Mint

Principal species

The kind Mentha account approximately 25 species which are hybrident easily between them.

Mentha aquatica L., the watery Mint water or balsam,
Mentha arvensis L., the Mint of the fields,
Mentha asiatica Boris.
Mentha australis R. Br.
Mentha canadensis L.
Mentha cervina L., the Mint of the stags
Mentha citrata Ehrh., the Mint bergamot,
Mentha cunninghamii Benth.
Mentha dahurica Fisch. ex Benth.
Mentha diemenica Spreng.
Mentha gattefossei Maire
Mentha gentilis
Mentha will grandiflora Benth.
Mentha haplocalyx Briq.
Mentha japonica (Miq.) Makino
Mentha kopetdaghensis Boris.
Mentha laxiflora Benth.
Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., the woodland Mint,
Mentha micrantha (Benth.) . - Shost.
Mentha ×piperita L. ( Mr. aquatica × Mr. spicata ), the Peppermint, very rich in Menthol;
Mentha pulegium L., the Mint pouliot or pouliot, very much used in Italy and Spain, and for the clothes industry of mints, but also in veterinary medicine
Mentha requienii Benth., the Mint of Corsica, of decorative use,
Mentha ×rotundifolia (L.) Huds., the Mint with round sheets, used in taboulé the
Mentha satureioides R. Br.
Mentha spicata L., the soft Mint or Spearmint, used in North Africa and the Middle East to prepare the with mint,
Mentha suaveolens Ehrh., the odorous Mint.

Distribution

The various mint species are originating in the moderate and subtropical areas in old and in the new world.

Several of enter they are largely cultivated.

Use

The spearmint is employed very usually like aromatic Herb, mainly in the Mediterranean, for example in the With mint or the Taboulé, and Asian Cuisine S (Vietnamese) with the Nem S and the Salade S.

In France, the peppered Menthe is very cultivated for the pharmaceutical needs, in particular in the areas of Milly-the-Forest (the Essonne) and of Chemillé, close to Angers (Maine-et-Loire). It contains between 44 and 83% of Menthol, and of the Terpène S. the odor is characteristic of camphorated savor. The spearmint gasoline is less constant because it lower in menthol, is replaced by the Carvone, active ingredient of the Carvi. In addition, the essential Huile of mint is very much used in Aromathérapie (especially peppermint), in Phytothérapie and in Japanese medicine (especially the mint of the fields). Alcohol of mint, Liquor of mint and Sirop of mint are current Boisson S, generally coloured atificiellement in Vert or colorless. The syrup of " mint glaciale" is generally white or slightly bluish whereas the traditional Mint beverage is always coloured in green the mixture Pastis, mint beverage and water are called parrot because of the color Vert to tend pointing out that of the green Perroquet. The lemonade mixed with mint beverage is called Diabolo - mint . Note that in French-speaking Belgium, the parrot is the drink obtained by adding mint to the fair beer pils. A very traditional alternative is the addition of mint to white beer.

Mint is also used usually to aromatize Glace S, Sorbet S and Confiserie S: Candy S, Chocolate S (), Melting S, Chewing-gum S, Pastille S with strong mint, etc It is frequently associated with the Réglisse.

Because of its refreshing effect, mint is also used to aromatize the Dentifrice S and the lotions for bath of mouth.

Other species called mint

Mint is a name also allotted, in current language, with other plants not raising of the kind Mentha :

the Costmary or mint of Notre-Dame, Tanacetum balsamita L. subsp. balsamita , Astéracées.
the mint of the cats or Cataire, Nepeta cataria L., Lamiacées.

External bonds

Herb teas and old remedies: Mint (Fr)
Mint and essential Mint Huile (India)
Resources and Informations Germplasm: '' Menthe '' (in)
Flora Europaea: '' Menthe '' (in)

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