MINT
Mint is a plant that has found a wide usage in kitchens and candy making, and it is known for its fresh cooling feel. This feeling is desirable in dishes during summer, against tiredness, or even to get a better touch in the mouth! There are different kinds, or species, of mint, and the most well-known are peppermint and spearmint. Peppermint has a stronger kick, and its leaves are more lance-shaped, while spearmint is softer and carries round leaves. Taste of the mint is very characteristic, as most of people can tell, bearing a mix of peppery freshness and a grassy touch. Mint has been used in kitchens since the ancient times, and it also found uses in medicine and as a refreshing herb to use in teas and beverages. Some perfumes were made based on mint, and since its fragrance is so fresh it has also been used for air fragrances.
When buying mint it is proper to pick the fresh mint in favor of the dried dead form. The flavor difference and freshness is simply incomparable. Choose the plant that looks as a fresh plant, with vibrant leaves, no spots or yellow dry patches, and a nice green color. Store the fresh mint in a plastic bag, loosely wrapped, and in a refrigerator. It will keep there for a few days, but use it as soon as you can, just to make sure you don't miss out on its freshness. If you buy, against our advice (!), dried mint then you can store it in a dry and dark place for up to a year, provided that it's freshly dried mint. However, you will not be able to enjoy the superb feeling of fresh mint, and your dishes might suffer from it.
What can you use fresh mint for? Starting with a simple idea, you can make tea of it or add it to another tea. Such beverage gives a nice feeling of loosening up the stress and gives also a refreshing moment on a busy or a warm day. In cooking though, mint is often used in dishes that use shellfish or some forms of fish, they can also be used in salads - either fruit salads or vegetable salads. Soups may also become invigorated by mint leaves, but try to find good ingredient combinations. Often, tomato-based soups are a good choice for mixing with mint. If you are making a curry, some mint leaves will give it a boost. So, you can almost try anything with mint, as long as it doesn't destroy the original feel of a dish - it is supposed to enhance it and give it some kick.
How did mint became known for its medicinal benefits? Peppermint has since long been famous for its positive effects on our intestines and stomach, as its primal compound (menthol) is able to relax the muscle cells that contract the intestines. Any problems with digestion that originate from disturbed intestine contractions (spasms, irritable bowel syndrome, etc) can be helped buy eating peppermint. Peppermint oil is also known to fight well against some of the bad bacteria strains that may live in our digestive tract. Mint also seems to contain molecules that are able to protect against development of several forms of cancer. Mint is also (as you might already have experienced) a good plant for refreshing breathing - one of the mint's compounds is able to relax the airways and make them more open for inhalation and exhalation of air. Something for asthamtics perhaps?