FRESH & IN SEASON

Fresh Mint

fresh mint recipes

EatingWell March/April 2008

Healthy Mint Recipes

Grow this refreshing herb at home and use it to infuse recipes with flavor.

If there’s one herb your kitchen garden needs this spring, it’s mint. Excellent in teas, fruit salads and, of course, mojitos, mint also has a long history as a medicinal herb. Since Hippocrates’ time, it’s been used to ease digestive problems. Preliminary medical research suggests that mint, indeed, may help soothe symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a condition characterized by abdominal pain and bloating.

For ultimate variety, plant a mélange of different types of mint, such as peppermint, spearmint, apple mint and its cultivar pineapple mint. Infuse refreshing flavor into your iced tea by brewing black tea with a few peppermint leaves.

Contain your mint in a pretty pot, as the herb is notorious for overtaking gardens. It will flourish on your patio or deck—or any sunny sill. Mint is low-maintenance; just keep the soil moist with regular watering.

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