Seven Interesting Peppermint Facts You Probably Didn't Know

When I started writing about peppermint, I wasn't all that interested in the topic. But as I discovered more and more about it, I got more and more interested. So much so that now I want to grow mint in my backyard. I knew it was an herb and that it was great for tea. I also knew that it had menthol, which gives it the flavor we all know as minty. But there's much more to this little herb. Like how it's a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint and that some mint hybrids happen naturally. Mint can grow like crazy underground. The roots start extending, and before you know it, it has a life of its own. If I do grow it at home, I'll have to make sure I have enough space. Here are some fun facts I found to be quite interesting.

1) The history of mint goes back to ancient times 

Mint has a long history. Ancient people would grow it and use it for food and medicinal purposes. Many believe that it originated in Northern Africa and gets its name from Greek mythology. We'll come to that story in a moment. Archeologists found mint that had been dried 3000 years ago in the Egyptian pyramids. They used it to extract the oils. Maybe the Egyptians invited essential oils. There are historical records of Romans using mint with special dishes for large feasts and would even use them to braid festive crowns.

2) Mint has a dramatic legend with a weird ending  

I did not expect something so common as mint to have such a dramatic story behind it. According to Greek mythology, mint got its name because Hades was having an affair with a nymph named Minthe. When his wife found out about his infidelity, she became enraged and determined to humiliate her. She cursed her and turned her into a common plant that would grow like a weed and would always be stepped on. Hades found the curse to be too harsh, so he changed the curse to soften it. He left her a weed but gave her a sweet scent with cooling and calming effects. These would serve as a reminder to others of her presence while they stepped all over her.

3) Most of it is grown in the U.S.  

Currently, the U.S. produces 70% of the world's mint. Maybe it's because it's easy to grow, and as the number of people seeking natural ways to improve health, the U.S. supply has grown.

4) You can make tea from fresh or dry leaves

The processing steps for dry loose-leaf tea are pretty simple. You can make mint tea using fresh leaves. If you have fresh mint, you can put it in a cup and pour hot water over it. Steep it for a few minutes and enjoy. For more traditional tea from dry leaves, the leaves are harvested, washed, and dried in a dark, cool place. Once they are dry, only the leaves are crushed and packaged to be sold.

5) Peppermint tea lasts a long time 

Peppermint tea can last a long time as long as it's stored in an air-tight container. If it's not stored in an air-tight container, it's likely to lose its aroma and flavor very quickly.

6) It's used to promote good health  

People use mint for many health-promoting reasons, but there isn't enough scientific evidence to support these uses. People use it for ailments like indigestion, tension, headache, anxiety, and more. Also, peppermint can react with certain medications. Talk to a doctor before adding or changing any supplement.

7) Peppermint tea is pretty good by itself, but why not add it to other teas?  

This one wasn't new to me. Now I may have to taste each tea because I have a new curiosity about mint and how it's mixed with other flavors. 

Shop our teas with peppermint 

Relaxing Mint Chamomile – Chamomile flowers, Peppermint, lavender flowers 

Afternoon Calm - Orange, Hibiscus, Rooibos Tea, Peppermint Leaves, Licorice, Lemon Balm, Lavender, Passion Flowers, Milk Thistle, & Marigold Flowers 

Get Well Now Green - Green Tea, Peppermint Leaves, Ginger, Licorice, Cardamom, Fennel, Marigold Flowers, Black Peppercorn & Cloves 

And Relaxation Comfort - Peppermint Leaves, Echinacea, Apple Pieces, Orange, Eucalyptus, Lemon Grass, Natural Orange Flavor & Juniper Berries  

 


Written By:

Matt Kellso

I started this business as a way to subsidize my hobby in 2012. I had just bought an expensive ‘home’ roaster and needed to justify the cost. I combined my love of coffee with my background in web design, marketing, and Industrial Engineering to try to make an online coffee roasting business happen. I was born in Michigan and have two U of M parents, but spent his childhood in South Carolina. When I was about 10 I moved to Tempe, Arizona, and have been in the Tempe / Chandler area ever since. I love the east valley but hate the heat, which makes the summers a test of patience. I graduated from Arizona State University with an Industrial Engineering degree and spent the first decade of my career at Intel doing anything from process improvement projects to forecasting to RFID consulting. I moved on from there to spend the next 15 years at Spencer's TV & Appliance doing much of the same things. In April of 2020 I finally stepped away from Spencer’s TV to focus on Sagebrush full-time. After we learned to manage the rush of online orders that COVID brought, we moved to a larger production facility and focused on opening our coffee shop. The last few years have also given me an opportunity to nurture international relationships in sourcing our coffees. I love the coffee industry, I love the community of local shops, the camaraderie of local micro-communities of a single shop, learning and educating on the industry. But nothing brings me more joy in my work than talking to a farmer about their coffee and how our little business in Chandler is thriving because they’ve dedicated their life to the pit of a coffee cherry. When I’m not at Sagebrush I’m probably meeting with someone from our Church (Grace Bible Church in Tempe) where I’m a pastor, reading or vacationing with family which includes exploring coffee shops.

@ndlman