Mint Tea

Mint tea can be a refreshing treat anytime. It can be brewed and enjoyed hot, or served over ice with sugar. There are so many different types of mints that it can be hard to choose. Here are a couple things to consider when you are looking to buy mint tea.

Health and Medicinal Benefits of Mint Tea

Regardless of the type of mint tea, they all have certain qualities in health enhancement. Mint contains many essential minerals, such as copper, potassium, calcium, and iron. Drinking a cup of mint tea everyday won’t replace proper nutrition, but it will enhance your current program. Mint tea is also high in vitamins A and C. These are necessary vitamins, and even a small amount each day will go a long way. Mint tea also has its place in alternative medicine. It can help ease heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. Mint has also been well known for its ability to protect against the growth of bacteria. A mint tea compound can be used on cuts and scrapes to act as an antibacterial agent. If you have a cold, mint tea can ease congestion and help you breathe easier. If you’ve had a long day or are going through troubling times, drinking mint tea can help calm your nerves. It acts as a natural sedative, and is much milder than prescription medication.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is probably the most common mint used for tea. Peppermint has a distinct flavor, and when used in tea the mint is a milder flavor. It can be paired well with vanilla, honey, sugar, or just drank plain. Peppermint is inexpensive and easy to grow. It’s a favorite herb for those wanting to maintain their own gardens and make organic mint tea blends at home. If you use fresh mint leaves for this you can collect the leaves after the mint tea has brewed and used them to cook with, or make mint oil with them.

Spearmint

Spearmint tea is another very common mint for the kitchen. It is milder than peppermint, but also has a unique flavor. Most people would say it’s sweeter than peppermint. The leaves can be combined with chamomile for a relaxing night time tea, or mixed with peppermint for a good cold and flu relief home remedy.

Chocolate Mint

This isn’t just a candy, it’s an actual mint plant. The leaves are darker than peppermint or spearmint, and have a chocolaty scent. When this is made in to a tea, you have a great dessert tea. Chocolate mint is also popular for those who love baking or making sweets. It’s much cheaper to keep this on hand than it is to buy the artificial flavoring.

Catnip

While it may be best known for its effects on our cats, catnip is actually a great mint to use for tea. The taste is sweet, and not as strong as peppermint. It can calm an upset stomach, colic, and can help reduce the symptoms of a cold. If you are looking to purchase catnip for a mint tea, be sure to purchase organic catnip that hasn’t been processed with chemicals.

Mint Tea Variations

Adding mint to a base tea is a popular way to make a refreshing tea. Moroccan mint tea is a favorite all over the world. This tea uses a green tea base with either a peppermint or spearmint infusion. You can make your own or purchase it already prepared to brew. Turkish mint tea is made with a dark tea, like a black Assam or English breakfast. Sometimes a citrus, such as lemon, is added for an after dinner or dessert tea.  Brazilian mint tea is another method that combines mint with another tea base. This type of mint tea is commonly used as a natural pain reliever.