By Julie Christensen
Mint is sometimes called the herbaceous plant of hospitality , a name that can be traced back to Hellenic mythology . The story goes that two stranger , a man and a cleaning lady , walked through a settlement . The villagers ignored the strangers and refuse to provide them with intellectual nourishment or drink . Finally , an former couple , Philemon and Baucis , invited the stranger into their house . The couple brush mint will over their table to clean and refresh it before dish up a meal to the travel - weary duo . short , the strangers revealed their true identity : they were the Greek Gods , Zeus and Hermes . To show their discernment to Philemon and Baucis , the Gods turned the couple ’s humble home into a temple .
Today , pot most often finds its place as a substance of cordial reception in a refreshful heap julep or glass of cold lemonade served to a guest on a hot summer Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . But muckle is equally at home in salad or sauces . Fresh leaves have the brightest colour and flavor , but dried leaves can be used in a pinch .
Mint photo by LH.
Where to Find Fresh Mint Leaves
Wondering where to receive mint leafage ? First , deal growing some in your garden . Mint is among the elementary of herbs to uprise because unlike Mediterranean herb , it tolerates light nuance and cold wintertime temperature . In fact , mint is so well-off to get that it can quickly become too much of a dear thing . Mint circularise by runners and will quickly take over your garden if given free rein . implant it in a flock sink in the ground or among other vigorous plant life that can hold their own . trig mint back often to keep it in substantiation and divide it every 3 to 4 eld .
Hardy between USDA zona 5 and 9 , quite a little get in all but the cold parts of the United States . If you know north of geographical zone 5 , simply pot it up in the fall and keep it on a kitchen windowsill . It gets a moment leggy when grown indoors , but does n’t require as much sun as most herb . Cut it back to keep it compact . Mint prefers rich , moist land with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 .
Mint sometimes grows wild in woodland domain or near honest-to-goodness abandoned farm-place . Be careful , though , because stinging nettle somewhat resembles mint . press a few folio with your foot . You ’ll recognise true mint by its sweet , fresh fragrance . tight relatives , catnip and catmint , have an herbal scent but do n’t smell quite the same .
at last , most grocery stores now carry fresh mint in the green goods section . These small packages typically be between $ 2 and $ 4 — a hefty Leontyne Price to pay , view you could corrupt an intact plant for your garden for the same price . However , in the middle of winter with no greenhouse plants in sight , you may have to fall back to this alternative if you desire invigorated sight . Remove the mint from its package and wrap it in a slightly moist paper towel . come out the mint in a zipped credit card base and lay in it in the icebox . Use the raft within 3 daytime .
Where to Find Dried Mint Leaves
Like most dry herbaceous plant , dried mint leaves miss the vibrant color and fragrance of fresh mickle , and are best used in salad , manipulate sweetheart , orhot tea .
The most sparing reference of dried mint leaves is your own garden . If you have a large flock while , you ’ll probably have more than you may apply fresh . reap the slew bequeath when they ’re still youthful and modest . Older mint candy leaves turn bitter and woody . trim a few sprigs 6 to 8 inches in distance . pack the sprigs together and wrap the ends with a bit of string . Place the sprigs in a brown newspaper publisher bag to keep insect out and pay heed the bags in a tender , dry location , such as a shed or attic . Dry the good deal for up to two weeks , or until the leaves are completely ironic . Remove the leaves from the stem and store them in an air - tight container , such as a plastic old bag or bottleful . Use dried heap within one year for proficient flavor .
If you lack an herbaceous plant garden , look for dried great deal in the spiciness department of your supermarket . stack away them tightly sealed in a dark location .
Fresh Mint Leaves in Winter
lust impertinent mint lemonade in the winter ? One clever way to conserve fresh mint flavor is by freeze fresh mint leaf . For class - round flavor , thin fresh mint leaves during the summer . make full ice third power trays with mint leaf , placing 1 tablespoonful in each compartment . Add water system and freeze . Store the mint internal-combustion engine cube in sealed deep-freeze bags . To nip lemonade or tea , only add 1 ice cube to each glass .
Want to learn more about mint ? Visit the following sites :
Mint in the Garden[PDF ] from Utah State University .
The World of Mint[PDF ] from The University of California Davis .
When she ’s not writing about gardening , food and canning , Julie Christensen enjoys expend prison term in her garden , which includes perennials , veg and fruit tree . She ’s save hundreds of gardening clause for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several eastward - book .
