Description

Mint is a close relative of spearmint, peppermint, curly mint, ginger mint, apple mint, pineapple mint. Mint is name derived from the nymph Menthe, who was turned into a plant by the goddess Perserpina when she found out that Pluto was in love with her. Greeks used it to clean their banqueting tables and added to their baths to stimulate their bodies. Romans used it in sauces, as an aid to digestion and as a mouth freshener. Romans brought mint to Britain. Also used by monks in medieval times for its culinary and medicinal properties. Dried mint has a pleasant warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavor with a cool aftertaste. The substances that give the mints their characteristic aromas and flavors are menthol and pulegone. Mint leaves are used in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, and ice creams. Mint is a necessary ingredient in tea, a popular tea in northern African and Arab countries. Alcoholic drinks sometimes feature mint for flavor or garnish. Mint is extensively used as flavorings in breath fresheners, drinks, desserts, and candies; mint (candy) and mint chocolate.