Mint! Here’s What You Do With It

Mint harvest!

Did your Mom ever have those little bottles of peppermint extract in the spice cabinet?  It seemed like that bottle stayed around forever and she never used it.  The extract was very strong, even breathtakingly so.  Even though Mom had a nice mint patch, we still had that bottle.  I think it was just something that good cooks had, so Mom had one too.

Now, step away from the extract!  A fresh mint patch is so much better!  Instead of a commercial product from who-knows-where, you can step right outside your door and harvest this wonderful herb any time of day!

And so many varieties too! Mint is in the Laminaceae family with literally dozens of varieties.  Lots of flavors to work with and the possibilities are endless.  But for purposes of this article, we will be using just the plain old fashioned spearmint-type.  I’ll post more later on what you can do with them.

Facts about mint:

• Slows the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi.
• Allergies and asthma symptoms seem to be alleviated by mint.
• Contains antifungal properties.
• Helps with congestion in the lungs and nasal passages.
• Freshens breath and helps maintain dental health.
• Eases stomachache and aids in digestion.
• Great breath freshener!

Did you know that mint can help fight cancer?  Mint contains perillyl alcohol, which is a phytonutrient shown to prevent the formation of lung and colon cancer as well as skin cancer!

Mint is ‘The Blob’ of the herb world.  Its obsessive, unfriendly, and does not play well with others.  It just needs to be needed!

Mint is like The Blob! That’s an old 50’s movie about a creature that seemed indestructible and doubled in size every time it ate something.  I am in zone 7, and this is the fourth time this year I have harvested or torn out half the patch from the bed, and it comes right back.   A word of caution; plan very carefully where you will plant mint, it is NOT a good neighbor to other herbs!

So, here are  a few ways to use up that ever-expanding patch of mint that will eventually take over a pot, a bed, or even a field!:

Spiders invading your house?  Time make a strong mint infusion and let it steep, then dip an old  tshirt or cloth in the liquid, wring it out, and tie it around your broomhead to dust out corners and cobwebs.  Be sure to dust under the bed real well and behind furniture.  Spiders dont like mint.  But i do!  Smells so nice too!

After harvesting a big pot full, I will simmer the leaves and stems in vinegar for wintertime cleaner.  Great use for those leftover stems after pulling off the leaves.  A crockpot on low does a great job, or a steel pot set on low.  Don’t use aluminum with vinegar, it can etch your good pots.

I’ll be drying some to add to tea.  I like to store mint for tea as whole leaves and then crush as I add to the teapot.  It seems to infuse more aroma and flavor.  It only takes a couple leaves to make a beautiful steaming cup of mint tea.  It also adds flavor to pine needle tea or even blossom tea.

Try infusing  in honey.  This is an even better way to flavor tea or coffee.  Add leaves to a jar, then pour honey over.  The amount all depends on your tastes, stronger or lighter.  Do you like chocolate mint coffee? Add a dash of cocoa to the coffee grounds when perking and then add a spoon of this wonderful honey to the mug.

Make a mint simple syrup for sweetening drinks or foods.  Try a mint glaze over lamb or wild pork.

Mint candy!  You can get the recipe here.  By the way, mint aids in digestion as tea or candy.

Add just a few leaves to witch hazel for a great facial toner.  Use in a spritz bottle for a morning perkup.  A stronger infusion in witch hazel makes a good bug spray.  Spray it on clothes from the dryer for a fresh summer spritz.

Salves and oils.  These can be used for a really good linament and chest rub with eucalyptus.  Use beeswax, no petroleum!  Get a basic salve recipe here and add herbs that you like.

Mint makes a great bugbite balm to reduce swelling and itching. Recipe here.

Infuse baking soda with fresh leaves and store in a sprinkle jar (that’s what my son called a pint mason jar with a recycled parmesan cheese lid screwed on top.  He used to love filling it using my canning funnel lol).  This makes an awesome sink scrub.  Add 1:1 infused baking soda and borax.

Infused baking soda with fresh leaves makes a great tooth powder.  You can also add crushed dried leaves regular baking soda to brush with it.  Makes the soda a pretty green color. 

Oils.  Make a strong mint oil with any light oil such as walnut, coconut or even avocado oil.  Olive oil will work too, but may change the flavor.  Loosely pack a pint jar with day old leaves (let the leaves dry at least eight hours before infusing oil).  Then top the jar with oil and close.  Shake daily and sit in a warm sunny window sill.  Then strain the oil and bottle.  Make interesting dishes with it.

Makes a great mouth gargle with 2:1 infused water and alcohol.   Simmer half a cup of leaves in two cups water for about twenty minutes.   Cool and add one cup 80 proof vodka.  Store in a pretty stopper bottle on the counter or shelf.   I like pretty jars on my bathroom shelf,  both decorative and functional, which is a must since I live in a tiny home.

Tincture!  ¼ cup packed leaves to a pint of vodka.  Close the jar, shake daily for about eight weeks.  This is great for flatulence, digestive distress, upset stomach, etc.  For kids, this can be done with a food grade glycerate.

Have fun with your mints!  Think of unexpected ways to use them.  Great flavor combinations, new dishes, and renew those old homesteading uses for this great herb.