![]() ![]() The easiest way to identify spearmint from peppermint is to eat one (or better half) of their leaf. How to surely identify spearmint from peppermint? Spearmint vs Peppermint Flowers (Photo from blumebiene) 2. ![]() Spearmint has green stems with occasionally a light purple hue, but way less prominent than peppermint. They both grow up to a meter (3 feet) in quite large bushes in the right conditions.īefore diving into the differences, remember that spearmint is also called “mint” or “garden mint,” and it is the most common between the two. These are, by far, the ones most common in the USA and EU in supermarkets and grocery stores. Indeed, despite the countless types of mint, the mint type that most commonly can be found are spearmint (known as Mentha Spicata species) and peppermint (known as Mentha Piperita species). However, do not despair! It is quite easy to recognize which mint you have. The Mentha genus, as discussed in this document from the University of Nis, includes hundreds of different types of herbs (called species)! Hence, the mint you have a home is one species of the hundreds of the Mentha genus. Mentha is a genus, not an herb! Without getting into boring details, a genus is a massive group of different herbs that share a very close origin. Appearance: Spearmint vs Peppermintĭo you know that the word “mint” is the English word for “Mentha”? In cooking, peppermint is suited for baking while spearmint is for teas and savory dishes.ĭo you know that one of the two is way better for producing essential oils than the other, and although they look similar, there is still a way to differentiate them? Let’s dive in! 1. Peppermint has purple boxy stems, whereas spearmint is greener. In contrast, peppermint has an intense mint flavor due to 25.4% menthone and only 9.1% limonene. But if you look closely and give them a good taste, I’m sure you’ll be able to tell them apart soon enough.įresh spearmint has little to no menthone and 37% limonene, giving it a mild and sweet taste. Although they are closely related, spearmint and peppermint are two different plants!įrom a distance, you may confuse them with each other. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |