Uses: Both peppermint and spearmint are used in cooking. Despite its sweet flavor, spearmint is typically used in savory dishes, such as pesto sauce, pasta dishes, or garnish for roasted vegetables. Peppermint is more commonly used as a flavoring in sweet dishes and desserts, and it pairs very well with chocolate.
Do people prefer spearmint or peppermint?
Whether it is gum, candy, lip balm, lotions, etc., most people have a clear preference. I was curious, so I did a very unofficial poll on Facebook of my friends posing the question. And my poll revealed that people are pretty split down the middle with nearly 50% preferring peppermint and the other 50% spearmint.
What is the most flavorful mint?
Peppermint
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita ‘Mitcham’). The best-tasting peppermint is found under various names throughout the country: ‘Mitcham’, black-stemmed, ‘Blue Balsam’, and even chocolate mint. It is highly mentholated, almost hot, and full of flavor.
What smells better spearmint or peppermint?
People often use spearmint because it has a more pleasant smell than peppermint – just be aware that the scent of peppermint lasts longer! If you’re looking to add some minty flavor to your food without overpowering everyone with the smell then spearmint could definitely help out here.
Why is peppermint more popular than spearmint?
Because peppermint is a mix of two types of mint, it contains a higher content of menthol (40 percent as opposed to spearmint’s 0.5 percent). Menthol is the chemical ingredient that creates that recognizable and much-loved cooling effect on the mouth.
Is spearmint sweeter than peppermint?
Therefore peppermint is especially pungent and even spicy, hence the ‘pepper’ in its name. Spearmint, on the other hand, contains a compound called carvone, which gives it a much subtler, sweeter flavour.
Does spearmint settle your stomach?
Spearmint is commonly used to help relieve symptoms of indigestion, nausea, vomiting and gas. The compound (-)-carvone, which is naturally found in spearmint, has been shown to strongly inhibit muscle contractions in the digestive tract, which may explain how this herb helps relieve digestive upsets ( 1 ).
What kind of mint do chefs use?
Spearmint. Spearmint is most commonly used in cooking for many recipes, including lamb, vegetables, and of course, mint juleps and mojitos.
What is best mint for tea?
Peppermint or spearmint, whichever mint you use, you will be able to enjoy delicious refreshing and cooling flavor. However, for a lighter and sweeter flavor, opt for spearmint leaves, and for the cooler and sharper taste, peppermint will be the best.
What kind of mint is best for drinks?
Spearmint
Spearmint is the most common type of mint used in American cocktails (there are hundreds of species within the family), though Voisey says the plant grows pretty much anywhere in the world. “It’s not very fussy, so it can grow in a variety of climates,” she says.
How is spearmint different from peppermint?
What Are the Differences Between Spearmint and Peppermint?
- Menthol: Both spearmint and peppermint contain menthol, but spearmint has 0.5 percent menthol while peppermint has forty percent menthol, giving peppermint its signature numbing flavor.
- Taste: Spearmint has a subtler, lighter flavor, vaguely sweet flavor.
What do you use spearmint for?
Some people use spearmint to help alleviate symptoms of nausea, indigestion, gas, headache, toothache, cramps, and sore throat. It is also applied topically, to the skin, to help reduce swelling due to nerve or muscle pain.
Is peppermint or spearmint better for nausea?
Though not as well-known as a nausea treatment, peppermint’s purer-bred relative spearmint is also effective . Like peppermint and ginger oils, spearmint essential oil can be applied to pressure points, rubbed gently over the stomach and intestinal area, or diffused through the air to bring relief for nausea.
Is peppermint or spearmint better for acne?
Spearmint is the most effective anti-inflammatory of all the mints.
Can you substitute peppermint for spearmint?
Spearmint vs Peppermint
Peppermint has a significantly higher concentration of menthol, which gives the herb its signature cooling flavor and aroma. Because of the difference in menthol concentration, they are not ideal substitutes for one another despite having similar properties.
What flavor is spearmint?
Compared to peppermint, spearmint has a delicate flavor and fragrance that is often described as sweet. It gets its flavor from the chemical ingredient carvone, which is much subtler than the aforementioned menthol and doesn’t evoke the same cooling sensation.
Which is better mint or peppermint?
The main difference between mint and peppermint is that peppermint has the strongest flavour when compared to other members of the mint family. Since peppermint has a strong flavour, it is not often used as fresh herbs for cuisines. It is often processed into peppermint oil and used as a flavouring.
What does peppermint taste like?
Mint tastes sweet and produces a lingering cool effect on the tongue. Peppermint has a stronger flavor with more menthol taste. The fresh leaves have the most flavor and scent, with those much reduced in dried mint leaves.
What type of mint is sold in grocery stores?
Spearmint
Spearmint and peppermint are the two most common and widely available of the many mint species. Of the two, spearmint is the one almost always sold in grocery stores and markets.
Does spearmint make you sleepy?
Sedative medications (CNS depressants)
Spearmint might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking spearmint with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
How do you make spearmint tea taste better?
How to Make Peppermint Tea Taste Better
- 1 – Add Lemon. Lemon is a great addition to mint tea.
- 2 – Add Ginger. What is this?
- 3 – Add Honey. Honey is one of the best known ingredients to improve the taste of peppermint tea.
- 4 – Add Lavender. What is this?
- 5 – Add Brown Sugar.
- 6 – Add Chocolate.
- 7 – Add Berries.