Mint

Produce Type: Herb
Scientific Name: Mentha spicata (spearmint) and Mentha × piperita (peppermint)
Seasonality: Spring through autumn
Nutrients: Calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, rosmarinic acid, eugenol
Flavor: Cool & refreshing
Complementary Flavors: Berries, cantaloupe, cucumber, citrus, mango, peach, pineapple, watermelon
Quick Cooking Tip: When adding mint to a drink or mocktail, it’s better to slap the sprig against your palm than muddle the leaves. Slapping releases mint’s essential oils and imparts its classic flavor into beverages, whereas muddling or bruising (from smacking too hard) will give you a more unpleasant taste.
Cost: $*
*from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$)

Mint Benefits & How to Use Mint in Your Kitchen

Here’s what the science says about mint—plus tips for growing, storing, and cooking with this versatile herb.

Mint Recipes

Get inspiration on all the different ways to cook with this versatile herb.

Pork Spring Roll Salad

Sparkling mojito mocktail finished, from above.

Sparkling Pineapple Mojito Mocktail

A bowl of raspberries, blueberries, and sliced strawberries, topped with coconut cream sprinkled with cacao powder, and fresh mint leaves.

Ultimate Antioxidant Paleo Breakfast Bowl

Raspberry mini tart finished, in cake tray.

Raspberry Mint Tart with Chocolate Crust

From above, a glass of cantaloupe ginger smoothie garnished with mint leaves on a wooden chopping board, surrounded by mint leaves and slices of cantaloupe.

Gut-Soothing Cantaloupe Ginger Smoothie

Cauliflower Tabouli Salad

Mango Mint Lemonade

Shrimp & Peach Grillers

Greek Lamb Keftedes with Paleo Tzatziki

Double Berry Mocktail

lime cherry sherbert in a bowl with a spoon

Cherry Lime Sherbet

Thai Beef Salad

Infused Water

Cherry Berry Medley

Tropical Fruit Salad with Vanilla Pineapple

Hot mint matcha in a mug with matcha powder.

Rose, Ginger & Mint Matcha Latte

Minty Lemon Sorbet

Tropical Green Juice

French Poulet Skillet

Leprechuan mint lemonade finished with lemon and lime.

Leprechaun Mint Lemonade

Above shot of peppermint bark on a plate

Yogurt Peppermint Bark

Raspberry mint health shots finished with a raspberry.

Raspberry Mint Wellness Shot

Iced Lemon Balm Tea

Health Benefits

One of mint’s main bioactive components, menthol, has been found to have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
Mint species have “notable effects in reducing pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative actions.”
Mint may control abdominal pain and discomfort in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Mint has shown significant anti-asthma effects in rodent studies.
Mint can promote beneficial gut bacteria while also inhibiting the growth of harmful gut bacteria.

Sober Curious

Living sober doesn’t mean you have to give up the fun of crafting your own unique non-alcoholic cocktails. This light and summery melon-based drink uses a muddler, cocktail shaker, and lychee juice for the feel of a crafted beverage without the booze.

SEE RECIPE

Birds eye view of two honeydew watermelon mocktails sitting diagonal to each other with garnishes and melon in the background

Close-up of fresh mint leaves in a bowl on a wooden surface, top view.

Sustainable Living

Help reduce food waste by growing your own mint at home. It’s one of the best herbs to start with if you’re new to indoor (or outdoor) gardening as it tolerates missed waterings well and spreads quickly.

LEARN MORE

Mindful Eating

Peppermint is one of the most common pollinated plants we use in cooking and everyday life. We couldn’t make these mint recipes or use mint ingredients in our lifestyle and beauty products without our pollinator friends!

Honey citrus mint tea finished in a single glass outside.

Leftover Life Hack

Don’t know what to do with those leftover mint sprigs? Steep them in hot water to make an herbal mint tea (this is especially good for opening up the airways when you have a respiratory illness!).

This recipe for Iced Honey Citrus Mint Tea uses prepackaged mint, but you can easily use a few teaspoons of fresh mint in place of the dried stuff—just remember to give it a slap to activate the oils.