Anyone who reduces mint to its use as tea or chewing gum misses out on many a pleasurable experience. We have compiled the most interesting processing methods for you.
The best tips for culinary use
A mint that is well established in the bed or grown indoors will deliver the first aromatic leaves from the end of May/beginning of June. Just before flowering, the content of valuable ingredients is at its zenith. In view of the rapid growth, the question of the tastiest use for the rich harvest arises. We have some sweet mint temptations for you:
- finely chopped as an ingredient in chocolate sauce to refine ice cream or cakes
- candied in sugar syrup as a refreshing garnish on desserts
- Put whole sprouts of strawberry mint in sparkling water and enjoy chilled
- add fresh spearmint to leaf salads and mixed salads
- grate dried leaves of Moroccan mint and use them in Mediterranean cuisine
- freeze into cubes and add to zesty pea soup just before serving
Hearty dishes such as pork or beef goulash are given the finishing touch with chopped mint leaves. Simply replace basil with fresh mint in your next pesto and you will be surprised by the result.
Handy tricks for using mint
In addition to its culinary advantages, mint scores with quite practical attributes. The following tips & tricks make everyday life easier thanks to mint:
- a hot cup of mint tea immediately soothes an upset stomach
- Laying out small bundles of dried mint will drive away annoying mosquitoes in no time
- If your hands smell bad after chopping onions, simply rub a few mint leaves between your palms
- Poisonous pennyroyal in the garden drives away wild cats never to be seen again
- applied as a scatter herb, ants run away from the pennyroyal
The Japanese tiger oil mint scores with a particularly high content of essential oils. In medicine, therefore, it is used effectively in the treatment of colds. Chop fresh leaves, pour hot water over them and inhale deeply.
tips and tricks
Would you like fresh breath? Then chew a freshly harvested leaf or two of peppermint or spearmint, known as spearmint. This will freshen your breath faster than the word 'mouthwash' crosses your lips.
GTH