Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Food / Would you like a “Mint”?

June 6, 2016

Would you like a “Mint”?

peppermint-671453_640 (1) What comes to mind when someone asks if you would like a “mint”?  Something cool and refreshing?  You may think of peppermint and spearmint used in hard candy, gum, ice cream, and other confectionery products.  It probably evokes a pleasant taste or smell. It’s used in many food as well as non-food products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, hand creams, foot creams, room fresheners and more.

Many years ago, when I worked in the research and development department of a flavor company, I was invited to a confectionery company to learn about the various mint oils so I could better understand a project we were developing.  I was introduced to about 6 to 8 different peppermint oils to “smell.” The oils were extracted from various varieties of mint plants, grown in different regions of the country.  Each mint oil had a different flavor profile, from strong to mild, and anywhere in between.  Some were suited for use in candy or gum while others were better suited for oral care products.  Some were pleasant and I would describe a couple as “nasty” and undesirable for any product I would put in my mouth.  This was also applied to the several spearmint oils that I evaluated.  Since then, I have learned to appreciate the variety of mint flavors available in the many different products on the market.

Now, my use of mint is through the several mint herb plants that I like to buy every Spring.  There are many kinds of mint plants available.  Of course, there are the popular mint-1050468_640peppermint and spearmint varieties, but did you know there is a chocolate mint, applemint, and a pineapple mint (yup, their name tells you what they smell like!) I like the chocolate variety because it reminds me of a chocolate covered soft, melt in the mouth candy. It’s fun to grow mint in pots – but don’t plant in your yard because it can be an invasive plant and take over your yard.  Clemson Cooperative Extension provides some helpful information about growing mint.

There are a variety of culinary uses for fresh mint including in iced tea or lemonade, fruit salads, and meats such as lamb.  Mint oils are popular in homemade candies.  Peppermint extracts are used in many desserts, toppings, and frosting.  Try some different recipes. It can even be a fun, fragrant garnisherbal-tea-1410563_640 (1)h.

The health benefits of mint have been promoted for a long time.  Some have declared that it can aid in digestion or help with colds and the flu. Actual research based benefits or old wives tales – you decide.  WebMd provides some interesting medicinal uses of peppermint oil.   Discuss the possible benefits and uses of any dietary supplement with peppermint oil in it with your doctor.

Mint may be beneficial to health, but there are some around-the-house benefits too.  According to Mother Earth Living, there are a variety of house and garden uses for mint, including that of a room freshener, a repellent for ants and flies, plus attracting beneficial insects.

Explore mint in it’s many varieties and forms.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

WRITTEN BY: Barbara Hennard

REVIEWED BY: Pat Holmes, FCS Educator, OSU Extension, Montgomery County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • www.pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • http://www.motherearthliving.com/healthy-home/natural-cleaning/15-uses-for-mint-zmhz13mazmel.aspx
  • http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/vegetables/crops/hgic1311.html
  • http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/peppermint-oil-uses-benefits-effects?page=2#2

Categories: Food
Tags: cooking, Growing herbs, mint

Avatar for Barbara Hennard
Avatar for Barbara Hennard

About Barbara Hennard

Barb Hennard, M.A., is the OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator for Auglaize and Mercer Counties. Her experience includes that of a classroom teacher, school food service manager, food research and development test kitchen home economist and work in food quality control. Barb is active in community health coalitions and provides nutrition education for adults and students through a variety of programs. She is active in diabetes education programs and helped develop an on-line class for Dining with Diabetes.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

Diabetes Awareness month 2024 3

November Diabetes Awareness Month Webinars

2024 Food Preservation webinar series presented in Summer 2024

Kids Eat Free

Here Comes the Sun, Sun Meals, and Sun Bucks!

winter seed sowing timeline

Winter Sowing

How to Can Tomatoes in a Water Bath Canner

Food Videos

  • Freezing Green Beans
  • Ohio Days – My Plate My State Video
  • Water Bath Canning Of Salsa
  • Water Bath Canning of Sweet Pickles

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d