Spearmint leaves, known for their refreshing taste and aroma, are more than just a garnish.
This guide explores 13 innovative ways to incorporate spearmint into cooking, beverages, and home remedies.
From enhancing your culinary creations to elevating your wellness routine, discover how spearmint leaves can add flavor and a touch of healthfulness to your daily life.
Key Takeaways
- There are many ways to use spearmint, such as in food, meals, beverages, and topical applications...
- Spearmint tea is the most popular way to use spearmint leaves.
- Using spearmint supplements helps maximize the benefits of spearmint extracts, making it very convenient for busy individuals.
What are the Benefits of Spearmint Leaves for Health?
Hormonal Balance for Women: By significantly decreasing free and total testosterone levels while increasing LH, FSH, and estradiol, spearmint aids in regulating sex hormones and addressing issues like excessive hair growth in women [2].
Digestive System Benefits: Spearmint is beneficial in easing stomach cramps and is a remedy for irritable bowel syndrome, digestive issues, and nausea stemming from gastric and colonic mucosa [2, 3, 5].
How to Use Spearmint Leaves?
Digesting Mint Leaves
Using Mint Leaves in Food
Adding mint to your everyday meals can elevate your diet's flavor and nutritional value.
Salads
Combining various greens, cucumber slices, and fresh mint leaves can transform a basic salad into a refreshing dish. This salad can create a delicious and wholesome meal when combined with grilled dishes.
Sweet Treats
Mint is added as a decoration and flavor enhancer on chocolate cakes, and mint is creatively utilized. This brings a fresh contrast in color and sweet-bitter taste, enhancing the overall experience.
Making mint ice cream
Mint ice cream is an effective way to beat the heat and provide a refreshing sensation during hot summers. Firstly, start by pureing fruits such as ripe peaches, juicy berries, or even tropical mangoes and add finely chopped mint leaves. Mint adds a refreshing, vibrant coolness, perfectly complementing the fruits' sweetness.
For an extra flavor boost, consider adding a hint of lime or lemon juice to the mixture, enhancing the citrusy flavor of the popsicle. Mix the mixture well, pour it into molds, insert sticks, and freeze until solid. As a result, we get refreshing mint ice pops.
Making mint ice cubes
Enhance your drinks with mint-infused ice cubes. Add finely chopped mint leaves to your ice cube trays before freezing. As the ice melts, it releases the mint essence, infusing a refreshing flavor into any beverage.
Mint sauce
Heat a cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of sugar in a saucepan, ensuring the sugar dissolves entirely. Incorporate the minced mint and a dash of salt into the pan, then lower the flame to allow it to simmer. Permit the mixture to simmer gently for approximately 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
Upon removing from heat, cool it to ambient temperature before serving it alongside grilled vegetables, meats, or roasts, enhancing their flavor profile.
Making mint jelly
To create delectable and visually appealing mint jelly:
- Start by extracting juice from fresh mint leaves until you have approximately 3/4 cup of mint juice.
- In a large pot, combine this juice with either 1 or 3/4 cup of apple cider vinegar and gently heat until it reaches a boil.
- Stir in 4 tablespoons of sugar until fully dissolved.
- Incorporate a packet of liquid pectin, bringing the mixture to a boil for 1 minute to ensure thorough blending.
Remove the pot from the heat, promptly skim off any foam, and transfer the jelly into sterilized jars or containers, leaving some space at the top.
Seal the jars tightly while the mixture is still warm, and refrigerate after the jelly has set for a delightfully chilled treat.
Drinking mint
Mint tea
Indulge in the uplifting essence of spearmint tea, offering a delightful blend of flavor and wellness advantages. Prepare using 5g of dried spearmint leaves, steeped in 250ml of hot water for 3-5 minutes. Savor a cup of this tea each morning to kickstart a vibrant and energized day with its refreshing aroma.
Adding mint to smoothies
Select your preferred smoothie components from various fruits, milk, or alternative liquids paired with mint leaves for a revitalizing and healthful blend. A helpful tip for using mint leaves is to ensure thorough washing, as dirt can adhere tightly to the crevices of the leaf. For a silkier smoothie consistency, contemplate finely chopping the leaves before blending.
Supplementing with mint leaves
To conveniently enjoy the health advantages of mint, consider adding mint leaf supplements to your daily wellness routine. With a recommended 1000mg daily dose, these supplements provide numerous beneficial properties of mint, enabling you to effortlessly incorporate this fragrant herb into your lifestyle for optimal health benefits.
Topical Usage of Spearmint
Mint hair rinse
Prepare a mint hair rinse at home by steeping mint leaves in hot water to draw out the essence, promoting natural shine and a delightful scent for your hair. After washing your hair, gently pour the cooled mint infusion over your scalp and hair, massaging it to rejuvenate your scalp and leave your locks glossy and revitalized.
This organic rinse aids in cleansing and nurturing both scalp and hair health.
Homemade mint toner
Please create your refreshing mint toner by infusing mint leaves in witch hazel or apple cider vinegar, renowned for its cleansing and toning qualities. Spearmint leaves offer rejuvenating effects, enhancing your skin's radiance and youthfulness. This potent blend acts as a thorough toner, effectively eliminating impurities and minimizing pores.
Mint mouthwash
Leverage the antibacterial attributes of mint leaves to craft a potent mint mouthwash for battling bad breath. Infuse mint leaves in water with natural disinfectants like tea tree oil to concoct a refreshing homemade mouthwash. Incorporate this natural solution into your daily routine to freshen your breath and enhance oral hygiene.
Using mint for bathing
Transform your bath time into a luxurious self-care experience by infusing warm water with mint leaves. As the steam ascends, it disperses the calming essence of mint throughout the air, fostering a tranquil ambiance. This ritual creates a serene atmosphere and enables the mint's therapeutic qualities to unwind and revitalize your body and mind.
Chewing for fresh breath
Maintain fresh breath naturally by having some mint leaves handy for instant freshness. Chewing on these leaves during the day offers a simple yet effective solution for bad breath. The cool, crisp sensation reminiscent of mint is a natural remedy from nature's treasures.
Other Ways to Use Mint Leaves
For centuries, mint leaves have been cherished for their soothing and healing qualities in herbal remedies. Here are additional ways to incorporate mint into your daily routine:
- Infuse dried mint leaves into tea blends or use them as seasoning.
- Craft homemade essential oils.
- Sprinkle fresh mint leaves onto salads or cocktails to elevate their flavors.
Conclusion
Spearmint is more than just a garnish or flavor enhancer; it's a versatile herb that can be utilized in numerous ways to benefit our daily lives.
From its soothing effects when brewed as a tea to its refreshing twist in smoothies, its role in homemade beauty treatments, and even its medicinal properties, spearmint is a testament to nature's bounty.
Incorporating spearmint into our routines offers a simple yet effective means to improve our health and overall well-being, making it a valuable addition to any lifestyle.
References
[1] 2#, R. (2017). ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY iMedPub Journals Loolaie M 1# , Moasefi N Peppermint and Its Functionality: A Review. 8, 54. https://doi.org/10.4172/1989-8436.100053
[2] Chandra Joshi, D., Baghla, A., Luxmiyeasmin, & Krati, K. (n.d.). Role Of Mentha Spicata (Spearmint). Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ¦, 13. https://doi.org/10.47750/pnr.2022.13.S10.208
[3] Hassan, S., & Kamran Khan, M. (2020). Shahzad SHARIF Mughal Lahore Garrison Education System. Article in Innovare Journal of Ayurvedic Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22159/ijas.2020.v8i6.39189
[4] Mahendran, G., Verma, S. K., & Rahman, L.-U. (2021). The traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.): A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 278, 114266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114266
[5] Nayak, P., Kumar, T., Gupta, A., & Joshi, N. (2020). Peppermint a medicinal herb and treasure of health: A review. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 9(3), 1519–1528. https://doi.org/10.22271/phyto.2020.v9.i3y.11525
