Why We Love Mint

Mints weave a striking tapestry in the vase, adding different leaf textures, colors and scents. Count on mint to hold its own as a centerpiece or use it to add movement and refreshing green shades to other garden-fresh arrangements. A fresh mint bouquet inside offers an easy way to take a quick snip when prepping favorite dishes. In terms of flavor, mint is at its freshest when first picked. The longer mint sits in water, flavor notes shift and may become bitter, especially if you see roots forming along submerged stems.

Give summer’s favorite thirst quencher a refreshing twist by adding mint sprigs to your pitcher. Just add washed mint stems to a pitcher of lemonade, and let it sit at least 30 minutes. Strain before serving — or not. Serve over ice in tall glasses garnished with a mint stem and lemon wedge. Mint also blends well with iced tea and makes cooling herb water. To maximize mint flavor, before adding leaves to your brew, crush them slightly to release essential oils. Bruised edges will brown, but it won’t harm your beverage. Simply strain leaves before serving.

Peppermint can offer a healing touch for many ailments — sunburn, headache or muscle pain. To release mint’s medicinal properties, crush leaves first using a mortar and pestle or blender. For headaches and muscle cramps, make a paste of crushed leaves and water, place between pieces of cheesecloth (or other thin cloth), and apply to skin at the site of pain. For a tension headache, apply the poultice to the base of your neck. For sunburn, mix crushed leaves with cool water, strain, and spritz the water onto the burn. The menthol in peppermint feels cooling to the skin.

Mints love moist soil and transform your yard’s soggy spots from muddy to eye-catching. It’s a great plant for covering the ground at the base of downspouts or pulling its weight in a rain garden. Different mints prefer varying amounts of sunshine, so do your homework before choosing a variety. Mints spread freely by underground stems and can easily overtake formal plantings. Take care where you tuck it into soil — make sure it has room to roam.