Mentha spicata L.

Mint leaves (Mentha spicata) are a herb up to 30-100 cm tall of the Lamiaceae family, native to Europe and the Middle East, now popular worldwide. Its refreshing flavor makes it a mix for salads, candy, ice cream, and toothpaste. Mint leaves are traditionally used to relieve digestive problems, headaches, and respiratory tract disorders.

Spearmint can be found in swamps or streams, where the soil is sandy or clayey. It ideally prefers deep, well-drained soil, moist, rich in nutrients and organic matter, with a crumbly texture, growing in full sun to partial shade. pH range between 6.0 and 7.5.

• Root a white taproot.
• Stem square-shaped, purple, green, and hairy.
• Leaves single, elliptical, rounded tip, decussate opposite, serrated edges. Purplish-green in color, hairy surface, sharp aroma.
• Flowers in slender spikes, each flower pink and white in color.
• Seeds relatively large, 0.62-0.90 mm in size.

• Propagated using stem cuttings. Seeds are rarely obtained because flowering is difficult.
• The right planting time is December-January.

β-carotene, β-sitosterol, borneol, ethanol, eugenol, geraniol, menthol, methionine, niacin, thiamine, essential oil (carvone, limonene, cineole, β-pinene).

Treats digestive problems, colds and flu, headaches, fades dark eye circles, relieves fatigue, addresses respiratory tract problems, hemorrhoids and stomach ache, has carminative, antispasmodic (muscle relaxant), diuretic (increases urine output), antibacterial activity, antioxidant agent.

• Pick fresh mint leaves, then wash thoroughly using running water.
• Dry the leaves in the sun.
• Store the dried material in a clean, closed container.

Known as, Garden mint, Pudina.