Mentha

Mentha

Mentha (also known as mint) is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae (mint family). The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America.

Local name: Pudina

The leaves have a warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavor with a cool aftertaste, and are used in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, and ice creams. In Middle Eastern cuisine, mint is used on lamb dishes, while in British cuisine and American cuisine, mint sauce and mint jelly are used, respectively.

Mint essential oil and menthol are extensively used as flavorings in breath fresheners, drinks, antiseptic mouth rinses, toothpaste, chewing gum, desserts, and candies, such as mint (candy) and mint chocolate.

Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains.