Fresh Mint: Varieties, Health Benefits and Recipes
Fresh mint is available all year long and grows abundantly in the warm summer months. Mint not only smells great and adds lots of flavor to recipes, but also offers quite a few health benefits worth mentioning. It is widely used in toothpaste, medicines, antibacterials for infections, shampoos and more. It can also be taken to treat an upset stomach or help with heartburn. Scroll through the slideshow to learn more about five varieties of mint, then use it in your own kitchen in some of our delicious recipes.
Sweet Mint
Sweet mint is grown from the cuttings of an Israeli variety. In Israel, in fact, a variety of traditional dishes from lamb to yogurt sauce contain sweet mint, which offers a rich spearmint flavor. This plant tends to spread, so many gardeners choose to grow it in a pot. Keep the leaves pinched to encourage tender new leaves.
Mint Recipes
Can't get enough fresh mint? Check out some of our favorite mint recipes.
Fresh Fruit with Honey-Lime-Mint Dressing
Lamb Chops with Berry Mint Sauce
Green Pea Soup with Fresh Mint
Sources: USDA Library, Bonnie Plants