Mint has an amazing variety of colors, aspects and aromas. The basic odor is fresh, piquant and peppery, but can vary with each type of mint. All the varieties of mint belong to the same botanical family, Labiatae, and their lavender or rose-colored flowers blossom all summer long. In an early Greek myth, Persephone, the queen of the underworld, became angry at her husband’s wandering eye, especially when Hades noticed a young nymph names Minthe. One day, in a fit of jealousy, she turned the lovely woman into mint. Armed with this story, Hippocrates warned men to use mint cautiously.
Spearmint is highly appreciated for its digestive properties and its ability to relieve nausea especially due to motion sickness. Quite often it is also used to find relief from headaches and tension. Research shows that spearmint tea may be one of your best choices for a caffeine-free energy boost..
Spearmint contains antioxidant polyphenols that may help boost new brain cell growth, improve your working memory, encourage restful sleep, and support overall healthy cognitive function.
For added health benefits, the antioxidant power of spearmint can also help protect your brain against free radical damage.
Inhaling the steam from a double strength infusion will help relieve nasal congestion. Mint tea can also be used in compresses to soothe itching and inflammation. In the olden days, some doctors claimed mint was an effective aphrodisiac. In the book - The Taste of Morocco, Robert Carrier notes that mint tea is used to “cure insomnia, calm the nerves, sharpen the senses and wake up those who are drowsing”. As with any herb, if you begin “taking it‟ for medicinal reasons, you should do so in tandem with a doctor’s consultation.
Mint is lovely when blended with lime, but also works marvelously with balm, green anise, vervain, orange blossom and licorice. Mint is a traditional drink in North Africa and the Middle East and is always served to welcome friends, family or visitors from afar. It is very often prepared using green tea - generally gunpowder tea.