Dixa Buy peppermint whole leaves (25g)

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a medicinal and aromatic plant from the mint genus. There are numerous wild-growing mint species that are native to Europe.

The leaves contain essential peppermint oil and are often used as a tea or spice. The most important ingredient is menthol, which is increasingly found in the older leaves.

It was not until 1696 that the biologist John Ray discovered the particularly medicinal peppermint (Mentha piperita) in an English garden as a - probably accidental - cross between brook mint (Mentha aquatica) and forest mint (Mentha spicata). The latter is in turn a cross between horse mint (Mentha longifolia) and Mentha rotundifolia. This makes peppermint a largely sterile triple bastard; true-to-type propagation is only possible vegetatively (by cuttings), but not from seed.

Peppermint always originates from cultures in temperate climate zones and often runs wild from these cultures. The first annual harvest takes place shortly before flowering (flowering period June to August) and produces the higher quality; the second harvest in the fall produces the lower quality.

The whole leaves are picked by hand and gently dried. As a result, this quality contains almost no stems, but only the leaves, which are rich in essential peppermint oil.

Manufactured and distributed in Switzerland.

Use / Recipe

As a tea: To prepare as a tea, pour boiling water over 2-3 teaspoons and leave to infuse covered for 5-10 minutes. Peppermint tea is not only suitable for hot consumption, but also tastes just as good as iced tea.