Wholesale Spearmint

01.
A Bit of Botany

a little botanical information on spearmint

description
Mentha spicata, commonly known as spearmint, is an herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant of the Lamiaceae family.

Its sometimes hairless, sometimes hairy stem and foliage grows 30–100 cm in height, with a wide-spreading fleshy underground rhizome. Spearmint leaves, leaves are generally 5–9 cm in length and 1.5–3 cm in width, with a serrated margin. The spearmint herb plant's square-shaped stem is a trademark of the mint family.

Spearmint produces its pink (or white) flowers in slender spikes, 2.5–3 mm in length and in width.

common names & nomenclature
The name 'spear' mint derives from the pointed leaf tips.

Also known as:
spearmint, mint, brown mint, garden mint, our lady's mint, sage of bethlehem, menthol mint, silver mint, spiremint

02.
Where in the World

habitat and range for spearmint

Mentha spicata, or spearmint, is native to Europe and southwest Asia, but has become naturalized throughout the United States and Canada.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations for growing and harvesting spearmint

climate
Spearmint herb grows well in almost all temperate climates in part shade to full sun.

soil
Grows in wet soils, prefers loamy soils with rich organic content.

growing
Characteristic of many mint species, spearmint can quickly become invasive. As a precaution many gardeners grow it in containers or locations where spreading is not an issue. The plant will grow quickly by seed, however it is most often propagated via division in spring or autumn.

harvesting
Spearmint leaves should be harvested when it is just coming into flower, and can be dried for later use.

preserving
Store dried spearmint leaves and powdered spearmint in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

04.
The Rest of the Story

additional information

Formulas & recipes
Spearmint leaf benefits
There is an endless list of spearmint recipes, as it is an extremely versatile herb. Spearmint is commonly used in cosmetic products like soap, oil, lotion, toothpaste, and more. It is also used in popular cocktails like a mint julep, though it is probably best known for flavoring chewing gum. Spearmint leaf is also a great tea herb and can be found in many tea blends.

Spearmint tea recipe
-Spoon 1 teaspoon of spearmint leaf into a tea bag
-Pour boiled water over tea
-Let steep for 6-8 minutes
-Add lemon to make the tea brighter, or honey to give it a nice, natural sweetness

Spearmint health benefits
Ingesting spearmint is beneficial to many parts of the body. Spearmint promotes gut health and helps with upset stomachs and constipation. This herb also contains high amounts of antioxidants which promote immune system health and lower blood pressure. The spearmint leaf is also said to help memory and hormone imbalances.