It has served people for thousands of years as a refreshing pleasure plant and effective medicinal herb. Mint's profile reveals the diversity of this herbal plant steeped in history, which is more popular today than ever.
Characteristic features at a glance
Only a mint rounds off the planting plan of a herb garden in a meaningful way. Above all the peppermint and Moroccan mint as the most well-known species, the genus offers a wide range of variations. Regardless of this, mints have similar characteristics from a botanical point of view, as the following profile shows:
- Plant family of mints (Lamiaceae)
- Genus of mints (Mentha)
- Native to the temperate climate of the northern hemisphere
- Herbaceous perennial plant
- Height of growth from 20 to 100 centimeters
- Predominantly upright, rarely prostrate growth
- Flowering period from June to September
- Underground runners and rhizomes with an invasive character
- Brown clauspodia with seeds in autumn
- Hardy to -24 degrees Celsius
Typical for all mints is the property of drawing in the above-ground parts of the plant in autumn. The roots overwinter, from which the herbal plant will sprout again the following year. At the favorable location there is a life expectancy of up to 25 years.
ingredients and use
Since mint is extremely cross-breeding, the exact identification and differentiation of species is considered difficult. Botanists assume there are around 30 species, which result in an unmanageable variety of varieties. Today, modern breeds such as strawberry mint, pineapple mint, chocolate mint or banana mint are in a head-to-head race with the classics peppermint and spearmint. These ingredients form the basis for a wide range of possible uses:
- essential oils, such as menthol, at 50 to 80 percent
- mood-enhancing monoterpenes at 5 percent
- antibacterial flavonoids at 10 percent
Thanks to these and other ingredients, mints are used as tea, as an ingredient in desserts, as a flavoring for delicate meat and fish dishes. The essential oils help relieve colds and other health ailments. In addition, their scent drives away annoying mosquitoes, flies and ants.
tips and tricks
Home gardeners should not underestimate the invasive nature of mint. From the day of planting, the roots embark on a campaign of conquest through the garden. Young plants should therefore be planted with a rhizome barrier. For example, a large pot without a bottom or a stable geotextile is suitable.(107.71€)
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