spicata species whereas peppermint belongs to the Piperita species. English mint provides the enticing flavor and aroma of fresh spearmint, with delightfully crunchy texture. Nana mint. Does Nigella specifically use spearmint in any recipe or can you recommend a dish where spearmint really works well? The Ancients believed that mint would prevent the coagulation of milk and its acid fermentation. There is a flavour difference between spearmin and peppermint as speamint tends to be slightly milder and sweeter whilst peppermint tends to have a more menthol flavour. The Greek cuisine uses both spearmint and peppermint as a herb in different dishes. 1/25/2016 9 Comments Mint tea is a term that can mean Peppermint, Spearmint or a combination of mints. Answered on 27th May 2013. Your immune system will be boosted too. It's very small yet but I've heard that it can really run riot so I thought I'd check in advance what I can use it for? If you don’t find any, you can use peppermint or Moroccan mint. "Mint" Tea: Peppermint vs. Spearmint. Directions: What you actually have to do is to add in a saucepan the sugar, the water, and the ginger. Spearmint is a perennial herbaceous plant.It is 30–100 cm (12–39 in) tall, with variably hairless to hairy stems and foliage, and a wide-spreading fleshy underground rhizome from which it grows. I love rubbing my herbs and testing the fragrance, it's funny you said that about the mint julep, I just bought some, but mine was from a USDA certified organic plant nursery. Even though spearmint and peppermint belong to the same family they both belong to different species. Is the mint extract at the store spearmint- or peppermint-flavored? Of those 15, two emerged dominant over time in culinary uses; spearmint and peppermint. Peppermint, in general, is used in products that will improve our health whereas the spearmint is used in food and cocktails. Its oil can be used for the muscles. Mints including these two have green leaves which are opposite from each other and they develop in pairs. Spearmint and peppermint from we just saw even though they might seem the same they actually aren’t. Let’s not forget that spearmint and peppermint are great for our health. Our answer. Supermarkets tend not to label their mint by type and it appears that most supermarket mint is closer to spearmint than peppermint, though may well be a hybrid of the two. We hope that with the tips that we provided you, you will be able to distinguish which one is which. Mint or “Mentha” is, in fact, a genus of herbal plants of which there are thought to be roughly 15 different species. They have different flowers, leaves and different color of flowers. How To Get Rid Of Termites in Garden Soil (Naturally &... Dragon Tree Or Dracaena Draco: The Best Guide About This, Forget-Me-Not Flower: Types, How To Gow And Its Benefits (Ultimate Guide), Culantro Plant Has Powerfull Health Benefits That Can Help You, Sweet Corn: Best Varieties, Recipes, Planting & Watering, Most Accurate Information About Lantana Confetti Or Lantana Camara. Apart from that, it is used in antiseptics and in decongestants. The spearmint can be used as a mosquito repellent. So if you grab a leaf of your garden mint and taste it, if it has a really strong minty aftertaste, you are dealing with peppermint. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Spearmint is great for our health because it has menthol which makes it antimicrobial and antibacterial. Which type you prefer to cook with is somewhat down to personal preference and Nigella's recipes just specify "mint" rather than a particular type. Source. I’m asking because I really don’t like the flavor of spearmint, but could eat peppermint all day long; however, to me, peppermint seems like an odd flavor for savory dishes. This can be an ideal mint variety to create delicious sauces or otherwise use in creative dishes. Both Spearmint and Peppermint belong to the mint family. The improved spearmint and the english mint are both superior spearmint cultivars among possibly hundreds of forms found in gardens. When planted in good soil, mint grows wild, and can overtake gardens and lawns, making it a popular container gardening herb. Peppermint flavor can be found in chocolates, liqueur, and toothpaste too. Mint is a perennial and wide-spreading herb. You might think that they both look alike but actually they are different on the flavor, the appearance, and their unique qualities. Use spearmint if you are making a tzatziki sauce, an Indian chutney or an English-style mint sauce that you plan to serve with lamb. Which type you prefer to cook with is somewhat down to personal preference and Nigella's recipes just specify "mint" rather than a particular type. Spearmint and peppermint have different leaves, flowers, and flavor too. Copyright © 2020 Nigella Lawson. On the other hand, spearmint has a more sweet and less bold flavo r that actually many prefer to peppermint as way more gentle. Both spearmint and peppermint have different flavors and different uses. They also grow directly on their branches. Directions: First of all, wash all the vegetables very well and chop them. And despite the fact that most recipes and even grocery stores refer to mint as if it’s singular herb, there are over 15 types of mint, including spearmint, peppermint, orange mint, apple mint and more. Built by Embark. The flowers are different. You can use spearmint and peppermint to make tea which relaxes you. The main differences between peppermint and spearmint are in their menthol composition, the characteristics of their leaves and their specific uses. The spearmint can be used as a mosquito repellent. ), there are plenty different varieties of mint, too. Peppermint can work in mojitos, though you will have to use it in moderation. If you like the flavour of your spearmint then you should be able to use in most dishes that specify mint. Apart from that, it is used in antiseptics and in decongestants. Spearmint contains only a tiny fraction the amount of menthol as peppermint, which is the biggest source of change in flavor. Surely you also know the summer drink Mojito. Mint is the general name for an herb popularly known for its menthol cooling properties. Peppermint, in general, is used in products that will improve our health whereas the spearmint is used in food and cocktails. Q: When a recipe calls for “mint,” should I use spearmint or peppermint? Here's an overview comparison of three different kinds of mints that grow well for me in Anchorage, Alaska: spearmint, apple mint & chocolate mint. Hi, Okay so this year, I've decided to try more things like cooking, canning, making sauces and teas from my garden! We also find the fragrance of it in shampoos, soaps and body creams and body washes. The leaves are 5–9 cm (2– 3 1 ⁄ 2 in) long and 1.5–3 cm (1 ⁄ 2 – 1 1 ⁄ 4 in) broad, with a serrated margin. It is also an aromatic herb. Spearmint and peppermint have a difference in flavor too. They are herbs that basically are everywhere. Add the oil, the salt, the garlic, the vinegar, the mustard and whisk well. It is a variety of spearmint. Thank you {% member.data['first-name'] %}.Your comment has been submitted. Just minty and mouthwashy. Two of the 13-18 types of mint are peppermint and spearmint. The leaves of the peppermint seem to be sharp and toothed. To create your drink, add ice, ½ cup of the Mojito, 3 tablespoons of club soda and stir. Asked by Helene_P. But they call for just that: mint—they don’t specify which kind. Its oil can be used for the muscles. If you type "mint" into the search bar on Nigella's website then you will get a multitude of recipes that use mint. It also balances the hormones. This is the herb that goes into a mint julep, the typical drink of 19th century Southern gentleman. Just like there are many different kinds of tomatoes (cherry, beefsteak, roma, etc. Spearmint contains carvone and 0,5% of menthol. 1 sprig fresh ‘Kentucky Colonel' spearmint (6-8 leaves) 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 1 ½ to 2 ½ oz. They can be used in foods and in drinks. Spearmint vs peppermint Guide. Finally, add the leaves and you are ready. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) was probably established in American gardens by 1739. This means peppermint is going to have a more intense “minty” flavor that spearmint. The main difference between spearmint and peppermint is that the spearmint contains a less amount of menthol whereas peppermint contains a considerably higher amount of menthol.Furthermore, spearmint occurs naturally while peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint and watermint. Mint is a reasonably cold-hardy perennial, meaning it grows back every year under the right conditions. Peppermint also has many advantages for our health because it has antiseptic properties which make it great for our dental health. Mojito mint. A strong menthol aftertaste means peppermint, while a sweet, light flavor means spearmint. “A mint is a mint is mint” is something Gertrude Stein absolutely never wrote and glad are we, because it would have been abundantly false. With peppermint, you can make your own Mojitos. One of the main differences between spearmint and peppermint is the amount of menthol that each type of mint plant contains. That question is kind of like asking, “What is the difference between apple, red delicious and Macintosh”, where Mint is the apple and Peppermint is Red Delicious and Spearmint is Macintosh. Nigella has many summer recipes that include mint and we would suggest trying Lamb Salad with Pomegranate and Mint, Vietnamese Mint Salad and Mint Julep Peaches. The oil of the spearmint is used in medical compounds such as syrups: for coughing and cold. This is not quite classic, but still good. Family: Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) Genus: Mentha (MEN-thuh) Species: spicata (spi-KAH-tuh) 4 vendors have this plant for … Beyond that, varieties can vary near infinitely based on subtle changes in chemical composition. During the holidays, you're bound to be bombarded with all things mint: hot chocolate, candy canes, cookies, and peppermint bark.Some of these treats call for peppermint, while others call for spearmint and some don't even clarify. The term "mint" is an umbrella term for the Mentha plant family that includes spearmint, peppermint, orange mint, apple mint, pineapple mint and more. Spearmint – savory dishes Peppermint – sweet dishes If you suffer from your stomach then all you have to do is to drop a couple of drops in your water. Let them boil for about 5’. Spearmint vs Peppermint. This type of farm-fresh mint has an attractive appearance with leaves that are pretty, smooth, and quite green. Peppermint vs. Spearmint You will need the following ingredients to make it. Leaves can be fresh from the garden, or dried in a teabag. Peppermint has a high menthol content (40 percent compared to the one percent in spearmint) and can taste almost spicy. Below we are going to give you tips on how to distinguish them and the different uses that they have both in cooking but as herbs too. With the Spearmint, you can make the following delicious Greek salad. The improved form is more disease-resistant than the standard narrow leaf variety, and the nearly round leaved english variety has a milder, more refined aroma and flavour favoured in traditional mint jelly, peas, carrots, potatoes, mint julep, and lamb sauce. Peppermint is scientifically known as Mentha piperita, while spearmint is scientifically known as Mentha spicata. It also works well as the mint component of the mojito cocktail. The English classic mint sauce is prepared with spearmint. Peppermint has a strong flavor. 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