Tabbouli, if you have equal parts parsley. © 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. Personally, I feel like peppermint has that familiar candy taste (like dinner mints, those red and white swirl hard candies, peppermint patties, etc. It is occasionally found in the wild with its parent species. While spearmint and peppermint have a lot in common, they are different species. They are part of the Mentha genus. Peppermint belongs to the Piperita species and is a hybrid between watermint and spearmint. Although confusing which type of mint (peppermint vs. spearmint) to use in your recipe won’t necessarily ruin your creation, there are differences between the two in terms of flavor and uses. Peppermint. You may be surprised to learn that these oils aren’t related; in fact, wintergreen isn’t even a part of the mint family. Both spearmint and peppermint have square stems and some hair (although slightly more on spearmint) around them. Peppermint is a (usually) sterile hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmintIt is occasionally found wild with its parent species in central and southern Europe, but the first intentional crossbreed of watermint and spearmint was done in England. Some are used for their medicinal properties while others are used just for their aromatic properties. The hybrid herb has a smooth stem, fibrous roots, dark green leaves and purple-coloured flowers. how to tell the difference between peppermint and spearmint . Some of the more commonly grown mints for the garden include ginger mint, orange mint, basil mint, lavender mint, grapefruit mint and apple mint. If you have a lighter flavor that borders on sweetness, you’re most likely tasting spearmint. 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%). And then there are some used for ground cover or how they look. "Mint" Tea: Peppermint vs. Spearmint. Mint essential oil, meanwhile, is widely used for flavoring breath fresheners, baked goods, and candies. Gardeners can choose from more than 600 varieties of mint, which is relatively easy to grow and care for. Summary of Spearmint and Peppermint. April 20, 2020. Sunday, 06 December 2020 / Published in Uncategorized. After much observation and several taste tests, these are the impressions I've formed of the kinds of mints I'm growing, from spearmint to orange mint to peppermint. BLOG. 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. Your email address will not be published. There are hundreds of mint varieties. Spearmint, or Mentha spicata is a pleasant-smelling species of mint found in health-food products, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and cosmetics. And though peppermint is perhaps the better known of the two, it’s actually a natural hybrid of spearmint and water mint. The best way to distinguish one from the other is to taste them both. The cooling sensation of the peppermint candy enhances the creamy, smooth base of vanilla ice cream. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. 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. Looking at peppermint and spearmint with your eyes and smelling them with your nose is not going to reveal which is which. From their appearance to leaves properties, uses, and flavors, it should be easy to identify one from each other now. But the two most popular and I’m guessing the two you are most likely going to find in your garden are peppermint and spearmint. It contains .05 percent menthol, so it doesn’t have quite the cooling effect of peppermint. If you are looking for a really intense minty flavor in a dish, peppermint is the way to go. It went UNDER the sidewalk and came up in the grass on the other side! Even though peppermint and spearmint belong to the same mint family, it is apparent they have many distinguishing characteristics. 10:01. You can also use it to make pungent extracts for baking. I like spearmint fesh leaves in my sun tea with regular (decaf) tea and honey. Cyndi Monaghan/Getty Images, Credit: Peppermint vs. Spearmint: What’s the Difference? Spearmint gets its delicate and sweet flavor from a chemical called carvone. Most of the time I use fresh mint as a garnish or I’ll add it to a dish at the end of cooking. Saved by Anna Donaldson. Sunday, 06 December 2020 / Published in Uncategorized. This is a feature common to many species of the Mentha genus. 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. Spearmint and peppermint are the most commonly used verities of mint in cooking and medication. It's fascinating to experience the subtle differences in the appearance, scent, and flavor of differing kinds of mints. Known for its bright flavor and fresh scent, fresh and dried mint leaves are found in cuisines all over the world. I had peppermint in a garden plot bounded by a stone sidewalk. Peppermint vs. Spearmint Although confusing which type of mint (peppermint vs. spearmint) to use in your recipe won't necessarily ruin your … 7 days ago | 5 views. 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. Mint comes from the Mentha genus. Spearmint is invasive in my garden. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita, also known as Mentha balsamea Wild) is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Summary of Spearmint and Peppermint. Add comma separated list of ingredients to exclude from recipe. Peppermint vs. Spearmint: What's the Difference? Peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint: pick up any of them and close your eyes and sniff, she suggests. It’s enough to use as a vegetable rather than just a flavoring. These flavors and fragrances don’t last long and is why I chop and add them to the dish just before serving. Browse more videos. So, to answer your question, they are two different plants, and have different flavor profiles. Most famous for its use in oral hygiene products like toothpaste, gum, and breath fresheners, spearmint (scientific name: Mentha viridis) has long been treasured for its natural healing properties in oral hygiene and beyond. 1/25/2016 9 Comments Mint tea is a term that can mean Peppermint, Spearmint or a combination of mints. Spearmint is lower in menthol, the compound that gives the plant its minty properties, compared to peppermint. Is all peppermint essential oil the same? ("naturalWidth"in a&&"naturalHeight"in a))return{};for(var d=0;a=c[d];++d){var e=a.getAttribute("data-pagespeed-url-hash");e&&(! Add comma separated list of ingredients to include in recipe. As we already covered, both spearmint and peppermint are members of the same family and thus have rather similar properties as it relates to appearance, cultivation, flavor, and use. Peppermint vs. Spearmint. When you put them against each other, spearmint vs peppermint, and compare their differences, you’ll find that they are, in fact, quite different from each other! Mint brings a bright, bold flavor to recipes. The most active ingredients include menthol (50–60 percent) and menthone (10–30 percent). Despite the fact that most recipes and even grocery stores refer to mint as if it's a single herb, there are over 15 types of mint, including spearmint, peppermint, orange mint, and apple mint. Peppermint belongs to the Piperita species and is a hybrid between watermint and spearmint. The short answer is no. Mint is a perennial and wide-growing herb that grows wild. To learn more about me... Read More…. In all likelihood, it might be difficult to detect those flavor differences when covered up with the sweetness of chewing gum/mints. Spearmint vs Peppermint. No gift befits the food-obsessed people in your life like a cookbook. This guide to cooking roast beef will help you create a flavorful, moist, and tender roast. ), and spearmint has more of an herby taste. It is also believed to alleviate gastrointestinal woes like nausea, gas, diarrhea, and indigestion. It is used for its leaves and the oil derived from its leaves. Spearmint and Peppermint can look very similar, but the best way to tell them apart is by tasting the leaves. Peppermint is often paired with sweet ingredients, particularly during the holiday season. Plant Properties. Its flavor is potent and slightly spicy (peppery, if you will). Peppermint is also good for digestion. If you are looking for a milder minty flavor that won’t overwhelm your dish, spearmint is the better choice. Hence, it is an additional difference between spearmint and peppermint. Peppermint is created by the blend of water-mint and spearmint leaves. Gum chewers, holiday bakers, and essential oil enthusiasts know that spearmint and peppermint are not the same thing — but what, exactly, sets one apart from the other? The combination of peppermint and vanilla ice cream is leagues better than chocolate chip and mint. When you ask for "Mint Tea" at most restaurants or cafes, you usually are served peppermint tea (dried tea bag) in a pot. Peppermint and spearmint are both in the Mentha genus, but peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica). 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 We have mint in our back yard next to the patio and have to tear some out every year. Spearmint has green stems with occasionally a light purple hue, but way less prominent than in peppermint. 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I would use peppermint for sweet foods, and spearmint to mint up savory foods (pho, for one). 1/25/2016 9 Comments Mint tea is a term that can mean Peppermint, Spearmint or a combination of mints. This means peppermint is going to have a more intense “minty” flavor that spearmint. What's the Difference between Public Relations and Editorial? Peppermint ice cream is a carnival of pleasure, something that cannot be said about the lumpy mixture of spearmint, chocolate chip and ice cream (and trust me, I’m trying to be kind here). Peppermint has 40% menthol and spearmint has 0.5% menthol composition. Growing Mojito Mint. Peppermint vs. Spearmint Although confusing which type of mint (peppermint vs. spearmint) to use in your recipe won't necessarily ruin your … Brand mint being sold as Yerba Buena at Lowe ’ s going to have a more intense minty! Decaf ) tea and honey between spearmint and peppermint, spearmint or a combination of mints 's difference. 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