Scientific Name: Mentha piperita
Common Names: Pepper mint
Rank: Genus
What is Mentha piperita?
Mentha piperita L. is a flowering plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Mentha piperita is a popular herb that can be used in numerous forms (i.e., oil, leaf, leaf extract, and leaf water). Native to Europe and the Middle East, it is now cultivated in many areas of the world. This herb thrives in moist soils and can be invasive.
A strongly aromatic, herbaceous perennial with stems and leaves flushed with purple. It produces terminal spikes of tiny, pale purple flowers in late summer.
Its fragrant leaves are used to make teas, as a culinary aromatic & flavoring, and also in soap products and cosmetics.
It is used as a medicine as a spasmolytic carminative, and cholagogue; mixed with other herbal drugs, as a sedative; to treat acute and chronic gastritis, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, flatulence and chronic cholecystopathies.
What is Mentha piperita taste like?
Peppermint has a characteristic aromatic odor and taste, with a cooling sensation on the breath, whereas the odor and taste of spearmint are characteristic and aromatic but not followed by a cooling sensation.
The peppermint leaves have a characteristic, sweetish, strong odor and an aromatic, warm, pungent taste, with a cooling aftertaste. The essential oils of M. × piperita cultivated plants are characterized by the preponderance of menthone, isomenthone, and the different isomers of menthol.
It is not uncommon for individuals to generalize the flavour of “mint” but if you want to become a flavour expert it is important that you know the differences between mints. Spearmint and peppermint are both types of mints but they have very unique flavour profiles. Spearmint (Mentha spicate) also known as garden mint is milder of the two making it ideal for savoury dishes. It further can be described as being sweet, smooth, carvone and minty. It contains only 0.05% mentanol, meaning it does not provide the same cooling sensation you would associate with peppermint. Sub-varieties of spearmint include pineapple mint, known for its pineapples notes and sweeter flavour; and apple mint known for its green apples notes.
What are the culinary uses for Mentha piperita?
Mentha species are widely used in savory dishes, food, beverages, and confectionary products. Peppermint, (Mentha ×piperita), strongly aromatic perennial herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Peppermint has a strong sweetish odor and a warm pungent taste with a cooling aftertaste. The leaves are typically used fresh as a culinary herb, and the flowers are dried and used to flavor candy, desserts, beverages, salads, and other foods. Its essential oil is also widely used as a flavoring. The plant is a hybrid between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (M. spicata) and is cultivated in Europe, Asia, and North America.
What are the Health benefits of Mentha piperita?
· One of the most important actions of peppermint is as a carminative. This term is applied to herbs that can used to help relieve gut spasm by relaxing the muscles in the bowel walls and relaxing the gut. Carminatives, which tend to be rich in volatile oils, will also reduce the buildup of gas in the digestive system and the discomfort that this causes. It is an ideal remedy to help with most types of colic and indigestion.
· Peppermint also has properties as a cholagogue. This means that peppermint promotes the production of bile, thereby stimulating the digestion as well as improving the appetite.
· Peppermint is also classed as an aromatic herb. Herbs in this category have strong flavours and odours and are often used to stimulate the digestion.
· The essential oil in peppermint acts to soothe the stomach lining, effectively acting as a mild type of anaesthetic. This makes peppermint an ideal remedy to help stop sickness (including travel sickness) or nausea.
· Peppermint also has analgesic proprieties due to a mild pain killing effect. Again this is due to the volatile essential oil in peppermint which means that it can be used to relieve the discomfort associated with sickness, colic and colitis.
· Peppermint has some antimicrobial action and will help prevent abnormal food fermentation in the stomach.
· Another category, in which Peppermint falls, is that of a stimulant herb. Although its action in this area is only very minor in comparison to other herbs, it will help to stimulate some of the body’s physiological functions.
· One of the less well-known properties of peppermint is that of calming anxiety and tension.