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.
What can you do with harvested spearmint?
10 Creative Ways to Use Your Mint Harvest This Summer
- Mint Tea. Steeping some tea is a delicious way to use mint when it’s taking over the garden.
- Mint Jelly. Ever tried mint jelly?
- Mint Pesto. You can’t go wrong with a classic pesto recipe.
- Mint Popsicles.
- Mint Ice Cubes.
- Mint Lemonade.
- Mint Vinegar.
- Mint Chocolate Leaves.
How do you preserve fresh spearmint?
Storing Fresh Mint
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. Cover with a loose fitting bag and refrigerate.
Can you eat spearmint leaves 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?
It gets its name from its characteristic spear-shaped leaves. Spearmint has a pleasantly sweet taste and is frequently used to flavor toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum and candy. One common way to enjoy this herb is brewed into a tea, which can be made from either fresh or dried leaves.
How do you harvest and store Spearmint?
You can loosely wrap harvested mint leaves in a damp paper towel and place inside a perforated plastic bag. Storing this way can keep the mint fresh for 7 to 10 days. Alternately, take your fresh stems and place them into a glass or jar with 1 to 1.5 inches of water in it.
How do you dry fresh mint from the garden?
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 is the best way to preserve fresh mint?
Paper Towel and Plastic Bag
- Rinse mint and pat dry.
- Wrap the mint leaves in moistened paper towels (not too wet, just moist).
- Place the wrapped mint in a zip-top bag, but don’t seal it. Sealing it could lock in too much moisture.
- Store the mint in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze fresh mint from the garden?
Freeze: You can freeze mint leaves to preserve flavor using the ice cube method if you plan to keep mint long-term. Remove the mint leaves from the stems and place the leaves in an ice cube tray. Pour water over the tray, then place the tray in the freezer.
What do you do with mint at the end of the season?
When you perform mint plant pruning at the end of the year or end of season, cut them to within an inch (2.5 cm.) of the ground. If you have a large bed, you can use a lawn mower.
Can I drink spearmint tea everyday?
Spearmint extract has most often been used by adults at a dose of 900 mg by mouth daily for up to 90 days. Spearmint tea has most often been used as two cups daily for up to 16 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Does spearmint keep bugs away?
Spearmint and peppermint are often noted for their ability to repel flies, fleas, and spiders in the garden.
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.
What is spearmint used for medicinally?
Overview. Spearmint is an herb. The leaves and oil are used to make medicine. Spearmint is used for digestive disorders including gas, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, upper gastrointestinal tract spasms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bile duct and gallbladder swelling (inflammation), and gallstones.
How often should you drink spearmint tea?
Spearmint extract has most often been used by adults at a dose of 900 mg by mouth daily for up to 90 days. Spearmint tea has most often been used as two cups daily for up to 16 weeks.
How do you make spearmint tea at home?
In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add spearmint leaves and let stand 5 minutes. Strain tea into a teacup or mug.
Where do you cut mint when harvesting?
To harvest mint, the Old Farmer’s Almanac says to cut the stems down to about an inch above the ground. If you cut too much, don’t worry. According to Tomassini, “Since [mint] spreads through the roots you can cut it down to soil level and it will regrow if it gets a bit overgrown.”
What can I do with large amounts of mint?
- Mint Tea. The easiest thing to do with large handfuls of fresh mint is to make mint tea.
- Mint Syrup/Candied Mint. This twofer is a great way to preserve mint.
- Mint Sugar.
- Mint Salt.
- Mint Extract.
- Mint No-Churn Ice Cream.
Do you wash mint before drying?
It’s important to wash and carefully dry any mint before dehydrating it – to get rid of any critters and germs. Add the mint to a bowl of water and swish it carefully. After rinsing, you could use a salad spinner to get rid of as much excess water before patting dry or go straight to patting dry.
Do you wash mint leaves before using?
Mint can often be very gritty and dirty. Washing the mint leaves really well is important because if left with grit on them, the mint will turn the tea muddy.
Can you freeze mint without water?
Yes, you can freeze mint in good-quality freezer bags without needing to add water. You only need to use a liquid, like water, if you want to freeze chopped mint leaves into ice cubes.