Uses for Mint Leaves
- Make your own mint syrup. Mint syrup can be used to flavor your summer drinks, snow cones, desserts and more.
- Perk up your pesto.
- Utilize as an insect repellent.
- Chew for fresh breath.
- Give your potatoes some pop.
- Fancy up your beverages.
- Spice up your salads.
- Give your butter a boost.
What can I do with fresh spearmint leaves?
7 Tasty Ways to Use Fresh Mint
- Mint Tea. Add a sprig or two to a mug and cover in hot water.
- Mint Ice Cubes. Brew your mint tea extra strong then freeze it into ice cubes!
- Chocolate Dipped Mint Leaves.
- Watermelon Salad.
- Mint Pesto.
- Hugo Cocktails.
- Chickpea, Barley, and Zucchini Ribbon Salad.
Can spearmint leaves be eaten raw?
Yes, mint leaves are edible, whether raw or cooked. When you think of mint, you probably think of peppermint. However, there are a variety of delicious mint variations that you can try.
What are the most common uses for spearmint?
Possible health benefits of spearmint
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.
What can you do with spearmint herb?
Mint is one of the most versatile of herbs: it works just as well in savory and sweet recipes! Add it to drinks and cocktails for the best refreshing flavor. Pull off beautiful leaves to garnish desserts, or throw it into salads to make a beautiful green pop. You can even use it to make pesto.
How do you store spearmint leaves?
Storing Fresh Mint
Wrap the mint leaves gently in a dampened paper towel. Place the mint in a plastic bag, not sealing all the way so that air can circulate. Do not wrap tightly; trapped moisture will cause the herbs to mold. Trim the ends and place in a glass filled with about 1” of water.
How do you dry spearmint leaves?
Hang the bunch of herbs upside down in a paper bag, keeping it in a dry place away from direct sunlight. The total drying time can range anywhere from two days to two weeks depending on your climate. Look for a crumbly texture to the mint leaves to indicate they are ready to brew in tea or store for later use.
What are the benefits of drinking water with mint leaves?
This article takes a closer look at eight science-based health benefits of mint.
- Rich in Nutrients.
- May Improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
- May Help Relieve Indigestion.
- Could Improve Brain Function.
- May Decrease Breastfeeding Pain.
- Subjectively Improves Cold Symptoms.
- May Mask Bad Breath.
- Easy to Add to Your Diet.
Does mint leaves reduce belly fat?
Mint: An herb, yes, but this one goes the extra belly-fat burning mile. Mint leaves trigger the release of extra bile from the gallbladder, which is important because it helps the body to digest fat.
How do you make spearmint tea at home?
Boil two cups (473 ml) of water. Remove from heat and add a handful of torn spearmint leaves to the water. Cover and steep for five minutes. Strain and drink.
Can you drink spearmint tea everyday?
Potential Side Effects of Spearmint Tea
Balancing hormones is a delicate process. As such, overconsumption of this Herbal Tea can, in theory, hinder rather than benefit androgens in the body. Limiting yourself to three cups daily should avoid health concerns regarding your hormones.
Is spearmint tea safe to drink?
Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts. Kidney disorders: Spearmint tea might increase kidney damage. Using large amounts of spearmint tea might make kidney disorders worse. Liver disease: Spearmint tea might increase liver damage.
How often should I drink spearmint tea?
Some people may find if they drink spearmint tea in large quantities, they experience vomiting or diarrhea. While the exact “large quantity” is not specified, limiting your intake to two to three cups a day may put you on the safe side.
How can I use mint leaves on my face?
Grind a few dried mint leaves to form a powder and then add a few drops of water to it for easy application on the face. You can also add a pinch of turmeric to this. Let the powder sit on your face for 20 minutes, and then wash it off with cold water.
What happens if you have too much mint?
Peppermint can cause some side effects including heartburn, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting.
How can I use mint for hair growth?
Crush some mint leaves and add some lemon juice to it. Apply this on your scalp for about half an hour. Do this twice a week for best results. Mint oil when mixed with virgin coconut oil can be used to treat hair fall and stimulate hair growth.
Can you freeze mint leaves for tea?
Portion out: You can freeze the leaves whole or choose to chop them up. Place 2-3 leaves or 1-2 teaspoons of chopped mint into each ice cube compartment in the ice cube tray. Fill tray: Top the leaves with water and freeze the ice cubes.
How do you dry fresh mint?
Place the leaves on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Warm them in the oven at 180 F or 80 C for two hours, then check them to see if they’ve dried out completely. If so, they’re done. Otherwise, continue checking them at 15-minute intervals so they don’t burn.
How do you clean mint leaves?
To properly wash mint you should:
- Pick all the mint leaves off the stem.
- Fill a big bowl with cool water.
- Submerge the mint leaves and swoosh them around.
- Let them sit for a minute so that the dirt drops to the bottom.
- Pick up the mint leaves as gently as possible, so as to not disturb the dirt, and place in a colander.
Are spearmint leaves edible?
Fresh spearmint also contains small amounts of vitamins A and C, as well as the minerals iron and calcium. Mint is safe for most people and consuming it doesn’t typically cause side effects. Allergies to mint are uncommon. In people who are allergic to mint, an interaction with the herb can trigger asthma symptoms.
Do you have to dry mint leaves to make tea?
Either pick or buy fresh mint leaves and give them a good wash in water. Dry them well and put them on a baking tray in a single layer. Put them in an oven at 300ºF (150ºC) for about an hour until they are completely dried out.