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Most common oils
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Glossary |
Spearmint |
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Mentha spicata The Latin name literally means "spiky mint" as the genus name Mentha translates to "it is a mint" and the species name spicata to "it is like a spike". The source of Latin menta and Greek mínthee is unknown.
British breeds of green mint are known as spearmint; they are very popular for flavouring cold soups, beverages and meats; together with thyme, it is one of the most important culinary herbs in Britain and is the mint most often used in cooking. Spearmint is the mint to use for the famous (and often dreaded by non-Englishmen)"mint" sauce served to accompany lamb. Today, most spearmint (doublemint) is actually used in the chewing gum industry. The "doublemint" flavour of spearmint is difficult to describe; it is minty but not pungent.
Spearmint oil owes its fantastic aroma to
carvone, dihydrocarvone, menthone, pulegone, 1,8 cineol and beta-pinene. It is energizing to the mind and body and is commonly used in bath water for it's refreshing, cooling and gently vitalizing effect. Making a facial steam of spearmint oil in a pot of boiling water helps cleanse and refine pores. It is a top note and blends well with bergamot, jasmine, lavender and sandalwood. Oil of spearmint is used in aromatherapy to assist with mental fatigue, headache, colds, coughs, asthma, and bronchitis. Care: Use recommended dilution or less. Prolonged use of the essential oil as an inhalant should be avoided as it can irritate the mucous membranes. Do not give any form of mint directly to young babies.
DISCLAIMER: This page is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for accurate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health care professional. The author is neither a chemist nor an herbalist and has had no medical training whatsoever. The content herein is the product of research, not practical experience. |
Spearmint is probably the best known true mint. It has rich green leaves,
grows two to three feet in height, and has spikes of pink flowers. It comes in both curly and plain leaved types. Some spearmints are stronger in flavour than others.