What can you do with fresh peppermint?

Question

We have wild fresh peppermint growing in our yard. Someone suggested making tea. How do I do that? Also, how can you dry it out?

Answer 1

You can make tea by just immersing the leaves in boiling water, for at least 4 minutes.
For drying the best method is to bundle the cut plants and hang them upside down in a shady, dry place until the leaves crumble easily, with a papery noise.
Strip the leaves from the stalks and store in an airtight container in a dark place. The tea can be drunk hot or cold, with or without sugar or honey.
You can use the fresh herb for mint sauce, to go with lamb or mutton, even with venison, by boiling them with sugar and a bit of vinegar to a pulp, this can also be stored by conserving it in a screw-top jam jar. Re-heat the jars until the liquid inside is boiling, that will give you a hermetic seal.
If you layer the bruised leaves with lots of sugar and sprinkle lemon juice on top, then you can press them out and boil the juice for a syrup, which can be used with liquor or just water to make a refreshing drink.

Answer 2

My favorite use for it would be in a mojito....

3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz light rum
club soda

In a tall thin glass, crush part of the mint with a fork to coat the inside. Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly. Top with ice. Add rum and mix. Top off with *chilled* club soda (or seltzer). Add a lemon slice and the remaining mint, and serve.

Serve in: Tall glass.

Mojitos are the main reason we grow mint at our house, lol. You can also add it to any kind of tea, just add a few fresh sprigs when making green or black iced tea, very refreshing. To dry it, use a needle and thread to sew together bundles, dry upside down in an airy, not too hot, not too cool, but not humid place. Store in an airtight container.

You can also chop it up and freeze it in small baggies.

Enjoy! Mint is one of my favorite things. It's also very good for tummy aches. To use it as a stomach remedy, bring a small saucepan full of water to boil. Remove from heat. Add 5-10 sprigs of fresh mint (or 2 tbsp dried mint in a tea steeper). Let steep for 20-30 minutes. Serve with honey.

Answer 3

Have a party and serve lots of Mojitos.
To make tea, steep the leaves in boiling water. There's no right or wrong way and you'll have to experiment to find out how strong your preference is.
You can dry it by spreading the leaves on paper towels and let nature take it's course by air drying. It will lose the bright green color but still retain it's flavor. Then store in an glass jar with tight lid.

Answer 4

Mint tea is delicious. I've made it as regular tea and add fresh mint leaves and let it steep. I left the leaves in until the entire pitcher of tea was used. If you're tea lasts longer than a day or so, you may want to take them out

Answer 5

my horses love peppermint! i buy them a monthly allowance of peppermints. when i make cookies and goodies for my horses i use crushed peppermint candy. I figure the plants won't harm the horses cause they eat the candy. so what is the differnce? use fresh leaves, not dried. when they dry up they loose more of the flavor, and horses hate eating dried leaves of any kind anyway. fresh makes it much better.

Answer 6

In addition to the tea, you can make mint sauce or mint jelly to accompany lamb. Mmmmmmmm!

Answer 7

It makes delicious homemade wine.

Answer 8

Pick it , Pinch it ,....... and smell it