Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 1, 1994 TAG: 9404290099
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Patricia Held
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
No wonder that even the barest of herb gardens has a few mint plants. A kitchen garden is just not complete without a few peppermint or spearmint plants.
The name "mint" comes from Mentha, who in ancient mythology was a mistress of Pluto. But Pluto's queen, Prosperine, in a fit of jealous rage, trampled the plant. From that time on mint was sentenced to be walked on forever. But Pluto sympathized with mint's lowly life and willed that the more mint was trodden upon, the sweeter it would smell. The mint family is quite large and almost all the mints contain the aromatic oils that produce the sweet aroma.
Many of the mint species are similar in appearance, and it is difficult to tell them apart. But even a novice can tell a mint from other plants. A mint's stem is exactly square. Just by feeling the stem it is easy to identify that it is a mint. Other telltale characteristics include its opposite leaves and lipped blossoms known as "dragon heads." Many mints, thanks to Pluto, also have that definite aroma when the leaves are crushed.
Bible and medieval literature have references to mint. The Arabs and Persians were the first groups to really take advantage of the mint's edible characteristics. They used it to sweeten drinks, for salads, in jellies and sauces, and for seasoning.
Mint has been used as a medicinal herb since Egyptian times. An English herbal describes the mint as "friendly to weak stomachs and powerful against all nervous crudities." It also "quickened the brain." The American Indians used mints in teas and to allay fevers and settle upset stomachs. Bruised fresh leaves, when rubbed on the skin, relieved local pain and were used as a liniment. Indians also took advantage of mint's pleasing aroma to scent bear grease, which was used for everything from an effective insect repellent to a hair dressing.
The mint family provides a large selection of herbs that brighten our foods. Two of the most common mints in our gardens include spearmint and peppermint. Spearmint has lance-shaped leaves usually attached directly to the stem. Its flowers are in dense terminal spikes and may be purple to white in color. In contrast, peppermint has short leaf stalks and much narrower leaves than spearmint. Its flowers are purple and are in much looser spikes. Each also has its own distinctive aroma and flavor.
Once chewing gum became popular in the late 1800s, mint emerged as an important commercial crop. Spearmint and peppermint were grown on a large scale for oils that flavored candies, cordials, medicines and gum.
Many mints grow wild along stream banks, in fields, and in meadows, often as escapees from our kitchen gardens. Some of these include watermint, horsemint, catnip, heal-all, sage, pennyroyal, basil, marjoram and thyme.
A warning: Never collect plants from the wild for consumption without a positive identification of the plants to be collected as well as accurate information on their preparation.
Patricia Held will respond to readers' questions on the plant and animal wildlife in the region. Mail inquiries to: Patricia Held, P.O. Box 65, Goode, Va. 24556.
Patricia Held is a Bedford County free-lance writer and author specializing in natural history.
by CNB