Spearmint Leaf Tea

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is one of the most common edible plants of the mint family. Spearmint is often used in cold drinks and juleps and to impart a delicate aroma to fruit salads, meats, new potatoes, peas, jelly, vinegar and sauces. In addition to the many traditional culinary uses for Spearmint, ingenious cooks have created some unusual delicacies. For example, Native Americans in New England would roast mint leaves then salt and eat them. They would also dry their meats in layers with mint leaves in between. Cosmetically, Spearmint can be used as a soothing bath herb, an ingredient for facial seams, and as an astringent for gently cleaning oily skin. Spearmint possesses properties similar to Peppermint, but is milder and more fragrant and is usually preferred over Peppermint by children.