According to Greek legend, Pluto, God of the Underworld, fell in love with a nymph named Menthe. This caused his wife, Proserpina, to turn her into an herb and banish her forever to the regions of the shadows and moisture.


Peppermint (Genus Mentha Family Lamiaceae) is actually a cross between a spearmint and water-mint, a hybrid. It is native to Europe but has spread throughout the world. It is perennial herb, growing 12 to 35 inches tall. Its leaves are broad, dark green with reddish veins. The leaves and stems are slightly fuzzy. Flowers are a rose-lavender on cylindrical spikes. It flowers from mid to late summer and produces small, round, dark seeds. It is a fast growing plant and spreads quickly. It prefers to grow in shade in moist soil along the sides of streams and in drainage ditches. Young shoots taken from old stocks and dibbled into the ground about 1.5 feet apart will grow quickly and cover the ground with runners. The cultivated plant is better than the wild one for more and better oil content. The leaves and flowers are used and should be collected as soon as the flowers begin to open. It is a good companion plant to cabbage, as it will deter the white cabbage butterfly. It is considered invasive in Australia, New Zealand. the Galapagos Islands, and in the United States in the Great Lakes region since 1843.


Peppermint is the oldest flavor in confectioneries. It is often used in tea and for flavoring ice cream, confectionery, chewing gum, and toothpaste. It is found in shampoo, soap, and skin care products. The flowers are large nectar producers and honey bees are attracted to them. If there is a sufficient area of plants, mild pleasant honey can be produced.


Archaeological evidence has been found of Herbologists using peppermint as far back as ten thousand years ago. It has been used to treat nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, irritable bowels, and bloating. The aroma enhances memory and alertness. Peppermint oil contains a high concentration of natural pesticides. It is used in construction and plumbing to test for tightness of the pipes and disclose leaks by its odor.


Peppermint tea has several benefits; analgesic, antispasmodic, and carminative. It is useful for irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, stomach pains, diarrhea, and constipation. It acts as a carminative to help move gas through the stomach and intestines. It helps with nausea related to movement. Peppermint tea is full of calcium, vitamin B, and potassium so it can boost the immune system when one has a cold or flu and keep mild asthma under control. It relieves stress, suppresses the appetite and reduces the effects of headaches or migraines.


There are side effects that may arise when drinking peppermint tea. It can cause acid re-flux aggravation. In excessive amounts, it can cause muscle pains, slow heart rate, and tremors. An overdose is extremely rare. This may cause interactions with other medication so make sure your doctor confirms it is safe to drink peppermint tea. Pregnant women, infants, and younger children should not drink this tea.


To dry peppermint, gather the foliage in the early morning before the dew has evaporated. Hang the bunches upside down in warm shade, or dry them in the oven at 150 degrees Fahrenheit then strip the leaves from the stems and store them in opaque jars with airtight lids. Clean, undried sprigs can be frozen in plastic bags.


Fresh or dried peppermint leaves can add zest to your salads and can be sprinkled over ice cream or mixed into cream cheese.


To make peppermint tea, use one gram of peppermint leaves for every 150 ml of boiling water. Do not drink more than 2 to 3 servings of peppermint tea a day to avoid potential side effects.