Is Fresh Spearmint The Same As Fresh Mint?

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a type of mint that has a delicately sweet taste used in cooking. It is also a popular ingredient in commercial products such as toothpaste or chewing gum. The leaves of this popular herb look similar to regular mint leaves with a spear shape and bright green color.

Is Fresh mint the same as spearmint?

Peppermint contains 40% menthol while spearmint contains less than 1% menthol. This means peppermint is going to have a more intense “minty” flavor that spearmint. 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.

Can you use spearmint instead of mint?

Both are used in cooking, have medicinal purposes, and make for great essential oils and tea. Both also have square stems and spear-shaped leaves. However, when it comes down to it, spearmint is better in savory dishes while peppermint is better used for a chocolate dessert.

Which is better spearmint or mint?

While peppermint’s menthol content is a whopping 40 per cent, spearmint contains just 0.5 per cent. Therefore peppermint is especially pungent and even spicy, hence the ‘pepper’ in its name. Spearmint, on the other hand, contains a compound called carvone, which gives it a much subtler, sweeter flavour.

What is the difference between spearmint and mint leaves?

Mint leaves are green and appear in pairs opposite each other. The leaves of peppermint appear toothed and sharp-looking, whereas spearmint leaves are oblong, rounded and lanced.

When a recipe calls for mint is it spearmint or peppermint?

So when a recipe calls for mint, it’s generally spearmint, recognizable for its light-green, spear-shaped leaves and that classic sweet mint flavor. Spearmint is also commonly used to make gum and candy.

Can you eat spearmint leaves?

Mint is a member of the Lamiaceae family, consisting of about 15 to 20 species, such as spearmint and peppermint, all of which are perfectly fine to eat raw or cooked. Mint leaves are a favored herb that people use, dried or fresh in many dishes and infusions.

What do you use spearmint leaves for?

Some people use spearmint to help alleviate symptoms of nausea, indigestion, gas, headache, toothache, cramps, and sore throat. It is also applied topically, to the skin, to help reduce swelling due to nerve or muscle pain.

Can I use spearmint for mojitos?

The two most common mint varieties for Mojitos are peppermint and spearmint. Despite being 2 varieties of the same plant, these mint types are very different, so it’s important to consider this before you buy. If you prefer sweeter, milder flavors, we would recommend choosing spearmint.

Does spearmint keep bugs away?

Some varieties of mint, such as peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata), also have insect repellent properties.

What is the best mint for cooking?

Spearmint. Spearmint is most commonly used in cooking for many recipes, including lamb, vegetables, and of course, mint juleps and mojitos.

What’s spearmint tea good for?

Spearmint tea may be able to help your stomach muscles relax, helping these and other digestive problems subside. Spearmint tea may also help improve your memory. One study showed that older people with memory issues who were given daily spearmint extract supplements saw a 15 % improvement in their memory.

What kind of mint is in mint ice cream?

spearmint
Most fresh mint sold in grocery stores is spearmint, but you can also use peppermint in this ice cream recipe. In fact, many mint ice creams are made with peppermint rather than spearmint.

Does peppermint tea have the same benefits as spearmint tea?

Peppermint may have anti oxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial and antitumor activities[8]. Studies showed that spearmint may be beneficial for improving memory,[9] respiratory system, relieving pain[10] and dealing with allergies.

Is spearmint stronger than peppermint?

And though peppermint is perhaps the better known of the two, it’s actually a natural hybrid of spearmint and water mint. This explains why it is so much more potent than its counterpart. Because peppermint is a mix of two types of mint, it contains a higher content of menthol (40% as opposed to spearmint’s 0.5%).

Can you buy mint leaves at the grocery store?

Finally, most grocery stores now carry fresh mint in the produce section. These small packages typically cost between $2 and $4 — a hefty price to pay, considering you can buy an entire plant for your garden for the same price.

Is spearmint toxic to dogs?

Most species of mint are perfectly safe for dogs to eat in small amounts, including human favourites peppermint and spearmint. These plants are generally non-toxic to canines, but if they are eaten in large doses they can cause illness, so it’s still best to only feed them to your dog sparingly.

Is it safe to drink spearmint tea everyday?

Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts. Kidney disorders: Spearmint tea might increase kidney damage. Using large amounts of spearmint tea might make kidney disorders worse. Liver disease: Spearmint tea might increase liver damage.

How often should I drink spearmint tea?

Some people may find if they drink spearmint tea in large quantities, they experience vomiting or diarrhea. While the exact “large quantity” is not specified, limiting your intake to two to three cups a day may put you on the safe side.

Is drinking mint water good for you?

Mint water is an excellent way to enjoy the digestive benefits of mint. Mint water contains menthol, which some studies have shown may help manage irritable bowel syndrome. Research indicates that mint water may help soothe some of the symptoms of IBS. Studies also show that mint can help alleviate indigestion.

What bugs does mint keep away?

Mint (Mentha)
The scent of mint repels aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, and even ants.