Mint is best known as a mouth freshener but it is also a great palate cleanser and aids in digestion
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Mint gets its name from Menthe, a Greek mythical character. According to Greek myth, Menthe was a river nymph. Hades, the God of the Underworld, fell in love with Menthe and when Persephone, Hades’ wife, found out, she turned Menthe into a plant, so that everyone would walk all over her and crush her. Unable to undo the spell, Hades gave Menthe a magnificent aroma so that he could smell her and be near her when people trod on her.
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It comes in over 30 varieties.
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Ancient Romans and Greeks used mint to flavour cordials and fruit compotes also for baths and perfumes.
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Mint was used by the ancient Assyrians in rituals to their fire god. The ancient Hebrews scattered mint leaves on the synagogue floor so that each footstep would produce a fragrant whiff.
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The common garden mint is spearmint.
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Mexicans call mint Yerba Bueno or good herb.
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Mint plants originate in the Mediterranean region.
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Mint has been found in Egyptian tombs from as far back as 1000 BC.
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The US produces 70 per cent of the world’s peppermint and spearmint.
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Mint is grown for the oils it produces in specialised glands on the leaves and stems. This oil is recovered by distilling the harvested plants using steam.
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The Romans believed eating mint would increase intelligence. The scent of mint was also supposed to stop a person from losing his temper, and royal ambassadors carried mint sprigs in their pockets.
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Mint is shallow-rooted and requires loose-textured soils for good root penetration and growth. It requires 60 inches of rainfall for optimum growth andfertility.
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In cooking, mint sprigs can be added to cooking water or the chopped leaves can be incorporated into a dish to make the most of this herb’s aromatic, flavoursome and digestive properties.
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Originally taken as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains, it is to this day the most called upon herb for soothing a great deal of ailments from indigestion to heartburn and common cold to bad breath. Mint can also provide a cooling sensation to the skin helping to treat minor burns and skin irritations due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It can ease and unblock the breathing and respiratory passages as well as relieve headaches.
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Medieval monks drew on the herb for its culinary and medicinal properties. In many cultures, mint symbolised hospitality and was offered as a sign of welcome and friendship to guests.
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Mint contains a number of vitamins and minerals which are vital to maintain good health. Rich in vitamins A and C it also contains smaller amounts of vitamin B2 and minerals including calcium, zinc, copper and magnesium. And even though mint is mostly consumed in small quantities, the vital nutrients obtained are still beneficial and should not be
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underestimated.
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In ideal garden conditions, mint plants can become quite invasive. Mint prefers to be grown in full sun to dappled shade conditions. Soil should be rich in hummus and slightly moist. Mint quickly forms a lush carpet of green.