peppermint

Preface
Mint, a genus of strongly-scented herbs, some of them are used in flavoring.
Plant family for mint is called "Lamiaceae (mint family)".
We are going to introduce peppermint, as the most common mint seen in Taiwan.
Actually, you can even find it in the container in front the restaurant in 介仁campus of Tzu Chi university.
By thinking of this plant, it makes me refreshing and watering at the same time.
Refreshing by its fresh smell; watering, the cooking.
Peppermint can be used in tea and cooking: it smells pure and refreshing; tastes, pungent and burning.
Below is a vedio showing how to use peppermint in different ways.(especially in cuisines)

Mint in Kitchen
Hints for using peppermint in kitchen
- Spice Up Your Vegetables: Put mint in water used to steam vegetables.
- Mint tea: To make peppermint tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes.
- Minty potatoes: Mix chopped mint with butter for boiled new potatoes (or with parsley or dill).
- Minty rice: Toss whole mint leaves in cooked rice before serving.
- Mint Ice Cubes: Freeze whole mint leaves in ice cubes for tea or lemonade.
- Minty Salad Dressing: Make salad dressing with mint, lemon juice, vinegar and a light oil.
- Spice up your tuna: Chop spearmint and mix with olive oil and use as a marinade for fresh tuna. Marinate 30 minutes, grill.

Mythologic Story
It has the story in Greek Mythology as well.
According to the legend, Minthe originally was
a nymph, and Pluto's lover. When his wife Persephone found out, in a fit of rage she turned Minthe into a lowly plant, to be trod upon. Pluto could not undo the spell, but softened the spell by giving her a sweet scent which would perfume the air when her leaves were stepped upon.
Wow...So, next time when you tread on the mint plant accidently, make sure you know
that is a spelled nymph, crying and wishing to be seen.

Growing Mint
Most of the time you will be trying to keep it tidy.
Mints are easily grown in bushes, and it takes effort to make them tidy.
The quotation here best describes the situation "Growing mint is a simple proposition; it is keeping it from taking over the garden that takes work."
Given medium rich, moist soil and shade to dappled sunlight, mint will thrive and soon form a lush, thick carpet.

Harvesting Mint
When you cut it, cut all the way back to ground. Cut it before its flowering--
Remember that when a herb is flowering it is not making lots of nice leaves to cook with.

Uses for Health
Peppermint is the mint of choice for medicinal purposes. Recently more and more health care professionals are acknowledging the health benefits of many herbs and essential oils. In fact, a quarter of all pharmaceuticals contain botanicals.
Peppermints are high in mineral vitamin A & C; and applied to numerous treatments in our daily life.

- The menthol(薄荷腦) in peppermint soothes the lining of the digestive tract
A hot cup of herbal tea is an excellent way to settle your stomach after a big meal.
- Peppermint is an excellent breath freshener. When using peppermint tea as a breath freshener, increase the effectiveness by adding a pinch of anise, caraway or cinnamon. Mint is also a good remedy for gingivitis(齒齦炎).
- have the calming, sedative effect.
- Peppermint and its relatives are mostly known as a medicine and popular herbs for infusions(泡浸). Menthol vapors are famous for relieving nasal(鼻), sinus(竇) and chest congestion(肺積水). Remember those mintysmelling ointments your mother rubbed on your chest when you were a child with a cold? You can also get relief with a steaming cup of peppermint tea. For a more effective cold remedy, combine
peppermint with elder flower and yarrow(蓍草).
- For a hacking cough(急促乾咳), drink 3 to four cups of cool peppermint tea throughout the day, taking a sip every 15 to 30 minutes.
- Digestion problems/ Nausea/ Excess Gas: One drop of essential oil in a glass of water, or on a sugar cube, taken orally.
- Colic: Traditional therapy is to make a peppermint tea, but be cautious with infants because the strong menthol could possibly cause a choking reaction.
- Tension Headaches: 1-2 drops in carrier oil applied to temples(太陽穴) when headache starts and once an hour after, if needed. Some people might find it more effective to apply a drop behind each ear.
- Mental Fatigue: Mint is a stimulant similar to caffeine, but won't cause jitters. Try a little drop at the back of the tongue.
Mint is also known for lifting the mood, bringing cheer. Also throughout history has been used in cases of hysteria and shock.
- Essential peppermint oil is anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-reducer), and a counterirritant.
- work in healing skin conditions.

Disclaimer:
--to monitor the first application for signs of sensitivity.
--Peppermint tea in considered safe, but remember that truly pure essential oil is 75 to 100 times more concentrated than dried herbs (as in tea bags). One-2 drops of oil in hot water is very powerful.
--Be sure not to get any into contact with your eyes.

PS: Where you can get fresh peppermints for free?
In front of the 吉安農會，there is an botanic garden full of various herbs.
It is set by 花蓮改良場，and it is okay to take a few free picks.
(They will understand it~~)