Peppermint Tea: Captivating Taste Buds for the Holidays with Herbal Blends and Peppermint Infusions

Whether you dive head first into the holidays or prefer to keep the “most wonderful time of the year” at arm’s length, there’s no denying our sensory connection to the season. When you think of the holidays, you can see the lights on the houses down the street, hear holiday music on repeat at every department store and smell the pine needles of a fresh evergreen tree.

One of our favorite ways to experience the holidays is by incorporating seasonal flavors into our meals and treats. Gingerbread cookies, cranberry sodas and eggnog milkshakes are just a few variations of treats we enjoy. However, one flavor that stands head and shoulders above the rest is the classic peppermint.

While peppermint plants grow from spring until fall, we associate the herb with the holidays and cold weather. If you’re wondering how peppermint became a staple of holiday treats, keep it cool and learn more about the peppermint plant and how you can incorporate peppermint into your recipes and crafted products.

THE CANDY CANE CONUNDRUM: HOW DID PEPPERMINT FLAVOR BECOME A HOLIDAY STAPLE?

Peppermint’s flavor is largely associated with the iconic candy cane. The classic red and white stripes combined with the hook shape to hang on the tree made this candy a favorite during Christmas time. According to Time.com, the United States produces approximately 1.76 billion candy canes yearly; 90% are sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas. While the origin of peppermint and Christmas candy isn’t completely clear, the tradition is believed to have originated in Germany.

However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that Bob McCormack who created and distributed the red and white striped canes that many know and enjoy today. So, the candy cane may not have been the original peppermint Christmastime treat, but it did popularize it to the level we know today.

If you need a few ways to incorporate this iconic holiday flavor without throwing candy into everything, you can take advantage of the original source

A QUICK PEAK AT PEPPERMINT PROPER (MENTHA PIPERITA)

If you’re interested in learning more about the most famous member of the mint family, visiting our wholesale peppermint page is a great idea. The mint family has been a part of cooking, cleaning and therapy for thousands of years, dating to its roots in ancient Greek and Roman culture.

In the flavor department, peppermint offers an aromatic, pungent taste with a cooling aftertaste, which provides its “freshening” attribute. This cooling sensation is attributed to a chemical reaction from menthol, a naturally occurring compound in peppermint plants. According to BASF, this cooling sensation comes from menthol’s ability to dock to the thermoreceptors on our skin and mucous membranes.

While peppermint is now associated with fresh breath and holiday treats, it contains various active compounds that provide a pleasant flavor profile and potentially beneficial health properties.

The Diverse Vitamins and Minerals of Peppermint | Peppermint Tea Benefits

The peppermint plant is nutrient-rich and contains a variety of beneficial vitamins and minerals, including:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Manganese
• Calcium

Beneficial Pharmacological Activity in Peppermint

Peppermint and other members of the mint family, like spearmint and lemon balm, are known for their stomach-settling properties. Their use as a digestive aid has endured thousands of years. Outside of their ability to calm an upset gut, a 2021 review from Molecules, a peer-reviewed chemistry journal, recounted several studies that connected the phytochemicals in peppermint essential oil and several beneficial activities for the body.

Potential properties found in peppermint plant include:

• Antispasmodic
• Antibacterial
• Diaphoretic
• Expectorant
• Antinauseant

Plus, menthol is known for its soothing properties in external use, including supporting skin cells to accelerate wound healing.

After taking a quick look at some of the benefits of peppermint, let’s look at a few ideas you can work peppermint into food and beverages in time for the holiday season.

PEPPERMINT TEA AND OTHER REFRESHING BEVERAGE IDEAS

When it comes to the holidays, many enjoy trying new alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages with a seasonal twist. A 2022 holiday food and beverage trend report found a 29% increase in premixed cocktails and a predicted resurgence in unique herbal teas. One of the best ways to increase your holiday spirit is by utilizing peppermint in your favorite drinks and holiday cocktails!

Classic Peppermint Tea with Herbal Blends

Peppermint tea is a classic warm beverage that many enjoy year-round. However, if you enjoy other teas, such as chamomile or lemon balm, and want to spice up your tisane, you can create your own herbal tea blends adding these herbs to a peppermint tea base. A warm peppermint tea is comforting as the weather cools, and it can offer some of the benefits above, like settling the stomach.

If you want to really take your holiday cocktails and sips to the next level, one DIY recipe we love incorporates dried peppermint leaves and crushed candy canes to create a merry mixture for your mug. While adding candy to many tea mixtures may sound like a mess, candy canes are known for their ability to melt into hot drinks gently, hence their popularity in stirring hot cocoa and coffee.

Here’s what you need to create this peppermint tea recipe:

• Combine 1 cup of dried peppermint leaf, cut and sifted, with 1 cup of crushed candy canes (avoid pre-crushed candy canes).
• Fill your tea strainer with a heaping teaspoon of the mixture and stir in hot water.

Enjoying a cup of warm peppermint tea can add a warm, comforting feeling to your group celebrations or quiet moments of reflection during a busy season.

Peppermint Simple Syrup

If you want to create a holiday cocktail with peppermint to make your holidays merry and bright, a simple syrup is key. While you can make a simple syrup with fresh mint for your peppermint cocktail, you may not have it on hand as the holidays roll around. Thankfully, a handful of dried peppermint leaves can do the trick as well.

To create one cup of peppermint simple syrup, do the following:

• Create a decoction by simmering ½ cup of peppermint leaves in 2 cups of water while partially covered until the liquid is reduced by half.
• Remove mixture from heat and allow to steep while covered for at least 30 minutes.
• Strain the decoction and add 1 cup of granulated sugar into a saucepan. Bring the mix to a boil.
• Stir often to dissolve the sugar.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
• After the syrup slightly thickens, remove it from heat and let it rest for 1 minute.
• Strain the syrup into a glass jar and let it cool completely before use.

The shelf life of simple syrups can last anywhere between one and six months, so you should be good to go once you make it for the holiday season. After you’ve crafted your peppermint simple syrup, you can use it in a variety of holiday cocktails and other treats.

Cranberry Mojito

While you may associate a mojito with summertime and warm weather, a cranberry mojito is a fun variation you can enjoy for the holidays. Following our easy mint mojito recipe, you can add a ¼ cup of cranberry juice before topping it off with club soda for a cool, tart drink to enjoy at your next holiday gathering.

HOW TO FIND SUCCESS WITH PEPPERMINT BEVERAGE OPTIONS

Regardless of the beverage you want to craft, peppermint leaf is a perfect addition to your herbal drinks. It’s essential to get peppermint leaves from an herb and spice supplier you can trust. The team at Monterey Bay Herb Co has helped many small businesses get the high-quality ingredients they need to produce natural products their customers love.

Disclaimer: Information and statements about the products on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or for prescribing any medication. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.