I am doing a science project for school to see if chewing mint gum has any effect on the temperature of your mouth. I discovered that if I chewed it for three minutes it increased the temperature. Why is that? JB

I'm no food scientist but I suspect it could have something to do with menthol. Although when I looked into it a little I learned that menthol is actually cooling. You could investigate the menthol further but you might also get curious about the amount of energy generated in your mouth by the actual chewing.

I recently went looking for fresh spearmint leaves at the grocery stores. All I found is fresh mint leaves, would this be spearmint? Thank you. MV

Most likely it is spearmint, that is the most common mint for cooking.

Hello first time on your site. I have a problem with my mint here in south Florida . This time of year my mint starts out with big leaves and beautiful and then it curls up. What could be the cause is it lack of fertilizer or ? I'm stumped. Please help. Thanks. JS

I wonder if your mint is in full sun? That may just be too much given your location. Mint is more flavorful if fertilized only a couple of times a year.

I work in a restaurant, and we have mojitos on our drink menu. We don't sell a lot of them, and we are continuously buying new mint for the bar. We currently store it in the plastic container that it is purchased in and put it in the cooler; however, it never seems to last more than 3-4 days. Is there a better way to store the mint, or are we just bound to buying mint every few days? I would appreciate any sort of help! Thanks!

You could try a couple of ideas. One would be to store the mint with the stems in water, like a vase of flowers, at room temperature. You might also try wrapping it in damp paper towels and then storing in the cooler. Another alternative might be to grow a mint plant in a pot somewhere in the restaurant.

Can mint cuttings be propagated by placing them in a container of water until they sprout roots, then transplanted into pots. Thanks. UNW

They sure can.

I have tried to make a good tasting mint tea, but the water always comes out tasting leafy. Is the water too hot, or what am I missing? Thanks, B

You don't say just what you are using to make the tea but you might have good luck brewing a regular tea and adding some mint leaves to it while it steeps.

So I am infusing some vodka with mint in accordance to the recipe mentioned on this page. It's been about 3 days, and the whole thing's turned brown! The mint looks like it's been pickled, and the vodka is the color of very strong green tea. It all smells and tastes fine, but is it supposed to be that color? I thought a mint infusion would come out clear. SC

I must admit I haven't tried this method. As you will notice, it is a reader submission. But it stands to reason that mint soaked in vodka has indeed pickled and that the vodka itself would turn green. When we brew green tea, the water takes on the color of the herb; same deal here. Commercial mint extract is clear because they are using mint oils which are colorless.

Thank you for your informative site. I just bought a spearmint plant online since I cant find it close to home and it smells wonderful. I am concerned however with the heat on my balcony. The only time it gets direct sunlight is from about 3-6pm and it is HOT in Miami this time of year. The average temp in my home during the day is about 84 degrees because I keep the AC high when I'm not home. I do have plenty of windows though. Do you suggest keeping it inside or putting it in the shade outside? Thanks, O

I think it will do better outdoors. Mint will grow in most conditions so you could try setting it out where it will get the short spurt of full sun. If this seems to stress the plant, move it to another bright place that's not in full sun.

Hi, I am interested in growing a mint plant on my porch, I don't have any garden space so I am growing it in a pot. I live in CT and wanted to know what type of mint is easiest to grow in a pot. Thanks for reading! AG

Any mint will grow well in a pot. In fact, this is the best way to prevent mint from taking over the garden. Consider what you want from the plant in making your choice. If you want to cook with it, spearmint is a good all-purpose flavoring. If you want it just to look pretty you might consider the variegated pineapple mint or go with a chocolate mint for a fun conversation piece.

We have planted mint plants in several different places in our yard. In each place it is growing with holes in the leaves. I can see no obvious bugs. What can it be? CAS

Probably a case of the elusive slug. The best way to find out what's doing the chewing is to go out after dark with a flashlight.

I love mint lemonade, but am sugar restricted now, so I am wondering if there is a way to make a drink that is mint and water without the quantity of sugar that is required to sweeten the lemon juice. And one more question: our second year plant is beginning to grow spindly and flower, and it is only June. Can we cut it down to encourage new growth? Thanks for whatever help you can offer. ML

Mix mint leaves with hot water and you have mint tea; add some lemon juice and ice and you will have a nice drink. You might want to experiment with making teas that combine mint and one of the lemon herbs (like lemon balm or lemon verbena). It may take awhile to adjust to not having the sugar. Cutting your mint plant back will definitely encourage new growth.

Dear A-Pinch-Of, This year I planted my own mint so that I could have mojitos whenever I desired. I am wondering how to preserve that fabulous fresh mint flavor for mojitos in the winter. How long does Candied Mint (mint leaves brushed with egg white, dipped into granulated sugar, and dried) last? What if I packed fresh mint leaves in granulated sugar and stored them? What if I poured simple syrup over the leaves and froze them? What if I mixed some Fruit Fresh (ascorbic acid) into the simple syrup? The goal would be to preserve the wonderful aromatic zing and herbal flavor of fresh mint, as well as to keep the leaves from turning black or mushy (which would be really icky in a drink). I have not found any commercial mint product that does an even mediocre job of preserving the right flavor. I'll be getting an overabundance of garden mint soon, and I would like to do something with it. If I can figure out a recipe, I can even make Christmas presents for my mojito-drinking friends. Thanks for any suggestions. Cheers, OJ

You have many good ideas about how to do it. I haven't tried any of them but that's the best way to figure it out: Experiment! Have you seen the Mint Q&A Page? There you will find more ideas and links to ways to use and save mint.

Hi, I have a couple of mint plants which oddly enough never quite take off. They are being attacked by little tiny tiny white insects. The leaves turn brown and fall off from the bottom. Second year in a row this has happened And I thought mint was supposed to keep all these things away! Can't find help anywhere - thanks much. MBK

You don't say if yours is potted or in the ground but I haven't had much luck with mint in pots myself. My peppermint ground cover is running rampant. Your bugs could be aphids or mites or, I'm sorry, something else. The best way to figure it out is look for pictures that match up with what you are seeing (or take a sample to a Master Gardener).

Hi. Really enjoy your site. I refer to it often. I want to add mint(s) to my herb garden. I have found many different mints at garden supply and nursery locations . However, when I roll a leaf between my fingers and smell it all I smell is green, not that wonderful mint smell I am looking for. Any recommendations? LC

Hmmm, that's funny. Maybe if you broke a leaf you would find the right scent but that shouldn't really be necessary. Spearmint and peppermint are the most common and useful for cooking but other varieties like chocolate mint or pineapplemint are fun too.

Please enlighten me on the facts of mint as a mouse repellent. Thanks WM

I haven't tried it personally but have seen various citations of people scattering mint leaves or using a spray of essential oils of mint in mouse ridden areas. Apparently, the rodents find the aroma offensive and will move away from it.

I just found your mint information, and it was really helpful. This isn't really a question, but I thought it might be helpful for you - it seemed like you had a lot of people looking for information on how to make mint extract. I found this at www.cooks.com: "To make mint extract, obtain a pound or so of fresh spearmint or peppermint leaves (harvest them at noon time on a sunny day), wash them well and crush/bruise the leaves. Add these to a quart sized canning jar of vodka and place in the sun. Using a piece of well-washed, new cheese cloth, strain (and discard) the leaves from the infusion after three to four weeks." Thanks for your helpful site!  KC

And thanks to you for the helpful information. I'll have to try it myself once my mint crop comes out of the wintertime blahs.

Can I freeze fresh mint leaves? Thank you, M

You could freeze mint leaves just as you would basil. Please see the article "A Bounty of Basil: How to Preserve the Harvest" for ideas.

Hi, I live in the UK and have enjoyed reading your board. I am just setting up a new herb garden and want to include four to six different varieties of mint in a divided grid section (to avoid root spread”) my question is: Will the different varieties cross pollinate and thereby spoil the individual varieties tastes or should I keep them all well apart. Thanks for your help. DP

From what I have read, mints will cross pollinate easily. This seems to affect the seeds more than the flavor so experts recommend propagating mint from stem cuttings rather than seeds.

Hi: I would like to know where can I buy fresh mint in bulk for mojito’s? I am opening a small bar in Louisiana and I have tried looking for fresh Mint on line but have not found any place that sells fresh mint. Can you help?

You will probably get the best price by using one of the food service distributors (like Sysco) or a produce company. An online source would likely end up being cost prohibitive once you figure in the shipping. I did find it available from Melissa's but didn't dig deep enough to find a price. You might also try growing mint, it should do well in your climate and, once established, you will have all you need.

Hi, I just purchased apple mint, peppermint and spearmint seedlings. I received them in the mail, put them in a pot, and they seemed to be doing well. A few days later all three are getting round brown blotches on all the leaves?? Can you help me with what this could be? Thanks! BK

Unfortunately, it could be any number of problems. Do a little research on "Anthracnose," "Bacterial Spot" and "Black Spot." Look for photographs to compare to your particular problem. Meanwhile, remove the affected leaves and make sure that you are watering without getting the leaves wet as much as possible.

Hello-Thank you for your wonderful website. I found it through Google. I am having trouble deciding which mint to buy to use in my Middle Eastern recipes. I asked my Lebanese friends and they told me it is just called Mint. Then I asked my Israeli friends and they told me it is "Nana", which of course is in Hebrew. Can you help here? I have seen it before and the leaves appear different. I called the local market, and they told me that it may be what they call "Mint Julep" What is your opinion? Thank you for your help-EE

I found this entry of the egullet forums, "...Mint tea is a biggie in Israel...The mint used is usually spearmint, called "nana" in Hebrew (pronounced nah-nah, accent on the first syllable). Wonderful on a cold Jerusalem winter night..." Further investigation in my cookbooks confirmed that spearmint seems to be the mint of choice in the Middle East.

I purchased a herb plant named pineapple mint, by mistake, but have no idea how to use it and can find no one that knows how to us it either. Can you please advise me as to what one uses it for and how. Thank much. WW

Pineapple mint is a variation on other mints that tastes (and smells) like pineapple. You can use it as you would fresh mint as long as the pineapple tinge would be welcome. Think of it for salads, tropical salsas and beverages.

Hi, I would like to know what type of mint do I need to use in mojitos peppermint or spearmint. thank you ZC

Spearmint is the one that is used most often. If you have access to both, you might try cocktails made with each one to see which you prefer.

When a recipe calls for mint what kind do they mean? J

Spearmint is the most common type of mint for cooking.

Do you know what blue electric mint is? thanks, ME

I don't but maybe some mint lover out there does...

Hi, There is a local patch of mint growing wildly. I have brought some in & it is growing. How can I tell which type of mint it is? Thanks, Fr JB

Although the site is written in German, Minzen.com is full of photographs that you can compare to the mint you have. The names are given in a botanical form that you can use to look for information in English.

Can Corsican mint be grown in Houston, TX? I am looking for something to grow between the flagstones on the patio and Corsican mint has been recommended. Any suggestions or recommendations? thanks, BL

Corsican mint would probably be a good choice, and pretty too, for growing between your flagstones as long as the location is mostly shady. You will also want to keep it fairly moist but watch out for moss. If you have a large space, you might want to try a sort of "patch test" before you invest in a lot of plants that may not be suited to the location.

Hello, I am beginning to grow mint inside this winter and I was wondering if you knew the amount of light I should give to my plants each day, a rough estimate hourly wise (I don't know anything about growing plants inside). Thank you. L

Mint is one of the more forgiving herbs when it comes to sunlight but at this time of year you should probably just give it as much sunshine as possible. I have moved my spearmint pot into the garage where it gets a good dose of the afternoon sun and it seems to be thriving.

Hello and thank you. I moved to the panhandle of Florida one year ago and planted some mint this spring, which thrived until the warmer weather. I kept it watered well, but it has nearly died to nothing. NO spots on the plant or other bug I can see. Is it just the time of year and the heat or is there something else I should consider?

You know, when I lived in Northeastern Louisiana I never had much success with mint either. I was always a little embarrassed since everyone talks about how easy it is to grow. I think it is one of those herbs, like lavender, that just won't grow well in your hot, moist climate. You might try an experiment: root cuttings from your existing plant in water then transplant them to a pot indoors to keep in a place that gets lots of sunshine.

Thank you for taking this question. My neighbor has planted a mint plant in her patio and it has grown into my area. I don't mind having the plant but I want to be sure it is not poison. I did not know there were so many varieties of mint. I understand that pennyroyal is toxic and I wonder how you can tell which it is. It grows like a vine and has covered a large area. I would appreciate your insight. SHD

Since there are so very many varieties of mint, you might want to find a book about mint with pictures at the library to help identify it. Our friend, Hermann Rachlinger, has a wonderful mint site that is written in German. This index page has links from botanical names and some English terms linking to photographs of each variety. Incidentally, you are correct in that pennyroyal is considered unsafe for consumption, however, it has long been used as an insect repellent so it's not really a bad thing to have on your patio as long as everyone, including pets, knows not to eat it.

Dear Friends, I have begun growing and using fresh herbs. My favorite is peppermint. I have an awesome plant in a clay pot doing very nicely right at my front door. Not only is it very useful for many recipes, but it is also absolutely graceful and beautiful. What happens when it gets cold? Do I bring it inside or do I have to start all over again in the Spring? Thanks! SMO

I am trying peppermint for the first time this year and also find it a very enjoyable plant. I've been using it as a bit of greenery in some of my small flower arrangements and discovered that it roots very fast. You might want to remember this tidbit if you do need to start all over in the spring. Mints can tolerate lower temperatures, particularly in a protected area, but you don't say where you live so it's hard to tell. If your winter temperatures drop below 30 degrees (F) on a regular basis, I would say bring it inside to a very sunny window.

Help! As you can see in the attached photo, my mint has been destroyed! I transplanted two plants a couple of years ago from my mothers house, and as predicted it spread and did very well...until this happened. Black spots are now on almost all of the plants, except for a few stragglers away from the pack. I'm going to cut these all the way down and I hope that it doesn't recur. I couldn't find any information on this problem. Thanks for any help! BM

I think you may have an infestation of the oddly named "plant bug." They seem to enjoy mint. Read more about them at this article from the University of Kentucky.

Hi, I live in North Carolina and have bought several pots of "Spearmint" at local plant shops recently. They do not have the spearmint smell, the spearmint I grew in Florida had. The plants I have bought here are labeled Spearmint and are certainly mint by the way the leaves look, but actually smell like some generic grassy smell, almost like basil really! Perhaps there is some special nutrient I need to give them to bring out their scent? Thanks much!!! KG

I wonder how it actually tastes? I know that peppermint grown from seed will sometimes give the grower a completely different kind of mint so this could be a possibility. Or, perhaps the type of spearmint you bought is bred more as an ornamental. This situation illustrates why we should give the plant a little taste before we buy herbs for culinary purposes.

Hi there, What is mint juice exactly and how do I go about making my own? Thanx, TK

Mint juice seems to vary by recipe or application. Most recipes are just some combination of mint leaves and water, steeped together as for tea or simply blended. It depends on the ultimate way that you plan to use your mint juice. Here is a link to a kind of neat mint syrup.

My cat loves to eat my mint plant. However, it seems to have the effect of catnip. Is there anything in the mint that can make him sick?

Are you sure your mint plant isn't catnip? They are in the same family. I'm no expert on pet health but I can't imagine that eating mint would hurt him.

I'm growing a spearmint plant in my backyard and I want to know what you do with it...like how to eat it. Do you just drop it in your tea or something? Thanks, B.C.B.

Mint is used in all sorts of cooking as well as a nice tea. Read more about it at "All About Mint." I used spearmint in the recipe there for Mint Pesto.

I buy fresh cut mint for my rabbits, they love it. I am trying to grow it inside during the winter, I live in New York State where it gets cold and snows. How can I keep my bought mint fresh and do you have any tips for growing it inside during the cold, snowy months? PBT

What lucky rabbits you have! Store the mint that you buy with their stems in water, like a cut-flower bouquet, loosely wrapped and in the refrigerator. I just added a fresh herb keeper to the "Nifty Gadgets for Herbs and Spices" article that might also interest you. I haven't really tried growing mint indoors but many of the same principles as outdoors apply: well-drained soil, a sunny window and lots of pinching will help. Don't fertilize mint plants very much, they will do just fine on their own.

I am preparing a package for my daughter with the ingredients for a Mojito Cocktail. I have the rum, the soda, the muddler, etc. etc. I also have a lot of mint growing in my garden, even at this time of the year (November) and would like to include a bunch of it in the package. It will be going from B.C. to Ontario so will be picked approx. Dec. 15th to be opened Christmas Day. If I pack it tight in a Tupperware type container do you think it will stay OK? I could also purchase some at already packaged in the plastic containers at the supermarket, but I'm sure my homegrown mint is fresher! Would be glad for your suggestions. AM

Certainly your homegrown mint would be better and more special! Packed loosely resealable plastic bags and kept chilled, your mint will last a week or so. The best environment would be the refrigerator vegetable bin so do what you can to duplicate that while traveling.

Hi, I am doing a school project on herbs. The herb that I am doing is mint. I would like to know: how mint is prepared for cooking purposes and- which part of mint is edible. Thank you very much and your website is very cool.

You can find lots of information about mint in the article "All About Mint" as well as on the "Mint Q&A page." To answer your questions, mint leaves, flowers and stems are edible and need only be chopped or torn to be used for cooking.

Hi, How can I preserve mint juice to keep all year? Thanks, S

I wonder how you made your mint juice? If you used an alcohol base it will probably keep well in the refrigerator. If it is water based, the freezer might be better.

How do I extract flavor from mint leaves to make mint candy? My neighbor has the wonderful smelling mint. I think it is spearmint. The Fair is coming to town in August and I want to enter a mint candy made with her mint leaves. Please help me if you can. Thanks in advance, K

Depending on the type of candy you want to make, you can get the flavor many ways. You can just use it chopped, like any herb, or infuse it into a liquid. For infusion, pour a hot liquid over the mint sprigs and allow it to steep for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the strength you want. A simple syrup of 2 parts water boiled with one part sugar might be a good start for candy making. Did you see the Mint Pesto Brownie recipe?

Hi. I've recently discovered and fallen in love with chocolate mint and want to be able to preserve it's flavor in an extract so i can use it in my baked goods year-round. do you know of any ways of making your own mint extracts? I'm thinking of using vodka and varying amounts of the mint, but I am concerned about botulism. is the alcohol content in the vodka strong enough to be considered safe? Thanks! C

Hey, that's a pretty neat idea! I suppose you have heard of people making vanilla extract with vodka so I don't see what the difference would be. If you made sure the mint was very clean and used the bottle that the vodka came in you would probably be okay. Why not call the poison control center just to be sure? You might also try freezing your mint in ice cubes. This works great for basil. When you want to use it, just melt the ice in a colander and you are left with nearly fresh leaves.

HI, Just found your site as I was looking up "how to extract mint juices. Nice site, found some wonderful information, thanks! I have a mint plant that for the past 10 years I have done nothing with, except to let it grow! Now it has little yellow flower like on it. The flower has more of the mint scent then the leaves do. Can I use the flower for the juices? Or just the leaves? Thanks, B

Glad you are enjoying the site! After ten years, your mint plant must be huge. When you speak of extracting juices, I am going to assume you refer to using the mint for cooking and/or flavoring. If so, the mint flowers are edible.

Hello, I read your article on Corsican Mint but was wondering if you could direct me to a place where I can buy seeds or plants. I cannot seem to find it anywhere. Thanks for your help. JK

This seems to be a rather elusive plant, doesn't it? The only time I have ever seen the carpet-like Corsican Mint is on the Martha Stewart show. I checked all my catalogs and the only place I found it was through Richter's. They sell plants. Because mint seeds often produce inferior plants, most gardeners prefer to propagate it through cuttings. You might also call your local garden center to see if they can order it for you. Beware, though, I called my favorite nursery and they hadn't heard of it. When I described it, they tried to sell me spearmint.

I read in a Household Hints Helpful magazine that I have kept in my library since 1993 that said that if you are having trouble with mice to put peppermint leaves around and they will run - it said that they hate the smell of peppermint leaves. I have never heard of peppermint leaves - where do I get them and well, have you heard anything comparable to this tale?

This natural remedy for repelling rodents dates back to the Middle Ages. Spearmint leaves are said to have the same affect. You can find dried mint leaves at most spice shops but it is easy to grow your own. Be sure to see the article All About Mint.

:I have planted the herb catnip and just recently found out that I could make a tea out of it.  Could you possibly tell me how to go about doing so, because the catnip has taken over my herb garden along with my lemon mint. PS I've never paid much attention to catnip until your question so I looked it up in Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs.  They suggest making tea with dried catnip simply by pouring boiling water over it and allowing to steep.  I don't see why this wouldn't work with the fresh herb as well, maybe with a bit of your lemon mint included.  Two thousand years ago the Romans were adding catnip to their salad greens.  Famous naturalist Euell Gibbons was quite a fan of this herb. He liked to "candy" the fresh leaves by dipping them into an egg white/lemon juice mixture and then sprinkling with granulated sugar.  After drying for a day or so, they can be served as an after-dinner mint.

I have lots of fresh mint in the garden. How can I make use of this herb besides putting it in my iced-tea?

Mint is nice when used with fruits for salads or desserts as well as making a lovely dessert garnish. You might consider adding it to savory salads such as tabbuleh (see All About Parsley) or into salad dressings like yogurt and cucumber (this is good on fish). I am currently at work on All About Mint so check back soon.

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