![]() This plant has become indispensable in the world's gastronomy, so much so that it is omnipresent in both sweet and savoury dishes. One of the peculiarities of mint is its strength despite its delicate appearance this gives it a competitive advantage as it is resilient enough to withstand sudden changes in relative humidity and temperature, which are lethal to other species. It is a sun-loving medicinal plant and has a love affair with the sun and warm climates however, if you recreate its favourite habitat you can grow it almost anywhere. Its characteristic shape, volume and stem distinguish it from the rest of the herbaceous plants of the same family, the Lamiaceae. Mint is an aromatic plant that belongs to the genus Mentha, a group of herbaceous plants with similar properties and which have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times.īotanically, it belongs to the Mentha piperita family. Mint and spearmint are famous for their deep green colour, refreshing smell and taste and have become in their own right the most sought-after aromatic plants used in gastronomy and health. Nowadays it is one of the most loved ingredients in the kitchen from the famous mojitos of the bodeguita de enmedio to the traditional infused teas of the Moroccan Atlas. In addition, mint leaves can be eaten fresh or dried they can also be frozen. Young shoots should be preferred because they have more flavour than older ones. Mint leaves should preferably be harvested in the morning so that photosynthesis (the biological mechanism by which plants with chlorophyll produce sugars and oxygen from carbon dioxide and light) can take place without stress. In addition, to always harvest quality leaves, the Moroccan mint plant should be renewed approximately every 3 years. Peppermint flowers are white or pink inflorescences that can be seen in summer. If you only want to keep your Moroccan mint plant, you should prune below the flowers in late summer. To have two harvests a year, it is possible to prune the plant severely, cutting it back to the ground, in late spring or early summer. ![]() However, if you want to keep your plant for a few years, the soil should remain fairly moist. The substrate does not need to be very rich in organic matter, as mint is adapted to growing in relatively poor soil.Īs Moroccan mint is adapted to a dry climate, watering can be sparse. Whichever method you choose, after a few days you can transplant your mint plant into a pot or outside if the weather permits.Īlthough hardy, Moroccan mint should be planted in early spring to prevent it from freezing. If you have a large mint plant, it is also possible to divide the bush. ![]() by taking a branch about 10 cm long and placing it in a container filled with water.by taking a branch with 3 nodes and placing it in a container filled with soil.Peppermint, like its counterparts, is easily propagated by head or stem cuttings: Peppermint has a stronger flavour than spearmint because it has a higher amount of menthol (the essential oil characteristic of mint), as mint varieties have menthol-producing and storing glands in their leaves for defence, and when the leaves are rubbed, the stressed plant releases the menthol and emits a characteristically strong odour. Like the other varieties of mint, spearmint has rhizomes (underground stems) and tracer roots (roots that grow horizontally from the main root) In addition, spearmint has a stronger flavour than mentha spicata and its leaves have more relief than spearmint. Widely used in North Africa and the Middle East, spearmint is adapted to drier climates than spearmint. The nomenclature of Moroccan mint is Mentha spicata 'nanah'. Moroccan mint is a variety of the classic spearmint, mentha spicata. Peppermint has the particularity of being much more aromatic and easier to grow. Difference between mint and peppermint Peppermint, or Mentha spicata 'nanah', is a variety of mint spicata (the most common spearmint) used mainly in North Africa for making drinks.
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