Every gardener has known peppermint tea since childhood. The popular drink is made from peppermint leaves. The leaves can be used either fresh or dried to make tea or as a flavoring in the kitchen.

The best time to harvest peppermint

If you want to dry peppermint, you should only harvest those stalks that contain a particularly large amount of essential oils. They are then still very aromatic even after drying.

The best time to prune peppermint for drying is right before flowering, which begins in June. At this time, the mint contains the highest percentage of aromatic substances.

After a very sunny summer, you can still harvest peppermint for drying in autumn. Then the plant had enough time to accumulate new essential oils. If the summer was very rainy and cool, drying the peppermint leaves is not worth it.

How to properly dry peppermint

It is best to harvest peppermint in the late morning for drying. Cut the stems as low above the ground as possible.

If you can avoid it, you should not wash the harvested plants. This will wash out a lot of the essential oil and will take the plants much longer to dry properly.

Tie a maximum of ten stems into a bundle and hang them upside down in a convenient place.

The right place to dry peppermint

Direct sunlight is not advisable. This not only bleaches the plants, they are also overheated.

The place should be airy and comfortably warm. Suitable drying rooms are:

  • Attic with window
  • Bright basement room
  • Covered porch
  • Shaded balcony as long as it's not raining

How long does it take for peppermint to dry?

How long it takes for the herbs to dry completely depends on the individual case. The thickness of the stems, the moisture of the leaves from washing and the humidity of the air play a role.

The drying process can take up to two weeks.

You can tell whether the peppermint has dried properly by the fact that you can easily break the stems.

Reserve dried peppermint leaves

Place the dried peppermint whole in a dark-colored jar or paper bag. You should only remove the leaves from the stems just before consumption so that the aroma does not evaporate.

Keep the container in a dark, warm, and as dry a place as possible until you use the peppermint.

How long can dried peppermint be stored?

Peppermint that is well dried will keep for several months. Check from time to time whether the stalks are still intact and no mold has formed.

tips and tricks

When drying peppermint, be careful to touch the stems with your fingers as little as possible. This will volatilize the ingredients of the peppermint.

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