Note: Availability fluctuates throughout the year, please understand the described items below are educational. To confirm availability please inquire with us directly.
This fragrant herb’s scent is lovely to inhale and happens to be a natural breath freshener! With a choice of many minty flavours, the Peppermint has unique greenish-purple spear -shaped leaves while Spearmint has rounder leaves with a grayish green colour. The taste of both provides a blend of pepper and chlorophyll – peppermint being stronger and more pungent.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Ralph’s tends to offer peppermint leaves throughout the warmer months when they are BC fresh.
The leaves should display a vibrant green colour, free from dark spots or yellowing to ensure no wilting has occurred.
STORAGE
A bunch of unwashed, fresh mint can be stored in the refrigerator : Place it, stems down, in a glass of water and cover the leaves with a plastic bag, changing the water every two days to stay fresh for at least a week.
To prepare fresh herbs for cooking, wash thoroughly under running cold water. Shake off any excess water by hand or with a salad spinner. Pat any excess moisture with a dry paper towel, snip off and discard stems. Use leaves whole or chopped, as desired.
HOW TO ENJOY
Menthol, a trademark component of mint, provides aroma and taste that is especially popular in Greek and Lebanese cuisines – both sweet and savory dishes:
Quick & Easy Serving Ideas
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A lively addition to teas and chocolate, desserts as well as chilled rice, tabbouleh (a Mediterranean salad), and couscous salads
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Mint jelly or sauce is a traditional accompaniment to lamb
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Add a few sprigs to bean soups, chickpeas, or a spinach-rice pilaf
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Compliments lighter meats such as chicken, pork, veal and, of course, lamb
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Goes well with fish and many vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, eggplant, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, and string beans. Add a few leaves to the pot of boiling water, as well as chop up some more leaves to add to melted butter for seasoning warm vegetables
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Add a handful of mint leaves to your salad greens for a cool burst of flavourful
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Chopped & combine with plain yogurt to serve as a freshing sauce to cool the palette along side spicy dishes.
Cooking Tip
To lessen the flavour of mint, you may either omit it or decrease the amount of mint leaves by half called for in any recipe.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Peppermint is an excellent source of manganese, vitamin C and vitamin A (vitamin A involving carotenoids, including beta-carotene).
Contains the substance rosmarinic acid – to reduce asthma symptoms – as well as encourages cells to make substances called prostacyclins for aiding the opening of airways for easy breathing. Reasearch has also noted a contribution for relieving the nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis (colds related to allergy).
Peppermint (fresh), 2 leaves
Calories: 0.07
Protein: 0.004g
Carbohydrate: 0.015g
Total Fat: 0.001g
Fibre: 0.008g
Spearmint (fresh), 2 Tbsp (5.33g)
Calories: 5
Protein: 0.37g
Carbohydrate: 1g
Total fat: 0.08g
Fibre: 0.77g
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If you forget your toothbrush, you can always chew on a mint leaf as a breath freshner.
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The Elizabethans found mint to aid in teeth-whitening and breath-freshening properties. Long before, the Romans believed that it stimulated hearty appetites.
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Mint is an invasive perennial easily reproduced from root cuttings.
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Corsican mint is a miniature variety resembling moss and a good choice for small planting areas or pots.
Please Note In cases of painful menstruation due to cold blockages, mint is not recommended. Also, herbalists recommend that mint not be used for infants.