If versatile were an aromatic herb, it would have to be mint. From refreshing mojitos to cooking and even in ice cream, mint has nearly endless uses.

Yet, despite its versatility and popularity, most of us know so little about it.

Fortunately, it’s never too late to join the enlightened crew, and below is an all-encompassing article that’ll enlighten you about mint. It covers all key bases, from the basic- what is mint and how to grow it to exciting tidbits about the fragrant herb.

Mint is an aromatic herb species native to the Mediterranean. The herb gets its name from Minthe/Mintho, a mythological nymph from Ancient Greek (more on this later)

Scientifically, mint is part of the genus Lamiaceae and has over 30 varieties, spearmint and peppermint being the most popular.

Minthe is characterized by erect, somewhat square branches and ovate, jagged-edged leaves that vary in color from dark, bright to grayish green and sometimes even yellow.

Some mint plants may have fuzzy leaves, but regardless of the variation, they all have one thing in common; a sweet, menthol-like aroma and flavor with a cool, lingering effect on the tongue.

The degree of the aroma and flavor varies from one variety to another. For instance, ginger mint has a subtle, spicy flavor perfect for salads, spearmint has a stronger, complex aroma ideal for culinary purposes, and peppermint is delicately flavored and typically used in oral products, teas, desserts, and of course, your favorite cocktails. Other popular mint varieties include:

Watermint

Apple/ Pineapple mint

Pennyroyal

Corsican mint

Korean mint

Chocolate mint

Mint is native to the Eastern Mediterranean basin, but as an easy-to-grow, crawling plant, it’s now distributed globally in temperate regions. It has been naturalized and cross-bred to create new varieties in multiple places, including Australia, North America, and South Africa. Spearmint is the most popular variety for its strong aroma and is grown commercially in the Pacific Northwest, California, and other regions with a shoreline or damp soils.

Mint dates back to the Ovid times when according to Greek mythology, it was a young, lovely river nymph named Minthe.

Minthe enjoyed the attention of Pluto, the god of the underworld, a little too much, driving Persephone, Pluto’s wife, into enraged jealousy.

As a result, Persephone confronted and turned her into a crawling plant forever to be trampled on and crushed. Unable to reverse the spell, Pluto gave Minthe a strong aroma that would intensify whenever crushed so she would forever be noticed for her enticing smell.

Mint as a seed is one of the hardest herbs to grow. It has incredibly tiny seeds that take longer or even fail to germinate. When they germinate, they result in a plant that looks and tastes different from the parent plant.

Cultivating it in its vegetative form is the way to go. And it’s easy too.

Mint grows up to about 80cm or two feet tall. The leaves grow to about one and a half to three inches long and are typically slightly hairy at first.

Mints often start as well-organized, bushy clumps but, within a few days, develop horizontal runners that can take over your garden quicker than you can, say, Jack Robinson. However, you can restrict the runners by potting the cuttings.

Although we are used to seeing it as green leaves, mint does sprout some flowers, often in white, purple, or pink, when allowed to blossom. However, this diminishes the flavor and aroma, making pruning pre-bloom essential.

Take a few stem cuttings from a min plant, and cultivate them at least two feet apart.

While at it, note that the mint plant has a shallow root system that spreads fast. It’s best to grow it separately from other plants. Otherwise, it’ll take up all nutrients. It’s also recommended to grow it in containers to contain its spread.

Mint does well in moist but well-drained growing spots. So, if you are growing it indoors, consider placing the plantings in a container with holes and sink it in another pot with soil to keep it well-hydrated. The ideal soil temperature is 550F to 700 F, and it does pretty well in areas with longer days.

The herb doesn’t require much care; however, you must ensure you provide essential nutrients and minerals such as high-nitrogen fertilizers. If planting mint in a garden, look out and eliminate weeds as they tend to inhibit growth. Provide it with enough water and light if cultivating it indoors. And since blooming reduces the flavor and aroma, ensure you prune before flowering to maintain it and stimulate new growth (applies to both indoor and outdoor mint)

Mint is a perennial, meaning you can turn a few cuttings into a mint bush that’ll last years with proper care. To ensure you always have a supply of mint, plant some cuttings in a shady spot and others in a sunny one. You’ll get an early harvest from the former and a late harvest from the latter.

Mint takes about 6 to 8 weeks to reach maturity, but It’s ready to harvest once it grows multiple stems of about 3-4 inches.

Avoid harvesting more than a third of a mint plant once because it’ll weaken it and may affect growth in the future. Try to gather more frequently after the first harvest to keep your mint plants at their best. If you cannot harvest frequently, try to prune your mint plants mid-season. It keeps the grown foliage from getting shorter, resulting in a bushier, more attractive plant, and encourages more foliage growth.

Also, ensure you cut the stems about an inch from the ground before the blooming period to get the best possible aroma and flavor from your mint plants. Note that young mint leaves have more flavor than old ones, and it’s okay to harvest them as soon as they come up as long as you don’t harvest more than a third.

Mint is a hardy perennial. Thanks to its strong aroma, the plant naturally repels pests and diseases that tend to affect other plants, including perennials. But that doesn’t mean it’s indomitable. It’s often subject to the following:

Mint rust: a fungal disease characterized by small, rust-like patches on the leaf’s underside. It may cause new shoots to appear pale and may spread to other nearby mint plants. Prune the infected plants or immerse your root plant in hot water at 1110F for ten minutes and replant.

Spider mites: mint plants affected by spider mites often appear bronzed or yellow and may have some spider webbings on the leaves. Regularly spray your plants with pressurized water to reduce buildup and apply insecticidal soap if the mites turn into a persistent problem

Aphids are tiny insects that nest on the underside of plant leaves or stems. They produce a sticky substance known as honeydew which causes mint plants to have yellow leaves or stunted shoots.

As mentioned, mint is one of the most versatile aromatic herbs. Besides spicing up dishes, cocktails, or ice creams, here are three surprising ways to use mint at home:

Mint is one of the best and safest ingredients to use on your skin. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help ease and treat acne. It also contains lots of salicylic acids, an organic compound known to reduce acne by exfoliating and keeping your pores clear.

Thus, using your homegrown mint on your skin can prove incredibly beneficial. And there are several ways to use it, but I’d recommend creating a lemon and mint face mask. Grind 10-12 mint leaves and mix the resulting residue with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply it to acne-prone areas, leave it for 15 minutes, and wash it off.

Alternatively, create a mint scrub. You’ll need to crush 12-15 mint leaves, grate a cucumber slice, add a tablespoon of oats, and honey, mix everything today and apply it on your face for ten minutes. Scrub in circular motions for 2-3 minutes, then rinse it off.

Mint leaves contain a bunch of vitamins and minerals that are good for your immune. These include calcium and phosphorous, and Vitamins A, C, D, and E. it’s also rich in antioxidants. Add in its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial and it can help you quickly recover from colds, flu, and another immune-weakening disease. To incorporate it into your lifestyle, consider taking mint water regularly. It’ll leave you more hydrated, and it’s more refreshing than regular water.

Mint is one of the best ingredients to introduce to your oral hygiene routine. The menthol compound not only leaves your mouth feeling cool and fresh but can also kill oral bacteria and prevent gum bleeding. The best way to use mint for oral hygiene is by making mint mouthwash. You’ll need to chop up some fresh mint leaves, add some lemon balm, basil, or oregano leaves in water, and then boil.

Here are six fun facts you probably didn’t know about mint:

Peppermint, bitter as you may find it in its natural form, is the sweetest of all mint varieties

Mint is a symbol of hospitality and was even used to welcome visitors in Ancient Greek. It’s still offered as a tea to guests in Middle Eastern regions.

Smelling mint can improve your memory.

Mints have square stems.

It’s one of the oldest plants, having been found in Egyptian tombs dating as far back as 1000 BC.

Mexicans call it the good herb “Yerba Bueno.”

I recently planted mint, and it has been life-changing in many ways. I use it to make my space smell better in my teas and skincare routine, and it has proven to be a must-have ingredient for all my meat-based dishes.

It’s one of the easiest herbs to grow, and hopefully, the information above will make your mint-growing journey even more effortless. Happy planting!