Spearmint is the mint that you are most likely to find in stores and growing in people’s gardens (hence its other name, Garden Mint.) Like Peppermint, it is regarded as an English variety of mint.Even though most spearmint grown ends up in toothpaste and chewing gum, it is also popular in cooking, being less overwhelming than its offspring, peppermint.
In fact, if a recipe calls for mint, what is usually meant is spearmint, unless otherwise specified.
Cooking Tips
Use to flavour boiled veg such as peas, carrots, cabbage and potatoes; good in pea soup.
Equivalents
1 tablespoon fresh mint (any kind) = 1 teaspoon dried
Storage Hints
You can either wrap fresh mint in damp paper towel and refrigerate in a bag for a few days, or to keep it for up to a week, store with its stems in a glass of water in refrigerator, covered in a plastic bag.
History Notes
Brought over to America by the English.
Language Notes
In the 1500s it was called “Spere Mynte”