If you limit mint to its use as tea or chewing gum, you are missing out on many a delicious experience. We have put together the most interesting processing methods for you.
What ways are there to process mint?
Mint can be used in many ways: finely chopped in chocolate sauce, candied as a garnish, in sparkling water, in salads, dried for Mediterranean dishes, frozen in soups or as an ingredient in pesto and goulash. Mint also has practical and healing properties.
The best tips for culinary use
A mint that is well established in the bed or grown indoors produces the first aromatic leaves from the end of May/beginning of June. Shortly before flowering, the content of valuable ingredients is at its peak. Given the rapid growth, the question arises as to the tastiest use for the rich harvest. We have some sweet temptations with mint for you:
- finely chopped as an ingredient in chocolate sauce to refine ice cream or cake
- candied in sugar syrup as a refreshing garnish on sweet dishes
- Place whole strawberry mint shoots in sparkling water and enjoy chilled
- Add fresh spearmint to leaf lettuces and mixed salads
- Grind dried Moroccan mint leaves and use in Mediterranean cuisine
- freeze into cubes and add to spicy pea soup just before serving
Savory dishes such as pork or beef goulash are given the finishing touch with crushed mint leaves. Simply replace basil with fresh mint in your next pesto and be surprised by the result.
Practical tricks for using mint
In addition to its culinary benefits, mint scores with quite practical attributes. The following tips & tricks make everyday life easier thanks to mint:
- A hot cup of peppermint tea immediately soothes an upset stomach
- laying small bundles with dried mint will drive away annoying mosquitoes in no time
- If your hands smell strongly after cutting onions, just rub a few mint leaves between your palms
- poisonous polei mint in the garden drives away wild cats never to be seen again
- applied as a scattering herb, ants run away from the Polei mint
The Japanese tiger oil mint scores with a particularly high content of essential oils. In medicine it is therefore used effectively in the treatment of colds. Chop fresh leaves, pour hot water over them and inhale deeply.
Tips & Tricks
Want fresh breath? Then chew one or two freshly harvested peppermint or spearmint leaves, known as spearmint. This freshens your breath faster than the word 'mouthwash' passes your lips.
