10 facts on
MINT
by Philip McIntosh
You shall know them by their essential oils . And their square stems .
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Mints are members of the Lamiaceae , also known as — wait for it — the mint family ( or sometimes the sage family ).
There are more than 7,000 species of shrubs , tree , vines , and herbs in the Lamiaceae organized into 230 + genera , one of which is the genus containing mints proper , Mentha .
Along with mints , the Lamiaceae also includes aromatic herbs with whorled leaves and square stems such as sage , oregano , rosemary , basil , catnip , and many others .
Depending on who you ask , there are 13-42 species in the genus Mentha ( 18-24 is a reasonable current estimate ). Challenges in classification are due to the many hybrids that arise and similarity with the verbena family .
Mints are fast-growing ( sometimes invasive ) perennials that are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions . They do particularly well in rich , moist soils .
Mints are often not reliably grown from seed due to high variability in the progeny , so cuttings are the preferred propagation method .
Some commonly grown mints are spearmint ( M . spicata ), cornmint ( M . arvensis ), apple mint ( M . suaveolens ) and the hybrids peppermint ( Mentha x peperita ), and Scotch spearmint ( Mentha x gracilis ).
A serving of spearmint ( ¼ cup , maybe 30 grams or so ) contains minimal calories , fat , or protein , about two grams of carbs and good amounts of vitamin A , iron , manganese , calcium , and copper .
The flavor of mints is , well , “ minty ,” and a little bit goes a long way . This makes them a good choice for freshening up the flavor of a dish . The strong flavor is best preserved by adding fresh mint to a dish at the end of the cooking cycle .
Mints have been attractive as medicinals for millennia . Mint teas are soothing to the digestive tract , and the essential oil menthol has anesthetic and analgesic properties . It ’ ll also freshen your breath .
50 Maximum Yield