April 20, 2020. If you are looking for a really intense minty flavor in a dish, peppermint is the way to go. Even though peppermint and spearmint belong to the same mint family, it is apparent they have many distinguishing characteristics. Peppermint vs. Spearmint. Appearance wise, peppermint has fuzzy leaves with jaggedly toothed edges. © Copyright 2020, Our Top 20 Most Cherished Christmas Cookies, Make-Ahead Breakfast Minis to Save Your Mornings, 15 Classic Sandwiches That Make Lunch Legendary, 14 Nights of Dinner Ideas All Under $2 Per Serving, 15 No-Yeast Breads for Quick and Easy Baking, 10 Easy Christmas Cookies for Once-a-Year Bakers, 10 Chicken Stew Recipes That Make for Comforting Dinners, 10 Leftover Turkey Meals to Freeze for Quick Weeknight Dinners, 16 Mom-Approved Christmas Cookies to Sweeten the Season, 18 Spicy Korean Recipes That Showcase Gochujang Chile Paste, 30 Peppermint Desserts to Make This Christmas Season. Peppermint is also good for digestion. The most striking difference is the amount of menthol – an organic compound found in all Menthas responsible for the bulk of mint’s sweet, sometimes spicy, flavor Learn how to make this classic winter warmer with recipes from around the world. Is it peppermint, spearmint or some other kind of mint? Peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint: pick up any of them and close your eyes and sniff, she suggests. Peppermint and spearmint are both in the Mentha genus, but peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica). I have always stuck to spearmint tea for hirsutism, however there are women, like Arlene, who have also seen benefits from drinking peppermint tea. Peppermint has been used medicinally for centuries for its potential calming effects, often in the form of tea. I’m thinking about inventing a meal with a lot of spearmint. There are many differences between spearmint and peppermint plants, from the leaves, flowers and flavor of the two herb plants to their most popular uses. Your email address will not be published. Spearmint and peppermint have slightly different uses, but either one makes a … Because mint is a relatively delicate herb, the finer it is chopped or minced, the more oils are released resulting in more flavor and fragrance. (e in b)&&0=b[e].o&&a.height>=b[e].m)&&(b[e]={rw:a.width,rh:a.height,ow:a.naturalWidth,oh:a.naturalHeight})}return b}var C="";u("pagespeed.CriticalImages.getBeaconData",function(){return C});u("pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run",function(b,c,a,d,e,f){var r=new y(b,c,a,e,f);x=r;d&&w(function(){window.setTimeout(function(){A(r)},0)})});})();pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run('/mod_pagespeed_beacon','http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/peppermint-spearmint-differences/','82dtZm2p5Q',true,false,'IuEzNLf71JM'); Someone recently asked me about the mint growing in their garden. Related: 30 Peppermint Desserts to Make This Christmas Season. Spearmint vs Peppermint: Are They The Same? To learn more about me... Read More…. Each dates back 5,000 years to ancient Egypt and India, where they were valued for the effects of their oils, though those substances were used for different purposes. BLOG. Tamari Dundua/EyeEm/Getty Images. Spearmint vs Peppermint. It is … Native to parts of Europe and the Middle East, peppermint has a distinct cooling effect and can actually lower the temperature of your mouth. Because it contains 40 percent menthol, peppermint packs a pretty extreme cooling punch. Looking at peppermint and spearmint with your eyes and smelling them with your nose is not going to reveal which is which. ("naturalWidth"in a&&"naturalHeight"in a))return{};for(var d=0;a=c[d];++d){var e=a.getAttribute("data-pagespeed-url-hash");e&&(! Required fields are marked *. Its flavor is potent and slightly spicy (peppery, if you will). Both have serrated leaves, produce pale pink or purple flowers, spread underground using stems called stolons, and contain menthol – the compound responsible for that fresh, cooling sensation. Add comma separated list of ingredients to exclude from recipe. It is also purported to help everything from sore throats to toothaches. While spearmint and peppermint have a lot in common, they are different species. Its subtle sweetness makes spearmint perfect for pairing with savory flavors. Peppermint is … If you are looking for a milder minty flavor that won’t overwhelm your dish, spearmint is the better choice. 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Peppermint contains 40% menthol while spearmint contains less than 1% menthol. Spearmint is invasive in my garden. You can always rely on Peppermint to get the job done, but Wintergreen is a breath of fresh air in more ways than one! Both spearmint and peppermint have square stems and some hair (although slightly more on spearmint) around them. Of course, each variety of mint has its own unique flavor and aroma. La_vanda/iStock/GettyImages. … The herb is particularly common in the Middle East, where it's used to flavor curries and other dishes. Peppermint vs. Cornmint. Spearmint, or Mentha spicata is a pleasant-smelling species of mint found in health-food products, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and cosmetics. Growing Mojito Mint. On the savory side, spearmint is usually the mint of choice, however when it comes to sweet, peppermint is the herb of choice as it … Because peppermint is a mix of two types of mint, it contains a higher content of menthol (40% as opposed to spearmint’s 0.5%). Spearmint, also known as garden mint, common mint, lamb mint and mackerel mint, is a species of mint, Mentha spicata, native to Europe and southern temperate Asia, extending from Ireland in the west to southern China in the east.It is naturalized in many other temperate parts of the world, including northern and southern Africa, North America and South America. The short answer is no. I mean, spearmint is in gum and toothpaste for a reason. how to tell the difference between peppermint and spearmint . No gift befits the food-obsessed people in your life like a cookbook. In all likelihood, it might be difficult to detect those flavor differences when covered up with the sweetness of chewing gum/mints. 1:09. You can always rely on Peppermint to get the job done, but Wintergreen is a breath of fresh air in more ways than one! It is used for its leaves and the oil derived from its leaves. Spearmint and peppermint are two types of herbs which belong to the mint family. Peppermint is often used as a stimulant, I don't know about spearmint. It just keeps coming. Even though peppermint and spearmint belong to the same mint family, it is apparent they have many distinguishing characteristics. From their appearance to leaves properties, uses, and flavors, it should be easy to identify one from each other now. But none of these products, from toothpaste to You may be surprised to learn that these oils aren’t related; in fact, wintergreen isn’t even a part of the mint family. Is all peppermint essential oil the same? Let me start by saying, if you plant mint in your garden or in a flower bed like we did, BEWARE, in a very short period of time you are going to have a lot of mint. Add comma separated list of ingredients to include in recipe. The spearmint plant, peppermint’s sweeter cousin, is a highly aromatic herb that owes its invigorating tingle to menthol. is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Spearmint Essential Oil Essential Oil Uses Doterra Essential Oils Anti Nausea Doterra Peppermint Chronic Migraines Natural Health Body Care Did … "Mint" Tea: Peppermint vs. Spearmint. Mint comes from the Mentha genus. Jenny Dettrick/Getty Images, Credit: //, March 12, 2019 by G. Stephen Jones 4 Comments. Follow. Unlike spearmint, peppermint contains 40% menthol and gets its cooling properties from there. Summary of Spearmint and Peppermint. Peppermint Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock. Peppermint vs. Wintergreen: How they’re different. Peppermint. All Recipes. ":"&")+"url="+encodeURIComponent(b)),f.setRequestHeader("Content-Type","application/x-www-form-urlencoded"),f.send(a))}}}function B(){var b={},c;c=document.getElementsByTagName("IMG");if(!c.length)return{};var a=c[0];if(! how to tell the difference between peppermint and spearmint . The leaves, which are warm and fresh with a uniquely cooling aftertaste, are used in everything from sauces and soups to candies and ice creams. Peppermint contains 40% menthol while spearmint contains less than 1% menthol. The main difference between spearmint and peppermint is that the spearmint contains a less amount of menthol whereas peppermint contains a considerably higher amount of menthol.Furthermore, spearmint occurs naturally while peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint and watermint. We know mint as the refreshing and delicious flavor of many of the things we eat every day, from breath mints to mint chocolate chip ice cream. I believe the term mint is invasive. 18. The most striking difference is the amount of menthol – an organic compound found in all Menthas responsible for the bulk of mint’s sweet, sometimes spicy, flavor Cuban Mojito Mint is mentha villosa. Leaves can be fresh from the garden, or dried in a teabag. Peppermint and spearmint are both popular when it comes to breath mints and toothpaste (and lollies — but let’s keep our healthy hats on and not go there). Peppermint (Mentha × piperita, also known as Mentha balsamea Wild) is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Peppermint is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. common mint, garden mint, and lamb mint) is part of the Spicata species and it occurs naturally, which means it’s not a hybrid. Browse more videos. Some of the more commonly grown mints for the garden include ginger mint, orange mint, basil mint, lavender mint, grapefruit mint and apple mint. This means spearmint usually has a sweeter, milder flavor while peppermint … I have always stuck to spearmint tea for hirsutism, however there are women, like Arlene, who have also seen benefits from drinking peppermint tea. The flowers are different. Spearmint gets its delicate and sweet flavor from a chemical called carvone. Some are used for their medicinal properties while others are used just for their aromatic properties. Both have serrated leaves, produce pale pink or purple flowers, spread underground using stems called stolons, and contain menthol – the compound responsible for that fresh, cooling sensation. Peppermint is often paired with sweet ingredients, particularly during the holiday season. What's the Difference between Public Relations and Editorial? Scientifically known as Mentha spicata, spearmint is a member of the Mentha genus and is native to Europe and Asia, although it has been naturalized all over the world throughout the course of history. Like peppermint, spearmint tea has long been used for medicinal purposes — particularly for stomach-related issues. The differences in flavor and use are subtle, but they do exist. Here’s how to tell the difference: Peppermint belongs to the Piperita species and is a hybrid between watermint and spearmint. Peppermint vs. Wintergreen: How they’re different. It is used for its leaves and the oil derived from its leaves. Every year at about this time, my wife cuts all the mint back to the ground and every spring it grows back and then some. I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. So if you grab a leaf of your garden mint and taste it, if it has a really strong minty aftertaste, you are dealing with peppermint. "),d=t;a[0]in d||!d.execScript||d.execScript("var "+a[0]);for(var e;a.length&&(e=a.shift());)a.length||void 0===c?d[e]?d=d[e]:d=d[e]={}:d[e]=c};function v(b){var c=b.length;if(0b||1342177279>>=1)c+=c;return a};q!=p&&null!=q&&g(h,n,{configurable:!0,writable:!0,value:q});var t=this;function u(b,c){var a=b.split(". Its high menthol concentration makes it a more potent option if you are using it for medicinal benefits such as for relief from digestive problems. Mixture of spearmint have blue or pink bloom while the flowers will taper been used for cover. 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