A delicate menthol
Source: jmheatherly.medium.com
Photo by Melissa Walker Horn on Unsplash
Spearmint is native from Ireland to China, and we make its aromatic oils into things like tea and toothpaste. Menthol feels cool to the touch because it’s an alcohol, which evaporates at a lower temperature than water. Excessive mint irritates skin and GI tract. Mint can be invasive, so plant in containers.
In Greek myth, Pluto fell in love with a nymph named Minthe. Tragically, his enraged wife, Persephone, stomped on Minthe. So he turned Minthe into an herb that smells lovely when crushed. Now mint is everywhere! Steep in a tea or muddle (lightly bruise) in a cocktail.
Nomenclature: Mentha spicata Tastes: mild, sweet mint Uses: tea, pesto, cocktails, folk medicine
Recipe: Mojitos, a Cuban Highball
Ingredients: Mint, white rum, lime juice, simple syrup, club soda, ice.
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